Linked from A Most Horrible Tragedy! Wichita Businessman Shoots His Wife and Himself
Transcribed from: https://www.newspapers.com/image/364863934/
A MURDER AND SUICIDE
A Kansas Millionaire Shoots His Wife and Then Hurriedly Takes His Own Life.
WICHITA, KAN, Dec. 7 – Yesterday morning Robert Black, who for some time has been living with J.E. Johnston on the Southwest boulevard, was seated in the library on the first floor when he was startled by two pistol shots fired in quick succession, apparently in the room just above him, which was the bedroom of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston.
Mr. Black who is nearly 70 years of age and rather infirm, hastened to the room, and opening the door he saw his only child, Mrs. Johnston, lying on her back on the floor at the west side of the room, and her husband hear her lying on his back with a pistol near his left hand. Mrs. Johnston was unconscious, and in but a few minutes was dead. When life was extinct the gray haired old man turned to Johnston and he also was dead. Blood and brain matter oozed from the wounds of each.
Mr. Black rushed about the building crying for help and servants ran into the street repeating the cries, while neighbors rushed to their telephones and a number of doctors were summoned.
Drs. Oldham, Johnson, Jordan and McCullough arrived at the scene, and quickly examining Mrs. Johnson, found that the ball had entered her head just back of the left ear and passed directly through, coming out just back of the right ear. She was bleeding profusely and seemed to have died without a struggle. The body of Johnston was then examined and it was found that the ball had entered the left temple above the eye and come out one ich behind the right ear.
The revolver lying on the floor at Johnston’s feet was a 38-caliber bulldog with two shells and three loads in it.
Coroner J. W. Wingard was summoned and soon arrived, and a jury was empaneled from among a number of friends who had arrived. The coroner searched the bodies and removing the jewelry from Mrs. Johnston handed it to Mr. Black, who threw it violently to the other side of the room, saying he never wanted to see it.
The jury then repaired to the court house, where Mr. Black gave in his evidence as follows: “This morning Johnston told me he was feeling pretty well. This was a little after 9 o’clock. He had been at the stable and ordered his team hitched up. I asked him if he was going down town with the team and he said he was. He then went in the house, followed by me. I stopped in the library and he went upstairs. I was waiting for the team and Mr. Johnston when I heard two reports in quick succession and heard bodies fall on the floor. The reports seemed to come from Mr. Johnston’s room, which was over my head. I rushed up stairs and into the room.”
“When I opened the door the first thing I saw was my daughter. She was breathing but seemed unconscious. I then also saw Mr. Johnston. He was dead and lying on the floor. Some time ago Mrs. Johnston told me that he had threatened to shoot himself on different occasions and at one time tried to cut his throat with a razor. She threw it away. He was not drinking, but very excitable. His general deportment to his family was cross and irritable. I have thought at times that his mind was affected, but of late did not consider him dangerous. Mrs. Johnston had told me she was afraid of him and had frequently lost sleep at night, fearing for her life and those of her children. Mrs. Johnston was at all times kind and affectionate. I never saw a woman try to do more for any one than she did her husband.”
Mr. George H. Blackwelder stated that Monday he met Johnston, who seemed very irritable, and demanded the settlement of some unimportant papers.
The jury in the finding concerning Mrs. Johnston, reported that she came to her death from a pistol shot inflicted by her husband, J.E. Johnston, and in the finding concerning Johnston, they reported that he came to his death from a pistol shot inflicted by his own hand, and continue: “We further find that the deceased, J.E. Johnston, was at the time laboring under temporary mental aberration.”
Last June Mr. Johnston shot himself in the left breast with a pistol. He recovered in a few weeks, and always claimed that the shooting was purely accidental. The general opinion in the city at the time was that he attempted suicide, and today Mr. Black stated that he always believed he meant to kill himself.
Johnston was 32 years old and Mrs. Johnston 29. They were married twelve years ago at Alexandria, Mo., against the wishes of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Black of Warsaw, Ill. At that time, Mr. Black was called the “lumber king” of his section, and was very indignant when he heard that Johnston had stolen his only child, Clara, and that they were married. Hearing of the union he brought suit against the justice of the peace who performed the ceremony and the case was prosecuted by T. Callahan, who was then prosecuting attorney of Clark county. The prosecution lasted two years and was then dismissed. In the language of Callahan, “Johnston in his younger days was devoid of character.” He so stated a few months ago when in this city.
Soon after the marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johnston moved to Kansas City, where the former was for a time an employee of Bell, the superintendent of the custom house and postoffice construction. It was not until about three weeks ago that Mr. Black consented to recognize Johnston, when the families of both moved to this city and lived together in one of the finest residences of the city. Since that time Johnston came into possession of several hundred thousand dollars, but some months ago dealt in a reckless manner in real estate and was considerably involved. Some think this fact caused him to play the role of murderer and suicide. His wife was one of the most highly respected ladies in the city. Johnston had been sick for some months. He suffered from hemorrhage of the lungs and was despondent. He had arranged for the whole family to leave for California on Thursday.