Daily Republican., 1884-11-11
LEWIS JOHNSON'S TRIAL.


Court convened ut 5 O'Clock Monday
afternoon, with the Chief Justice and
Associate Judges Wootten, Houston
and Whiteley on the bench, and i'm.
mediately proceeded with the trial oi
Lewis johnson, colored, for the murder
Of James Warrington, ON Sunday night,
July 10th, at Middletown.
Joseph Roberts was called, and After
Deing sworn, testified that he ia . sur.
veyor. He WAS shown . plot Of the
scene Of the tragedy, and after stating
that be had drawn 1t, explained It T.
the jury.
Samuel Miles, colored, was sworn,
and testified that for several months
past he has resided at Middletown.
He knows Lewis johnson, the prisoner,
and WIS also acquainted with james
Warrington In hts life time. The night
Warrington was killed, the witness
Was with him TO church, Ut y place
called Hamtown, and after the preach.
ing was over at that plaCs, cnmo in
town, and went TO Bethel church.
The service ended about 10 O'Clock,
and when they came out, the witness
saw . young girl that he WAS keeping
company with. and left Warrington at
the church door, while he started home
with the girl. When he left Warning.
ton, he said he was going 70 Lea's, and
after the witness had seen the girl
homo he started to 60 back to the
church, when he met two women, who
informed him that Warrington was
badly hurt.
He hurried back and found . crowd
standing around some one, and WAS
told that 1t was jim Warrington the
witness did not believe 1t, and after
pushing his way through the crowd,
lit match, and saw 1t was him. Some
mon then helped TO lift Warrington on
the platform, and he went for doctor.
who came right along with him at
that time Warrington WAS still alive,
but could not speak, and did not know
any one. The witness then took him to
his brothers at Hamtown, and stayed
ell night with him, but he was not con-
scious up 70 the time of his death, about
10 O'Clock the next morning. +,
Warrington WAS small man, and
the witness did not think he WAS OF
age at the time CT his death. He was
not with him when he died, having
gone up town on an errand, but saw
him afterwards and looked at the
wound on the top Of his head where he
had been struck. This witness was
subjected to strict cross. ex amir ation
by Mr.. Higgins, but nothing was
brought out to change his direct testi-
mony.
Frank Pierce, colored, was sworn,
and testified that he lives In Middle
town, and knows Lewis johnson has
known him ever since he was q small
boy. The night Warrington was killed
the witness was at Bethel Church, and
after the service was over, he saw
Warrington standing alongside the
fence the witness passed him, and
then stopped short distance off at the
corner. Saw Lewis johnson at the
church, ard while he was standing by
the fence saw him pass about ton feet
distant johnson walked behind War.
rtngton, and the witness heard 4 lick
struck, and when he turned his head
saw him strike Warrington twice.
He strnck Warrington three times
with club, or heavy paling off o
fence after he was struck he fell down
and then raised up again, and the wit
ness heard two shots, which he thinks
were fred by Warrington, who then
staggered around the corner. When
the shots were fired the witness ran .
short istance, and when he came back
Warrington WAS ly ing Lear where he
the witness had been standing. A
crowd Immediately collected around
him, and Miles struck match but by
that time some one brought light, and
the witness saw that the man was bad
ly hurt.
The witness did not help to carry
Warrington home, and did not see him
again until after he was dead. The
cross examination failed to change, or
alter the direct testimony in any re-
spect.
Isaac Jones, colored, testified that he
resides In Hamtown, at Middletown;
the night Warrington was struck, the
witness had been to Hamtown Church,
and had come down TO Bethel. He saw
Warrington standing alongside of the
fence. and saw johnson coming toward
him; when he came up behind Warning
ton he struck him three times with q
chunk which he had in his hand; the
witness did not see the first blow, but
heard It, and when he turned his head,
saw him strike two more blows; when
johnson struck him the third time,
Warrington fell down and then partly
raised up and fred two shots. The wit.
ness walked away when the shots were
fred, and did not see Warrington again
until the next day, when he was dead
Robert Wright, colored, testified that
he remembered the night Warrington
was killed 1t was on Sunday night
last summer, but he forgot what month
1t was. The witness was standing by
the fence, near Bethel church, taking
to Irene Cooper, when the shots were
fred and he run away. He did not see
any blows struck, but did hear three
lichs just before the shots were fred,
and he continued to talk to Irene until
the shooting commenced, when he ran
to the end Of the street, and did mott
come back until they were carrying |
home.
Frank Warner, colored, testified that
he has lived in Midd dletowu about two
years, and knew both the prisoner and
the man who was killed. The night OF
the killing the witness was at Bethel
church, and after he came ont was
under o tree on the sidewalk |
near the church /; he saw Warrington |
and several others standing alongside /
Of the fence, when LOWS Johnsou |
passed and went behind Warrington. |
Johnson had cane or club in his hand,
and rs soon a. he WAS near enough,
struck Warrington. |
After striking the blows johnson |
whirled around and walked away, and
said "Ill give you fooling with me.
The drst blow struck Warrington on
the arm, and the other two were on his
head the last enc knocked him down,
and as soon rs he raised up he drew 81
pistol and fred two shots, one Of which |
struck the witness In the thigh a.
soon as he felt the shot hit him, the
witness ran and jumped over thorn |
hedge; he was frightened, and did
not come back for some time, and when |
he did, Warrington was lying on the |