The Last Chapter at 1344 C Street

Black crape hanging from the door at 1344 C Street yesterday told, without words, that the last chapter had been added to the pathetic story of a woman's love for a worthless man, and that her desire for death to release her from disgrace had been granted. No more touching story has been unearthed for a long time by the police department of this city than that of Mrs. Kari Johnson, who shot herself on Friday afternoon in the region of the heart with a 38-calibre revolver, while she was suffering from temporary aberration of the mind, brought on by her husband committing suicide in the city jail on last Sunday morning.

The Ledger, on Saturday, told the story of the woman's attempt at suicide. She had caused the arrest of her husband on Saturday, April 2. He had been drinking heavily and was ill-treating her. She stood his abuse until she became afraid that her life was in danger, and for her own protection, and her husband's as well, she called an officer and had him arrested. Johnson hanged himself in the jail, and when the news was broken to his wife she was prostrated. She held herself blameable for her husband's death, and all efforts to convince her that she was doing herself an injustice proved unavailing. Her distress preyed so on her mind that on Friday afternoon she shot herself.

Policeman Crawford, whose beat takes him past the little frame residence, had become acquainted with the woman through her troubles with her husband. He had arranged to take her to his home until she had recovered from the poignancy of her grief. He was the only person who could even partially succeed in making the poor woman forget her sorrow, and she would not be contented unless he was at her bedside. Officer Crawford remained with her until her death yesterday morning. About 5:30 o'clock she called to him and he gave her medicine which had been prescribed by Dr. F. C. Miller. She then fell into a light sleep which proved to be her last on this earth. She died shortly before 10 o'clock. Mr. Crawford, Dr. Miller, and the nurse, who had been hired by Officer Crawford, were at her bedside. She will be buried this afternoon at 2 o'clock from Cowden Mahoney's undertaking parlors.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Sweden about fifty-two years ago. She was the daughter of a wealthy and influential Baptist clergyman. She had two brothers, one of whom was also a minister of the gospel and the other a lawyer. It is said that she was married three times. It is known that her first husband was a very rich man. She became acquainted with Johnson in Wisconsin early in the 80's. She had been the mother of four children previous to that time. She became infatuated with him and finally married him. From the petted child of a doting father, she found herself a few years ago without parents or relatives or even friends; without money and the wife of a drunken husband. Notwithstanding the fact that Johnson was addicted to excessive indulgence in liquor, his wife had not recovered from her infatuation, and after his death she said that although he would at times treat her cruelly, when sober he was as good and kind a husband as any woman could desire. When he killed himself she had no wish to live, and she died yesterday morning with a smile on her sad face. Before her death she asked Officer Crawford to see that she received a respectable burial and was placed by her husband's side. This request the big-hearted officer promised to carry out. As soon as the woman had closed her eyes for the last time, Officer Crawford went to Cowden Mahoney's undertaking establishment, and gave instructions to them to see that she be buried in accordance with her last wishes. He then ordered flowers to be placed on her coffin and on her grave. Patrolman Reed aided him in his charitable work. Coroner Frank was notified immediately upon her death, and he viewed the remains. It is not probable that an autopsy will be held, as there is no doubt of the cause of her death.