Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-11-13

Lewis johnson ON Trial for Murd,
Republican TRienmeu.

Lewis johnson ON Trial for murder
Republican Taiesmeu.
The adjourned session Of the Septem
bsr term Of the court Of oyer and tsrminel
convened at the court house Monday
morning, Chief Justice Comegys and
Associate Judges Houston and whitley
sitting.
The case OF State va. Lewis johnson
oolored, charged with the murder o.
James Warrington, was called. The
panel Of Jurors reoslled WAS called by tbs
clerk and Robert Harman, oolored, Thomas
White and William 7. Klrtlsy not re-
spending to their names were fined $40 by
| the court.
Anthony Higgins, Rsq., representing
the defense, and Attorney General Gray,
In behalf Of the State, began the seleo-
ton Of Jury. The usual questions CON.
corning the forming Of an opinion by the
jurors was put, and after one challenge
John r. 6harpley was chosen as first
Juror and foreman. Four more Jurors
were retired on challenges before the
| second juror, Joseph w. Brooks,
was sworn as the third juror
@Atot Az VI tho pAuol hhu pooh ouhl'
ienged or excused for soruples against
capital punishment. Samuel Stephens
was sworn Is the fourth Juror and Vim
cent g. Finn tosk his seat as the fifth.
James Conoway not having formed or ex-
pressed an opinion was seated as juror
the sixth. The seventh Juror was found
n the person Of William Bratton who
was 1worn. Samuel Killgore was seated
ss the eighth juror and william II.
Lyman as the ninth. Walter Ford took
his seat as the tenth juror.
The panels Of regular jurors were here
exhausted, and the calling Of talesmen
was begun, the names being given by
the sheriff. A noticeable feature OF the
talesmen list as called, was that 1t was
comprised Of the most pro ounoed Re.
publioans. The first Of these was William
Wollaston, who was much dAzsd
at the unoeremonious summons,
and after answering the questions
OF counsel satisfactorily, there being
no challenge, he was sworn as the
eleventh juror. Benjamin 7. Bye was
the next talesman called be however
was Ineligible, as he had oonsoientuouo
scfuples against capital punishment.
Thomas NJ. gilbert, replying to the
questions satisfactorily, and there being
no cause for challenge he was seated
as the twelfth juror, filling the panel.
Deputy Acknowledgement Cooper pre-
scented statement Of the CASE to the
Jury and at ! O'Clock the court took q
recess until 3p. IN.
The court of oyer and terminer recon-
vened at O'Clock In the afternoon with
all the judges on the bench.
The hearing OF the testimony In the
case Of Louis Johnson, colored, charged
with the murder OF James Warrington
was at once taken.
Joseph Roberts, q surveyor Of Middle
town, was called to the stand and explained
plot he had drawn OF the place and
vicinity in which the crime was com.
mitted.
Samuel Miles, oolored, was the first
witness called. He testified that the
murder took plsoe on Sunday night in
August. He said he and Warrington
were raised together and called each
other cousin. The night Of the tragedy
he and Warrington went to a oolored
church, and left that going to another
church called Bethel. There they stayed
until 10 O'Clock, when he, the witness,
decided to take ooiorsd girl home. He
told Warrington, and tho deceased said
he would SO to the witness' brotheT's
house 10 Hamtowp. The witness then
took the girl home, ard as he WAS re-
turning he met two women who said,
"Your oousin has been hurt" He
replied, 81 guess NOT" and hurried on
Soon he saw q crowd, and Aaked what
was the matter. The reply waa, Your
cousin has bseu killed" He rushed
over and found James WsrripR ton sitting
on the ground, with his back sgsinst E
speak. He Summoned do;tor aud had
the wounded man removed to his
brothers. house, where he died on the
following Monday morning at 10 80
O'Clock. lie said the deceased had big
wound on his head; that he was short,
stout, and very quiet and industrious,
and was never known to quarrel with
any body.
Frank Pierce, eolored, testified that the
tragedy took place in July that on the
Sunday night he was standing against
fence near Bethel Church, when johnson
came along and walked up bshind War.
rlngton, who was standing near by.
johnson raised stick he was carrying
and he, thinking he was foolipg, turned
away, when he heard ''lick." Turning
around, he ssE Johnson strike the de-
ceased two moro blows on tho head which
felltd him TO the ground. johnson then
walked away. Warrington got up and
fell again then got up aud, he thinks,
fred two ehois then staggered around
he corner aud fell by the tree box.
I.asc Jones and Robert Wright, both
oolored, testified to seeing two OF the
blows struck.
"Where were you looking when the
first blow was struck" asked Mr. Zig.
gins Of Wright.
''LookinE at the girls" was the anus
ing response.
Frank Warran, oolored, said that after
the blows were struck johnson wbirled
around, aud walking away said ~ give
YOU foOltpg with me !" He said that the
second shot ftom the decsssed's pistol
entered his, the wltness', thigh as he was
passing by. He further testified that he
had been TO church. He was asked il
church was over when he came out, .Dd
dryly replied, "No, dey WOE tskin' up a
coll, c;ion when l cum cut"
DR.. e. Il. Rowland OF Midilstown, tssti
fed rs to the wounds Of the murdered
man. He said be found Warrington
Frustrated and completely paralyz=d
He eAid there WAS no out on the head hut
there were several Commissions on tha
skull. Death, no said, was csused by
the blow.
Court at 6 O'Clock adjourned until 2. 80
in the evening.
In the evening, Gaorgeanna seaford
and Nancy Draper testifsd that Louis
Johnson won't home with them after
church ana they passed Warrington.
81 ortly after Johnson had left them they
heard two shots.
The testimony of the Rev. Frederick
Lee and Robert Hall ended the prosecu
tion.
Mr.. Higgins opened for the defense.
David Rothwell, Curtis Buoh, Charles
Hhzleton and jeremiah Rhoads all heard
the pistol shotH, but saw no blows struck.
William NAPLES aud Richard Johnson
testified that Johnson, at their request,
took home two girls on the night OF the
tragedy.
Mr. Higgins ssid he thought likely
this ended the testimony for defense, but
hs would ask the court to hold the case
ofen until Tuesday morning. This was
granted.
The court OF oyer and terminer met
Tuesday morning at 10 O'Clock. The
defense Ia the case of Louis johnson,
charged with killing James Warrington,
having closed, one witness was called by
the prosecution In rebuttal OF evidence
offered lest night, that when Johnson