The Johnson Case.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4781, 24 July 1894, Page 2

The Johnson Case.

[TqraEiEiliTouW.D,'jlmfe] ,! Sir, —1 869 tlic leading articlo of -'1 tlio .Star, of Saturday 21st inst.lm? a deal to Bay upon tlio suicido of the N I man,;. Johnson,.,.On -beha]JE-.of Mrs • - Joliffsoil"riiysclf'ftiiH" _ o<Jioi-3 ) I say sljO| did\gtrfo tljCjtoiifc, and he M>- wfuScto- dram'thing, lvlieio.Hint if lie would come slio would giro John, son liij chargeas ho^vasnptsnfe.'*Tlio Sergeant told'hor lib' would' uo down sooi) ate, her. .Mi's Johnson on liera'oiuni.lMj) fenfc into Mi-Bell's v ~ and bought two articles, and then * returned home. "From when sho left the Sergeant until she arrived s" home, she mot with several poisons p from-whom I hear, i that. ; sidered she was • quite capable of ! going a message. Now, Sir, on the ■ morning of tlie inquest the Seigeant with tho medical man and two press representatives, entered tho house. The straight. throughtawliero tlieuody lay. Mrs 'Johnson said'td flic SorgoimL"Had you como yestorday, Sergeant, when I went for you, this would iriofc Imyo j happened," He replied'saying "You were dam-well drunk yesterday and ' you are drunk now!' whereupon one of the press'representatives . , •• turned to one who was present and said "Have you ever seen her drunk?"' The reply was. "No, ' I;.have riot." Turningfa'anotlicr he'said "Havo you?' "No, I havo • not," Then Jio/Sergeant came on through to where tlio body lay. Tho medical man, myself, and two or three others wero | present in. the room, ~ On entering the. room' tho Sergeant said," There, i drink again, That's what drink doe's,'-She canie to-me yesterday but sho was in suoh astute Icouldn'tunderstaiid.\vhat £he said.- ; . 'ify(«fc want ' proof for it go to Bell, draper." No onrmadu at the time to the Sergeant, *lf I H' remember rightly, tho medical man : ww i" a stooping position ; washing his liands. 1 must say the Sergeant T seemed to be very ljuuch excited at the time. The medical man was not present at the time of the con- ' versation between Mi's ■ Johnson and the Sergeant ns stated by the Star, Now, Sir, if there is anyone able to t form an opinion npoh ! the 1 woman's condition at the time I think you will agree with me, it is myself, who was there before Johnson ceased breathing, and until after he was removed from tho house. I now say I never saw any sign of the woman being druuk on the day in question. I may say that after tho Sergeant hf;d left the room, one who was present passed a remark on the. statement tho Sergeant had made. Perhaps, Sir, tho medical man will \ remember the rom'ark Mrs 'Johnson made, when he was dressing her hand, with regard to the Sergeant's remark. When Mrs Johnson came into tho room aftor tlioy lmd gone she seemed very much put about, I asked her what was the matter, whereupon she said, " That old Sergeant! The old wretch! lam no more drunk than ho is," I thou heard that tlio Sor* geant. had accused her of . being drunk. She seemed very much put about, and all through the night sho couldn't seem to forget it.. With regard to Mrs Johnson not bringing it forward at the inquest, I must say she did intend to do so, Although I had not said anything to her about doing so, when she came out of the Courthouse, sho said to me " There is one thing I never told him (meaning the Coronor), I said" What is that." Sho replied, " About mo going to tho Sergeant and him not coming.'! I said, " Well, why didn't you do so," " Well," sho said "Mr Wood told mo of it after I had sat down; but I could nofc'get up again to tell them, if yon gave mo Masterton." I think, Sir, you will agree ; with me that a woman of 75 sum-„ ■„ mors, and who "had not had hoi l clothes oil for three nights, was not one able to givo hor statement like some of our. worthy friends might do under such circumstances. Imay say here, that the public at large, as well asihe jurymen, seemed rather surprised at Mrs Johnson asking for tho knife at the inquest. Tho woman seemed surprised to see tho knife there, and she did not realise what the knife had done, Tho knife was < not returned to Mra Johnson as stated by tho iter, and had it been returned she would havo put it iu the fire, Now, Sir, hoping this will settle all grievances, and put our friends' minds at rest—unless a thorough enquiry is made. I am sure I havo no ill-feeling towards anybody, but am sick of reading such remarks upon the affair. Hoping I have not trespassed too much on your valuable paper. lain, etc., K. A, Axdkews, W. Masterton, July 23rd,