Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-25
The JOhnSOn.JO hnSOn Murder Trial.

The JOhnSOn.J OhnsOM Murder Trial.
TESTIMONY IN THB CASE.
Yesterday, In the Criminal Court, Judge
James, the trial OF John Silas Marshall John.
SOD, a young white man charged With the MUIR
der OF James E. Johnson, coiored, on the a9th
OF March, 1850. on 18th street. above street,
was continued after recess -Nessrs. Corkhill and
Perry for the government. and Messrs. 4. 3.
Williams and F. II. Falls for the accused
The witness Pearce continued his testimony,
ard witness went out 14th street together On
the west side, passing Reek's grocery store, just
above street, when they called Mr.. Hickman
ard Norris out OF the store and all went up the
street together, Garrison and Finn being In
front as rar as Samson street. and stopped on
the north side. johnson called Garrison and
Finn back and said. Jennie. come on back
he did not remember anything being said TO
him the WitneSs) by Johnson Or he saying any
thing TO johnson before he called Garrison
back.
Mr.. Perry said that he was surprised at the
answer OF the witness for he held in his hand
the testimony OF the witness taken before the
coroner's jury, where the testimony OF the Wit
ness was entirely different. Under the ruling
of the court he could not cross. examine his own
witness. but he could read the previous testI-
mony, and ask the witness If at such a time and
then read from the coroner's notes OF the Iesti-
moDy OF Pearce as follows Walked to Sam
sen street and stopped at Mains store. John
niggers following? let's go back and ! said,
No, don't 20 back; there IS no good making a
fuss with anybody said old not think they
were following us. Then he said, You are afraid
to go back and called GARRISON and Finn back"
Witness, under objection by defence and an
exception noted, answered as folows:-"If
y31 PAVE got II tRepe suppose sWoGe TO t.
W'tness was asked II he did not, in May. 1889,
make TIE following statement 10 the district
attorneys Office -" We then went ON Up to
18th and Samson streets; Finn and GARRISON
were about sixty yards ahead: Johnson stopped
there and turned and said Who are those ne
70 eome he nss OF eS h hs Tor
bered that statement. and continued =" John
son the defend9nU hallooeo. Jimmie come
on back ;oG and SAID Who are these
said, Don go back That is all either
OF us said, as near as can remember, at that
time. Clarkson and Finn had not yet got up
hind us. johnson started back, aud and
Hickman were about seven or eight feet be-
hind him. Norris was next and close to us, and
Clarkson and Finn next, about twenty feet be-
Johnson said, who are these niggers follow
ing?' saw the persons to whom he referred.
There were only two that could see. They
near the curb. johnson was walking past these
parties standing there. johnson. the man thai
was shot, said to johnson, the defendant. Who
the hell are you looking at?' Johnson said. Il
am looking at YOU The coiored man squared
himself on at Johnson, and as he did SO the de-
fs ,n kicked at him; The colored man ran
fendant drew the pistol and shot him. He had
the pistol In his right hand. johnson was
about i've feet away from the deceased when he
fred the pistol. After he did 1t he ran III, i4th
street.
Witness was cross examined up to the hour
OF adjournment.
TO-DAY.
This morning Col. w. A. Cook, the senior
counsel for defense who has been quite ILL., was
IN court coz, for the first time since the beginning
The witness Pearce resumed the stand. and
his cross examination was continued al some
length. He said the deceased was about six
feet III height and well built.
BY Mr.. Perry:-Remembers now that deceased
called defendant @ "White s. OF a b." and
thinks he Witness said so IN the District attor-
ney's Office.
MIR. Perry-AEd two Or three more.
ANOTHER WITNESS.
Turner X. uackman was the next witness
and he testified that on the night OF the shoot
Ing defendant asked witness to go home with
MIN, and, walking up 14th street, defendant
said, Who are those niggers following?" and
called Finn and Clarksou to come back uhey
Oe1DS 10 'front.'. Defendant then started back
followed by Norris, Pearce, witness, Finn and
Clarsson. Defendant asked witness to treat,
and he replied that he couldn't. They then
deceased, who kind Of advanced and said to de.
PENDANT. WHO In HI are you looking at.r
Defendant answered, who are you looking
was going to fight. Defendant then kicked at
him, and deceased put bis hand toward the
back hip pocket and said, "You s. OF b-r'
Witness thought that he was going 70 Shoot.
and started to run. Witness herd the report
OF pistol, tGit Gid not see who fired 1t.
Mr.. PERRY sURrRIZED.
Mr.. Perry said that he was as surDr,Zei at
this testimony as he had been at that or the
preceding witness. The government was
obliged 10 use them, for one fact could be
proved by them and LneTn only. He had not q
statement from this witness made before the
y 2ia r
ness In the District Attorney s office. He pro.
pcsed to ask II he Old not
Mr. COOK OBJECTS.
MI Cook.-1 chject TO reading this state
Mr.; Perry.-The same question was raised ia
tie Pope case.
When was afflicted. and have come down TO
see that justice Is done my client If die by it.
MT CoIkh1D.-f You should die, Colonel,
we'll take care OF you
The Court remarked that II should stop
personalities and address themselves to the
Court, and suggested that the witness be asked
first II he had made statement.
This question was asked, and witness said he
remembered having made statement.
Mr. Perry was about to read this statement
when Mr. Cook objected. and proceeded to
argue this objection on the ground that there
had been no proof that the witness had made
THIS statement. He submitted that 1t should be
shown first who took down the statement ana
that 1t was an accurate statement.
Mr.. Perry, for the government, claimed that
the prosecution had the right to question Wit
ness whether he had not made different state
MentS The question was further discussed TIL
l1:+5 O'Clock, when the court took recess till
1879.
AFTER RECESS
the point was further discussed and the objec-
ton Overruled
Mr.. Perry asked If the witness had not said in
the District Attorneys Office II thought that
some shooting was going on, and after had
gone short distance | turned and looked
around and saw defendant with his pistol 10 his
hand. Then l started to run and heard the re-
port"
Witness replied that he may have made such
statement about seeing the pistol, but did not
recOllect 1t now. He repeated that he was
afraid deceased intended to shoot and ran.
Don't recollect now that defendant had pistol;
was running when the shot was fired {HaS
about 80 or 40 feet off; noticed two boys putting
away coal at the time.
Witness was crossed-examined at conSidera-
bic length.
BURGLARS IN THE HoUsE.-Yesterday after
noon the residence Of Mr. James Bowen, corner
OF Massachusetts avenue and 9th street, was
entered by thieves and two trunks were broken
open and quantity OF small articles stolen.
The thieves were evidently after money or
other yaluabieS. but did not succeed In getting
anything valuable They used an iron boot
jack 10 pry the trunks open, and 1t was broken