Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-10


the trial OF John Johnson for an indiS-
ment at Murder, is Communicated to us
by gentleman who attended the court
We hope !, may ins,rua the crcdulous,
and Term lesson for those who are too
often employing such vile inpos,or. Of
physic, who are continually ransacking the
country, seeking whom they may t,evour.
az the last February term of the Sa-
preme Court of this state, holden at Man
chester, in the county OF Bennington,
came on the trial Of JoBn JOHNSON who
was indicted for the MURDER of Miss T.
rERrs, young girl of Sunderland, IN
said county. the evidence given against
the prisoner on the part OF the state was,
In substance. the said JOHNSON
had set himself up in the vicinity as a can
Ger Doctor, and pretended that he had
performed miraculous cnres in that and [
many other disorders. The parents OF
the deceased hearing OF his fame, sent TOR
him to call and see their daughter, girl
about eighteen years OF age, who had
been deIricus for some time so that they |
were obliged to confine her. Upon the
said JoHNsoN's Calling on her parents,
they enqaired of him whether he could |
cure their daughter l---he said he could |
most certainly cure her--that he had cur.
ed many persons apparently in the same
situation. He was then enquired of
where he had acqun ed this great ekill a
boye other dostorsl He said he had
read grea, many German authors, and
had acquired. much knowledge and had
BOT much information from the native In
tiians; he thought more from the Indians
than from any other quarter. Hcthen OBJ
served, that she must be put asleep, or Izidas
he expressedit. The mo her fearful that he
was about to administer opium, says fear
you are about TO give NV daughter opium.
The respondent answered he would not
Eiye her opidn. He said he had an In
dian roo, which put in rum, would soon
fay her aud break the ehdr0:, aud when
she awaked she would be perfectly
well. He then went away 10 neigh !
boris house to prepare his medicine, |
where he was seen to put a large quan,i- |
IS ot opium into water, the quantity could
not be accurately ascertained, but the wit
ness said he should Judge enough to kill
three persons.--He returned to his patient
again, after looking attentiveIy through
the Almanac, and the signs in particular,
administer his medicine that day as any,
hu, it wonld take double the quantity of
rum to lay her that day, to what it would
the next. He had nearly quart of rum,
and small vessel given TO him to put in
and mix his medicine; with which he
went to the room where the girl was con.
fined, and observed, that he mus. be alone
with her, and must not be disturbed until
he had laid her.
Alter re had been alone with the GIRL !
about half an hour, the mother and 500 |
went to listen, being anxious 10 know |
what was going on in the room, heard no
thing but the girl say, get away, which
the witness said was common exprsssi-
on TO the family if any ofthen only spoke
to her--they soon returned. The mo-
Their being very uneasy, went and opened
the door, Found the respondent near II, her
daughter being apparently iifeless on the
floor, in moist sveat.--She wass con Ia
ken up, dressed in another apparel and put
into he'd. which was about O'Clock, 2. NJ.
The doctor observed that no must have
something To 3rink. for he had had very
haid time of II in laying her, and the rum
which he bad taken in the room with
Ism was gone. The girl appeared still
10 be nearly expiring abich alarmed the
family. But the Doctor assured them
she would soon awake and be perfect
Iy well. The girl remained in this situ-
siionuntil about one ortwo o'clock alright,
the family beng in bed except the mo-
,her. the Doctor proposedto GO to bedto
the daughter, and observed II was neces-
sarv---and that they being alone, It would
not be known (or words to that import.l
rhe Doctor Immediately sprung into bed
put his arm around the girl, turned Der
face towards him--she soon puked on the
Doctor. whsn he irimediateiy quit the
bed. The girl expired in few minutes.
There was strong suspicion entertained
that the do6lor was guilty of obscene con-
du0 while alone with the girl. But there
was not evidence sufficient to satisfy the
isry ofthat fatt.
The Jury afterretiring aboa, three hours
found Johnson not guilty Of Murder, but
guilty. Of 1fae@laaghfer.
The court sentenced him 20 receive
f1iyyy.nige styifes, 10 sta1f IN ne fiiHory