Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-10-26

WYE ON TRIAL FOR CHoPPINe UP HER
HUSBAND.

A WYE ON TRIAL FOR CHoPPING UP HER
HUSBAND.
To day, In the Criminal Court, Judge Mac
Arthur, the trial OF the case of Johanna Tur-
bin, charged with the murder of Startling
and ON nne s. He OF sEys r
husband and wife having been we'll known
among the colored people, especially the
BaptisS, there was large number OF those
acquainted with johanna and her victim
present, " lille many people were attracted
by curiosity TO see . woman who had nerve
enough, after killing her husband, TO chop
of his head and limbs and cast the body on
an ash heap and put lime on IT.
THE PRISONER,
Johanna Tufoin, during the selection OF the
scarcely raising her nssd. o She S nas feature:
which seem TO Indicate . very low order or
iDtellisence-a recedfng forehead, fat nose,
and large mouth She appeers 70 have fallen len
She was attired In an old light calico oress,
much worn, and Q small straw hat, trimmed
with black ribbon. Seated pear tne prison.
thirteen years old and the other about nine
or ten. Il was remarked that they were
neatly and M
ther In nothing except color.
But three jurors-John Rover, Richard NJ.
Allen, and George Donaldson-having been
SELECTION OF OTHER JURORS,
was proceeded with, on the opening OF the
court this morning, as follows: John T: c.
Brown, colored, accepted and sworn; Alex
ander Gardner had formed an opinion; John
q. Aud accepted and sworn; John ". Free
ran challenged BY the government; VIM.
Brown had formed an opinion; Joseph 8.
Sfett1n1us challenged by defence; Jacob
KeDgla accepted and sworn; Walker Lewis
panel, and the court ordered that twenty
taIesmen be drawn from the box and sum-
noned.
The District Attorney and II. h. Wells, jr.,
appear for the government, and Messrs.
James z. Bangs and p. ]. Donohue, for the
prisoner, the latter taking the place Of Mr..
r. j. Murray, who being Obliged TO leave the
AFTER RKCKss.
The court reassembled at I O'Clock, and
the talesmen were called and sworn, as fol-
lows: Caleb @. willard had formed an opin-
ion; Frederick M. Detweiler had formed an
opinion; Peter +. Bacon, accepted; John ].
cepted; w. ii: Brawner. accepted; Geo. Hsr-
vey, accepted.
THIS COMPLETED THE JURY,
Yer, Richard M Allen, George Donaldson,
j. T. @. Brown, John @. Aud, VIM. Fergu-
son, Jacob Kengla, Peter F.. Bacon, j. j.
Peabody Robert Mahorney, VIM. H. Braw-
ner and George Harvey.
MIR. II: h. WELLS OPENED THE CASE,
stating that the government expected to
prove that the prisoner , and dseeased were
quarrelsome woman; that In July last she
felled him with an Axe and hacked off the
head and limbs; that she put them In an ash
body, and went OF. leaving her child In the
street; that when she was arrested she denied
that she bad any knowledge OF the murder,
that when brought to the station she adj
THE TESTIMONY.
Lieut.. J. r. Kelly testified that the accused
Ia July lived In back room OF house on
at 1T a.. fk<v
was about 10I12 or 12x12 feet, and In the rear
is an alley and near the back end Of the yard
Is q shed. On the morning OF July It'll he re-
went to the alley; saw In the ash pile some
thing which he thought was an animal, and
taking stick soon found the body with the
burst open the door, and placing two officers
In charge OF the premises, and sending for
The coroner, took means to arrest her.
The next day the prisoner was arrest.
ed, and while witness was taking her to the
Photograph gallery she admitted striking
Der hut band, saying that she struck him
when he was sitting At the table, but that
barrel containing water and the coat, pants,
vest and other clothing of the deceased.
Witness produced the axe. 1t ia a heavy
II Is not sharp, and has piece OF handle
in II not over Is inches In length.
Mr.. DOnahue cYoss examined witness
at length, ana In the CO lrse OF IT witness
made to sever al persons.
OtfceT II. l.. Jones testified to arresting the
prisoner on the morning of July Sth at a
place near Bethesda church. Witness got q
note from friend stating that q gentleman
named Bestor had her tied and witness went
there She 6rst denied that she had done the
set. but said IL they would bring some others
10 hear her then she would state all. Wit
nese brought her out and she stated that she
hit her nd twice and cut him up; and
when asked what she did 1t for she replied
that he had taken her daughter TO the pic
pic and she had to stand by the fence and
loot At them.
Cross examined: The prisoner did not
make any confession In the county, but did
SO al the station. On the way to the station
she said she did not kill him, and asked wit
ess r OF to have her hanged. She said the
quarrel commenced the day before; that her
husband had been drinking, and threatened
To strike her.
Ltebt james johnson testified that he was
present when she said she struck him with
an axe and chopped him up.
Cross-examined:-Ther were q number
present at the time, and she was cautioned
that she need not tell any thing to criminate
herself. She did not appear to be much ex-
cited, and nothing was said about hanging
until she was told that she had better take
To her Bible and prayers, when she asked
them not to hang her. She said that he had
the axe and put 1t down, when she took Ii
and struck him. She stated that her hus-
band had been drinking, and that she had
The trial was in progress when our report
closed.
WANTED DIyoRCr- dav Mr. T.