Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-26
BY YESTERDAY EVENINGS MAILS.
Trial of johnson.

will likely consume the whole Of the week.
Nothing of the kind has ever occurred in
this County, creating so deep on interest
suppose the number of men daily attend
ing exceeds the number Of voters in the
County. Many are from the adjoining
Counties, some from distance Of SO miles.
The case was commenced on Monday, and
the Jury formed Of -, out Of a summons Of
near 80. Council for Commonwealth, j. Y.
Menefee assisted by Mr.. Tebbs, of Loudoun,
Robert E. Scott, of Fauquier, for prisoner
with the aid of Mcssrs. Iackley and Jones,
of Rappahannock. Mr.. Menefee's opening
speech, of about one hour, was very able and
pointed. Mr.. Scott spoke about two hours
with his usual zeal and earnestness, and was
truly eloquent, as all must know of his ac-
ouaintauce. He shows i'll all respects a will
to do free justice to his client. | here pro-
pose to give a substantial statement OF the
Commonwealth evidence from memory on
". 1t appears that johnson had been in the
habit of saving to his neighhors, shortly
pror to the death Of his wife, when asked
how his family was, that all were well save
his wife whose death he would not be sur
prised to occur at any time, as she was liable
to fits or sp,,sms or something OF that nature.
while her acquaintance proved her TO be
woman in good health, and that she upon all
occasions SO expressed herself. That John
son had adulterouS intercourse with niece
of his wifes, who visited the family. That
he was seen with strychninc, and sold
neighbor a portion, that he had seen its eff
fects upon IA dog of his, which by some
means had gotten dose. Some two OF three
DAYS before the death of his wife he pur-
chased IL few lemons. On the day OF her
death he invited young man, MIR. Carter.
to his house to drink lemonade, saying 1t ne
would 20, he, johnson, would 90 with him to
Washington Carter being in the field. look
ing at Johnsons sheep, which he proposed
to buy, but would not give the price asked;
Carter consented, but halted at the cherry
tree: Johnson went on and prepared the
lemonade; when he got to the house spoke
10 Mrs. johnson, asked her how she was;
reply. | am well, and think the only one,
as the children are all complaining. John
son comes with two glasses Of lemonade from
another room, the pitcher containing the
other, being in the room where Carter was
he handed one glass to Mrs. johnson, who
said WHY don't YOU wait on Mr.. Carter first:
he replied, Mr. Carter can help himself from
the pitcher: Mrs. johnson tasted, saying it
was bitter J. replied, he had put aloes III 1t,
as the Doctor said it would be good for her;
she said she was not sick. but drank 1t !;
and johnson drank his. saving it was the
same as his. He. j, then told Mrs. }. she
could drink some out of the pitcher to rinse
the glass and gave her half glass full which
she drank and then started out to rinse the
glass again; Mrs D., asked what he wanted
to rinse the glass for. he said these might be
some of the aloes left He then hurried Car
ter off. going out first, Carter perhaps not
being in the house more than five minutes
or less after drinking. They rode some tw"
miles when they were overtaken 10y Mr..
Gearing who was at work on the farm oil
johnson, who said Mrs. Johnson must die
very soon if not relieved. johnson sent H..
after the Doctor, and he returned and found
her dead, having lived perhaps not more than
forty minutes after taking the lemonade.
Mr.. Gearing-l was clearing wheat near
the house; heard Mrs. johnson scream very
soon after Mr.. Johnson left; was sent for by
the black girl. ran to the house. found Mrs.
johnson setting i'll q split bottom char. IN
strong commissions, throwing her head back
while she grabbed ut the top knobs OF the
chair, said that she would die. that her nus
band had poisoned her, Us her symptoms were
lust like the dog that died shortly before
! told him to stir some raw eggs together ana
give her which he did hy holding her head;
She seemed better: he laid her on the bed:
the little daughter some five years old SAID
Ma are YOU going to die? she said yes my
| child and your Father has poisoned me-
When she first revived. said if she got over
this she would never take anything from
him again. | then ran for the horse 10 60
for the Doctor, called in before | started and
found her feet, and legs, stiff as were her head
and hands at the beginning; found her dead
when | returned and before the Doctor ar
rived. Never saw Mr.. Johnson mlstrcat
his wife. never heard her complain OF HIM
before this attack of sickness. She also SAID,
that MIR. Johnson had been kinder to her
that day than for long time, that she had
not been able to do anything to please hun
for the last twelve months. He only heard
him saw to her if she continued to drink $"
much strong tea it would be the death OF her.
Mr.. Hough-I was there the next day
wnen the CONN cdl1t, utdiu ~
asked MIR. L. the price of it: Mr. l.. SAID
Hanging his head this is no time to talk OF
that; he then asked him (llough) for cab
bage plants; further told the boy to clean
his boots as he should want them in the
morning. hurried the burial of his wife, was
told that IN inquest was to he held: objected.
Called on his friends MeSsrs Miller and llar-
ris who were there at the inquest, plead with
them to prevent it fpossible Said TO Doc
tor Read he was opposed to it. The inquest
was held, Doctors Reid and Browning opera
ting: all of the vital organs were sound and
healthy. viz. the lungs, liver, heart which
was empty ofblood, brain, &c. The Doctors
were we'll satisfied that poison by strych-
nine caused the dcath-in view otthc symp-
toms during illness: and of the fact that no
other local or general cause was found to en-
island that commissions of like nature, az
to operation and termination could proceed
from no other cause. For want Of the proper
agents, the stomach was sent to DR.. Chap
man. of Philadelphia, by DR.. Browning, en-
closed in bottle, for examination, who APP
peared before the Court, and stated that he
found Strychnine in the stomach, ny three
several tests, with genuine and carefully Sc
lected agents, and to satisfy any doubling, he
tested the article obtained. by dosing two
frogs, which died with all the symptoms at