The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-29
THE JOHNSON HOMICIDE.
The Fatal Negro ARRAY in Brooms Street on
the Day Of the Farragnt Cbsequies.
Testimony for the Observation-Disclosures
OF the Alleged MISUNDERSTANDING
Up OF Counsel and Verdict.
Thomas Sentenced to be Hanged On the
18th of February Next.

commenced yesterday morning In the Court OF Oyer
and 1ermlner, Judge Cardozo sitting on the bench.
There was only slim attendance In the court room,
ana very many OF those c0lored people, drawn
there through special interest the trial. both the
murdered man ana the alleged murderer being
colored men. The prisoner stalwart muatto with
low forehead ana beetle brows, and yet general ex-
preston not altogether displeasing. was seated by
Mr.. John A. Goodlet. his counsel
EMPANNELLING A JURY.
Nearly an hour AMI o half was consumed In EN-.
paneIhng q jury. The following were the Jurors
finally sclected:-Henry Araen. Stephen Bogart
William Alexander Smith, Henry Queripel, Jr.,
Horatio d. Van SICKLE, Morris Bralnard, Titus NJ.
Lent, George w. Walker, James Bryce, Jr., Henry
" Ryder Horace Doty aud Alphocso j. Laiarge
The jurors were all white men,.
OPENING FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Mr.. Garyin, the District Attorney In his usual
clear ana comprehensive manner, gave the jury q
succinct statement OF the facts Of the killing lie
insisted the killing was a clear case Of deliberate
and unprovoked murder. an believed that the evil
dence would fully sustain the Indictment. Next
TESTIMONY IN THE CASE
Harrison llasey was the drst witness called, IA d,
being duly sworn, testified as follows:-I reside a
No. 81 Watts street, was at work on the day OF the
killing OF Walter Johnson; the deceased caught me
around The neck and said, II am going 70 Kin Tho.
told him he had better go home; THIS
was about SIX O'Clock in the evening; !
8en o S0 and n we mere n @
see who fired the pistol; the deceased was cook;
this was on the night OF the Soh OF September last.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES hen the prisoner told me he
was going to kill Johnson told him he had better 20
home; the prisoner In passion; he did not tell
me what put him in a passion; cannot tell whether
he was drunk have known the prisoner fifteen
years; have never had any difficulty with him and
have no unfriendly feelings toward him; never
hanr RI M htl ha "A fnnfn ltnIa HAD
ceased was about six feet tall: am not whether
saw Walter Johnson that day; had drunk nothing
in the evening as far as remember thus is all know
OF this matter; asked the prisoner why ne was
going TO kin the deceased and he would not tell me;
we talked about five minutes; the prisoner was cry
Ing, but did not halloo; had always thought MIN
mild-tempered man; had never known him 10 be
IN quarrel
TESTIMONY OF NELSON CRAWFORD.
Nelson Crawford sworn was acquainted with
the deceased but only knew the prisoner by sight;
between eight and nine O'Clock on the evening OF
the Both or September, was passing the corner OF
Broome and Thompson streets, head the prisoner
using very threatening language; he said to the de-
ceased, "You followed me all last night, Tor you
mean to murder me:o afterwards the deceased SAID,
81 VIII fight You II you want tor two or three min
utes afterwards l heard the report OF pistol, and
then saw Johnson lying on his back; saw no pistol
In the prisoners hands; he died in less than five
minutes blood came from his breast, and, ! think,
from his mouth
Cross-examination-My attention was first called
to the parties In Bronze street; heard the threaten.
Ing language; was directly opposite them, across
the street, the prisoner said, 81 heard that you fol-
lowed me all night with knife;" this threatening
language know was uttered by the prisoner; the
deceased said, "f you want to fight me do so, but
take your hands out or your pocket" | told a man
named Church ne means mischief; e., the deceased
yOn must take your hands out OF your pocket;u
had known the deceased about six years
and the prisoner about a year; / was
not intimate with the deceased; have no unfrendly
feelings towards the prisoners noticed that the prs
oner had one hand In his pocket; know Church wa
acquainted with the deceased; the prisoner no
crying; / never heard Of the deceasef kicking
mems hats OH their heads for wagers; aid moi
hear the deceased tell the prisoner he would shoot
him.
oil Johnson l was In Lynchs liquor store ana heard
the prisoner and deceased talking In a loud voice;
Johnson said 10 Thomas, "Take your hands out OF
your hands out of your pocket;' the previous wit
ness asked me to take Johnson away; very soon the
prisoner stepped back several feet, and. drawing a
pistol, shot the deceased!I saw HIM draw the pistol,
the Hash. heard the report and saw the deceased
fail; little while after this The prisoner was
rested.
Crosse yamination-Thi was on the evening or
the day OF the Farragut processlon first met the
deceased in the morning; we took two drinks to-
gether and then separates; made no arrangements
to meet him that night; cannot say that either the
prisoner or deceased was under the influence OF
liquor; was an acquaintance OF the deceased, and
nothing more; the shooting was opposite tae liquor
saloon No. 51l Broome street; did net see the de-
ceased make any motion to strike the prisoner.
TESTIMONY or WILLIAM e. BURTON.
VIM. +. Burton, sworn knew the deceased and
also know the prisoner have been the shipmate OF
both Of them about half-past eight O'Clock on
the evening Of September 80 | was IN Lynch's
liquor saloon, corner OF BrOome and Thompson
street; the prisoner came In and asked II had seen
Walter Johnson; he said ne had been looking for
him; told him had been with Waiter seeing the
procession and left him up town, In the Twentieth
Ward, he did not appear TO be particularly excited;
went away about half an hour, ana when came
back the prisoner and the deceased were having an
alteration IN the street; soon tue prisoner drew
pistol and shot the deceased; after firing the pistol
the prisoner ran OF In the direction OF Laureu5
street, Johnson did not speak after he le; he bed
a little from the mouth; did not see Church.
Crosse xamlned-I was ABOUT eight lees away
when the firing took place; do not know what the
trouble between them was.
MISS THoIPSON'S TESTIMONY.
Grace Ann Thompson sworn--I slightly knew the
deceased; Oh the night IN question | saw the &c.
ceased and the prisoner talking loudly at one another
OF the corner OF Broome and Thompson streets; John
son said "You know about the umbrella;n Thomas
sad, ''You have got my umbreia;" johnson SAID,
1--WE will settle 1t n0w;n Thomas sad, II hear you
have been following me all nighC;' pretty soon
Thomas fred and Johnson fell; ! saw nothing In
Johns0n's hands.
Edward Harnett s,worn-I am a member
OF the police force; l arrested the prisoner
on the night OF the homlcide; as | LAID my
hand on his shoulder he lung pistol away:
gave him in charge Of officer Cornell and went III
search OF the pistol, which l found; j identify
the pistol produced as che one; put two marks
on it; three chambers are still loaded aud three
have been discharged; took the prisoner TO the
station house and turned him over TO Captain Nc
Dermott; Sergeant MalOney searched him.
Cross-cxamlned-A coorcd man called my atten-
ton to the shooting; found the pistol In vacant
building, where the prisoner threw 1t.
CAPTAIN n DERM0TTS TESTIMONY.
Captain McDermott, sworn-I told the prisoner
this shooting was an unfortunate affair for MIN; he
sail IL was not unfortunate for him, lie had shot no
one; this was the evening OF his arrest; the next
morning ne Told me he did shoot the accused, bat
did 1t in self deicnce 1 asked HIM II the dece lsed
assaulted him. and he said no, but he expected he
wOud.n
Or. william Shine. sworn-l made post-mortem
examination OF the deceased; the ball passed
through the heart ana lodged In the spinal column
very sight thing Will dchect the course OF the
bail.
The prosecution here rested.
STATEMENT OF THE CCUSED.
John Thomas, the prisoner, sworn-I was born in
Hayt; have lived In New York about twenty-five
years. followed the sea for q living, acting IN TIT
capacity OF cook; after the procession l went tC
see friend, and then, coming up Broome street,
met Iiaisey; l told Haisey that | did no
by Johnson then went into Lynch's aad there