The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-01

eivipgs ont TO poison the character of tho living
niece you had already poisoned the body Of the dead
The case, thus presepted true, you must admit
is OF urpardnabie epormty jury, selected almost
by yourself most patient upright and intelligent jury
have substantially found II true and each member for
hin'ef separately and solemny has, IN tones
OF sad sincerity declared the same 70 he his verdict"
Nor lie this ALL 10 rendering their verdict OF guilty OF
murder, the jury have, by implication almost necessa.
Ty, declared guilty Of another crime-whch need
not nov Dwell upon as i is not directly ssue-second
only TO that for which you have been indicted Yoa can
not therefore, hope for any Communication OF punishment
Terrible the doom may bemore TERRIBLE possible, 70
your innocent Child than 70 her guilty pTenttne Law al
mits Of alienation. You must die. g He that she'd
deth mans blood, by must his blood be she'd" The
sentence Of the Court, therefore, it Is the sentence
which the Law you, James Stephens. be
taken hence 10 the prison from which you came and that
hours Of nine O'Clock in the forenoon and two O'Clock IN
he afternoon, be hanged by the neck until you are
agones over extend your departed spirit that for
gveness which human tribunals have no power to grant,
Stephens heard his awful doom without tear but
when the Judge alluded 10 his little child, the prisoner
bowed bis head upon his breast and he was unnamed
AS the Clerk proceeding read the death warrant,
Mr. Ashmead Rad that the prisoner wanted 10 say some
thing.
Judge Roosevelt-He has had his opportunity.
The death warrant having been read and handed 10
the Sbcrif, the District Attorney moved that James
Hanna Maria and Sophia Hanna and Isabella Bennett be
committed for perjury.
Judge Roosevelt, having again consulted with his
ciates said the Court have the conclusion
that matter to the ordinary The then
adjourned sine de- and the prisoner recommed TO the
Tombs.
THE JOHNSON CASE IN VIRGINIA.
TRIAL AND SENTENCE OF JAMES II. JOHNSON FOR
THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE BY POISON.
TTclAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE NEW HERALD.
CIRCUIT CoURT-RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
Judge Tyler presiding.
Al an early hour on Monday, March 2l, every 10
Washington (the county seat Of Rappahannock) was
thronged with excited crowds, To participate in the
investigation of crime which, for cold blooded atrocty
TO be paraeed In the criminal annals of the COM
monweath Contrary to general expectation jury was
empanneled without much difficulty
James Carter, first witness for commonwealth,
Was seated in with the late Mrs. Johnson accused
entered from adjoining room with two glasses Of
lemonade in his hands, of which he presented his
wife, retaining the other for himself deceased asked
why he did not wait first upon his guest; accused
replied that the lemonade he held in his hands
tanned aoes biers; that DR.. Kinsey had recommended
them for her heath for Mr. Carter, he could help
himself from the pitcher the table, deceased at the first
taste of the lemonade exclaimed at its extreme bitterness
accused insisted her drinking the whole OF IT, remark
ing that Dr. Kinney said would do her good after de-
ceased had emptied her glass; accused reled and pre-
sentedt 10 Der again. remarng there might be of
the aoes remaining H. and that she must take 1t alt he
then rsed the glass; and proposed to witness to accom-
papy him Washington, the residence Of witness, when
they Immediately set out; they had proceeded their
way about two miles, when they were oyertaken by
Mrs. johnson as exceedingly Ill and not likely to live
many minutes whereupon johnson turned back, and wit
ness continued on bis way.
An acute crossexamnaton by Mr.. Scott, for defence,
failed 10 shake the evidence OF this witness
son .r; was at work cleaning wheat short distance
from the dwelling; called to the house by servant
girl; found Mrs J. in strong convulsions BY her d.
difficulty, on account Of the violence Of her
commissions; she swallowed without difficulty when
Permission Of the spasms after taking the white of eggs
laid deceased upon the bed she exclaimed addressing her
little daughter, "Your papa has poisoned me and few
johnson; Mr. Cheek came in; sent him to Mr. Grows;
when wipess returned with Dr. Kinsey found Mrs. john
son deod pr Knsey turned back without entering the
house deceased looked dark and spotted with green after
death.
Dr. Browning of Flint HILL sworn-Made post norton ex.
animation llth Of June found vital organs all healthy;
opened cavity of chest heart healthy but empty poured
contents Of stomach into boitle brain sound found
symptoms to occasion DEATH was Of opinion, from ev
denoe inquest that deceased had died from stychnne
carried stomach and contents properly secured and
sealed with private SEAL TO Professor Rogers OF Phlade
pha sycbnne detected by the Professor both in the
stomach and In its contents.
Cross examination by the defence-was legally sum-
moned TO make post mortem examinations was as
sisted by Dr.. Reid, at his (witnesss) own request;
examination made by candle light; extended to twelve
O'Clock at night; tetanus tetanic commissions always
produced by ohnne strychnine the sole of
tetanc commissions; they may appear in apoplexy and
other diseases no other than from nux voica
produce tetanus where death is caused by poison Dr.
Taylor of Etgand s Of opinion that tetanic commissions
conclusive evidence that the poison is strychune;
Taylor s an eminent author on posons first wrapped the
stomach in pper then put in wide mouthed bottle,
and added alcohol for it's preservation cbromaie Of potash
and suphur acid tests for strychune the color tests
reliable, on the authority OF Professor Rogers; Or.
Taylor did rot witness in the Palmer case, assert
that the colo tests unreliable
DR.. Reid, cf Washington Rappahanuock, sworn-Found
no for attrbutpg death srychnne from appear
of vital organs slychnine produces tcanoid conyul
son in ordinary convuson there is Attenuation; etanod
eanc convson is CONSTANT the former consciousness
lost in tfs latter never; ordinary teanus
slowly twelve hours the shortest time in which has de-
eroyed life; ordinarily death in four five days.
Here witness cited the Barnes Barnes was a mem
Der of the New Hampshire Lesislsure.l Where strych-
nine was mistaken for morphine, and death ensued in
fifteen or twenty minutes, DR.. Gardener survived three
hours from evidence inquest witness Of opinion Mrs.
johnson dief from strychnine; strychnine is Intensely Bit
ter accused resisted post mortem examination which in
creased suspicion of foul play stopped short of concu
sion as 70 cause OF DEATH until sychnne was detected in
the stomach
subjected by the astute and Ingenious nquistor with
wonderful frce and presence of mind. scvere search
ing and persistent examination failed 70 elicit from
him one word that be did not wish or intend to say, TO
cast the slightest shadow upon the clearness Of his
evidence.
and lungs irst nothing abnormal In condition Of vital
organs practical experience In Of poisoning
by stryctuinc; information acquired from books;
authors; "Tayor on strychnine;' Chalmers Tral sir
Benjamin Brodie; "Wood's Practice ;'-opnion in this
case founded on Pslmer's Trial and mainly on Tay.
the spinal marrow greatly increasing the action of the
nervous sysemthe respiratory muscles rendered rigid;
examined upper portion Of spinal cord and found II In
natural sate authorities examined confirmed witness in
belief that deceased died from effects Of strychnne
ntnh OY Hrp HaYcnr fUa nnY