New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-29
THE COURTS.
THE JOHNSON MURDER.
JOHN THOMAS CONVICTED AND srsryNcrn -.
BIZ HING ~

uner" 'ook pace yesterday. before Judge Cardozo A.,
'no oour' OF oyer and Termner. On the night o, Sen,
90 the prisoner and johnson met near the nor.h.
corner OF Thompson and Broome-sts and after a g.
angry words between them, crossed over IN tho go,
west corner where the prisoner drew pistol sho, Ion
son through the heart and then ran away johnson dI.
almost Instantly ''os
Aoou' an hour and half was consumed yesterdav q.
Iinpannenhg the following jury Henry Arden foreman
Stephen Bogart, VIM Alexander smith Henry oro,,r.,'
", horauo ID. Van Sickle, Morris Bralnard Titus NJ
Lent George w. Walker, James Bryce H.. Henry
Rider, Horace Doty, and Alphonso j. Iafarge
Distrct-Attornoy Garvin and VIM Tweed g. ~
peared Tor the people, and john a. GoodIett and 7
Roche were assigned by the Court to defend the r4so
The DistrctAttorney opened briefly, and then caIea
Clinton Halsey cOored, who testified that On tho a "a
around him and said 60 Haley Won DOM kro es I'M
/ am going to do. am going to KIN that blacS ~
johnson, and then am going 70 blow nv own brar.
ont this about p. m, and at about o'clocI h.
heard he report Of pistol and aferward that Johpeon
On crossexaminaton he said that ne saw the prsoDo.
on Broomest, near Sullivan, where the conyersa,o.
thought from his that he intended 70 carry oui
his threat mad known him IS years and never had any
oner gave no reasons for his actions, and d!d nos
answer witnesses question 20 why he was going Va
shoot Johnson; never saw the prisoner in n passion
before that night and he had always seemed TO be OF
very peaceae disposition
Nelson ]. Crawford cOlored, testified that he knev
johnson, but only knew the prisoner by sight On ina
night OF the murder, between and Q O'Clock VIII re-
turning from business and when Broone near Thomp
sonst be heard the prisoner use very threatening Ian
guage. johnson said DO you intend 20 kin me 4 Won
followed me lat night with knife II you want to nsSt
will the risk or being arrested and accommodate
You" Witness passed on and after going about feet
he heard the report Of pistol and looking around sav
Johnson lying bis back; the prisoner had disappeared
On crosse Xamnaton witness testified that he on
the south side Of BrOOmest and they the north
side when lie heard the conversation saw the parties
plainly anu o re te ey M crossed
ton was renewed; witness told man named Church,
who was With them, to take johnson away, as the
prisoner intended TO Kill cut him heard johnson say
II you want 10 fight mc VIII hire room myself and
fight You the prisoner had his hand in his pocket Wills
talking; johnson and Church dd not have Their hshds
In their pockets.
cation, and attempted to separate tae two; saw tie
prisoner shoot and saw JOb,Son fall on cross-exam
ton testified that he followed the Faagut procession
that day with Johnson; did not know that he was
armed; stopped IN three places during the day and
drank liquor; first met the prisoner with Johnson Wien
made by johnson light with the prisoner; did not
johnson make any effort to strike him. did not expect
William L. Burton, colOred, testified that he had
OF the murder, about $50, he was In the liquor store
corner Of Thompson and Broome ss the prisoner cane
in and asked If witness knew where Johnson was; re-
but afterward came back ana saw Doth OF tbem opposs
Take your hand out OF our pocket whleh was al
that he heard said; next saw the prisoner draw
thing from his pocket and then lash aud heard
report; Johns0s lived but few minutes and did no,
speak after he fell.
little excitement that he did not notice it, and readily
told him where lie had last johnson not under
the influence OF liquor that day. was johnson did
not Church Mt the time OF the shooting at the time
Johnson shot be was standing with Bis back toward
Thompsonst and tbe prisoner was facing him; did not
see Anything in the prisoners hand knew Of no threats
having been made by johnson 90 fight Thomas -
Grace Ann Thompson (c0oTedl testh, that she knew
% ,bat nht befcrs The shooting and Ltard johnson
say to Thomas, al have heard that you were running
around TO shoot me-" Thomas sad, You know aDGa'
I,rplla nT1n m l.l1
Come Cd, Church and they al went across me 'tr,e
heard johnson say to Thomas Take your hands ont "
your pockets; what you doing vita them In your
pockctsp heard the report and saw johnson Iall a..
prisoner; he saw him running; laid his hand On hh
shoulder and asked him what was the matter Tue r+
oner said that he did not know; saw prisoner throw
away pistol aud, after he had given him into the Gus
tody OF another officer he looked for the pistol wDh ne
found in an unoccnpied buildng took the prisoner 70
the Station House; 1t about minute after he heard
the report that he arrested him. .,.,
prisoner in his cell that night aud said &C him. I'm,
rather an 9nGTanate s b ,Sr IS ss
have shot nobody the next morning he sent for
fsaid, "why did you you do ito he said q" did It IN seif
defense" said, did he assault youfp be said, mo
better lave waited it Very unfortunate for yous
Witness shown the pistol and identified it, and also
the ball extracted from JOhnsons body by Dr. shine.
Dr. Shine testifed-On the LIST day Of octobc, made
posmOrem examination of the body Of decreased found
sixth ribs an inch to the left of the mean line OF the
body had penetrated the heart and must have caused
Crots.examined|Th ball took direction inward and
slightly downward; it had glanced on OF the NTH rib
the man who fired the phtol must Lave been Glmest
directly opposite little to the left IN my onon u
is impossible to tell, however from the dlecta .as
ball. where the assaiant stands for the slightest thhs
The prosecution here rested and the defense called as
their first and only witness the prisoner John Tomas
who testified: was born In Hay u; have been IN New
York between and Is years have been 10 sea as cook
had returned from the yacht Sylvia only two weeks Dc
fore the on the Friday night OF me ocsr
renee went down TO Cana 10 see friend OF nina %
nm of j.
again after a while went over TO the East RIVER ana
came back; up % BroOme-st, and me- Halsey bal
l. II Walter johnson talks about me again IKE 20 co.
Twill hurt him; don't like him 10 use me 10 that
way :" then | went away as far as BeeekeI.st
asked him if he had seen Walt Johsoul he say "So;
after walking up Laurens-st., walked down y Zone
toward sullivan, thinking would stop and see LEND
before going home on the corner just before got
that you Z" said Yes - he sad " underst,Td vou
story !" he said, "what do you want OF NET saia
Nothing :" says he 81 want 70 see you any eme
over across the street away from THIS crowd = a. We
looking for him for; said hadn't you war 70 set
wp.b Won he said You want 10 whip me = al
want no such thing some one mas been te,lng 10y, ~
said IN shoot you I'll give you DID good leslas.
ANYHOW" ard he struck at me, and dodged an Grew
sre tbe prisoner rose and declared evcey but
ddu't lave no intention to shoot him any nore 'hAh
~" O. Are you in the habit Of carrying pistol Yea
Sir ever since it was given To me-. a,
a. mad Won been drinking that day 4. Yes, : =
sSrossexamined-I fired only one charge, lheh thres
my pistol away and RAM the deceased ddht stise "s
AT all only struck M me and dodged -, 81,
O. Did he ito anything but threaten A. no, e. NJ, for
Tho defense here rested md MI. GOodlett sumhe
the prisoner followedby the DstricAtorney Oh osn
OF the People. Judge Carlozo thenchargen ,ssn
ond they without leaving their seats, and IN le tss
one minute returned verdict Of guilty OF mu.dtt ~
frst degree The prisoner, when asked by tue CT
10 wished 10 saw anything before the sentence OF re ~"
wa" aTney St SEEM to bring me guilty do not se VIZ;
else ave 10 say would like To nave ahother u"
IL is convenient H.. ,,,, sotd. Va, lave
o pnstlv by the jury or murder IN the NE
no0n sab Iuty deyOVcr OF prononhf.