Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-02-25
Trial Of VIM. w. Johnson for killing
DR.. W. Ii. Roberts.

This Case having been moved from Bcdtorc
to Roanoke county, the trial was commenced ii
the county court at Salem on Monday last
Mcssrs f. e. Burks, of Bedford: ::Jno Goode
Jr., of Norfolk and f. p. Goggin, Of Lynch
burg, appeared for the defence.
4 jury having been empanclcd, the cxamina
ton was commenced as follows:
J. s. Watson sworn.-l was standing on the
opposite side OF the street from where the par
ties were standing, talking TO MIR. kasey and
DR.. Patterson. Saw DR.. Roberts starting W
the street in the direction of the Bedford House.
Just before getting to the Bedford House saw
Mr.. johnson standing on the steps before the
Bedford House He and DR.. r. met at the
steprnr-stones. and both stopped when they
met. Mr.. kasey called our attention, and said
there might be difficulty. Mr. j. had some
thing in his hand II thought it was switch: J
close enough to touch DR.. r. Mr. Wells then
came up, and, thought, tried to pacity them.
Saw Mr. johnson push Wells aside, still hold
ing the switch in his hand Mr.. j. advanced
and held his switch over DR.. r. 5 shoulder.
after changing it from his right to lei, hand
could not see Dr. R. in that position, Mr.. j..
standing between DR.. R. and me. | then saw
Mr.. j. reach his hand back as if to draw a
pistol. Then saw Dr. r. have his pistol drawn
and in full view Mr. J. in stepping back ex-
posed Dr. r. to me- They both made hurried
movements Mr. j. fired as soon as drawn
DR.. Il. had his pistol in his hand by his side,
and fired Immediately afterwards After the fir
ing Of the first shot DR.. r. caught lamp post, but
exposed the most of his body while holding the
post MIR. J. fred again Then DR.. r. fired
the second shot from behind the post, and was
attempting to cock the pistol third time
when he fell. Mr.. J. fred three shots in all.
and DIR. R. fired two shots
Cross-cxamined. Was on the opposite side
of the street, about twenty-five or thirty yards.
Saw DR.. r. when he came out of his Office, on
the corner of Booth street He had both hands
in his pockets, walked to the Bedford House,
and met at the steppng-s mes Mr.. Wells
came up during the conversation where they
first met Could see DR.. Roberts and johnson.
Saw j. have what thought was switch.
which was drawn over DR.. r. shoulder. Saw
Mr., }. step back and saw pistol in DIR. r. $
hands. MIR. j. drew 4 pistol and fired first.
but almost simultaneous Did not see DR.. r.
draw his pistol; he had his hands in his peck
cts all the time. | thought his pistol went off
before he was ready After j. fired Il. threw
his arms around post in front Of the Bedford
House. After firing j. stepped back. DIR. r.
remained hold Of the post. Dr. r. fired twice
and attempted to fire the third time. About
ten steps apart when the fight ended Did not
examine DR.. r.. body.
Jas. Wells swom.-I was present ut the diff
ieulty; was going towards the Bedford House
when first saw them. Saw MIR. johnson
and DR.. Roberts meet at the sign-post. was
thirty or forty yards of, coming in that direc
lion. After | got there heard Mr.. J. say II
want the thing settled right here | got be-
tween them and tried to stop the difficulty
Mr. j. had whip in his left hand and told
R. if he did not explain he would whip him