The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-06-27
The johnson Trial. Defend
ant Acquitted.

mas received.
The johnson Trial. Defend
ant Aquitted.
Both the State and the defence rest
ed their case last Saturday morning at
the opening of court-the evidence
was all in. The Attorney General
opened the case for the State in a.
speech Of three hours. Court then
adjourned until Monday morning,
when Judge H. H. Ingersoll COM
menced the opening speech for the
defence. He did not conclude his ar
gument until six o'clock in the after
noon, having spoken over eight hours.
The argument Of Mr.. Ingersoll was q
mastery effort He discussed the law
OF the case, reading from various au-
thorities on the subject of emotional
insanity, and then took up Johnson's
life, showing that he was a young man
Of learning and ability, rapidly rising
in his profession, the law, and with
bright political prospects ahead. Sud-
denly his health gave way and there
was nothing left him but his wife and
two children. Then one of these
died, and his affections gathered closer
around his wife and remaining child
how terrible then must have been
the shock, when his wife, almost all
that was left him on earth, was ruin
ed by Henry. AT one point in his ar
gument he commented upon one of
Johnson's letters to friend, in which
he said his fate was fitingly described
in Poe's poem "The Raven"-Judge
Ingersoll then read The Raven, with
impressive voice and mein-Senator
Voorhees, was visably effected, and
the eyes Of many Of the audience were
bathed in tears. 1t was thought by
many Of Judge Ingersoll's friends that
this was the ahlest effort Of his life.
Tuesday morning the court house was
filled to its utmost capacity long be-
fore the hour for opening court
When, at 5 o'clock, Senator Voorhees,
arose, it seemed as if the crowd was
afraid to breathe, He showed his
deep interest and feeling in the case
with the very first words that were ut
tered. As he said MAY itplease your
Honor, and you gentlemen of the
jury" his big frame shook with emo,
ton and his voice sent thrill through
every one present. When he told o.
John Howard Payne and his "Home
Sweet Home" there were few dry
eyes in the vast audience. In speak
Ing of the charge circulated in Indi
ana, that Johnson had murdered hii
wife, he declared that Henry was the
real murderer, that he it was who haG
caused her death and left the tongue
OF SANDER jibbering and chattering al
her tomb. AS he described Captain
johnson walking all night long in hil
room, the night before he shot Henry
and crying "Mariette, where are you
Mariette, oh, my poor lost wife, come
back, come back" his voice thrilled
with irresistible pathos, and stron,
men wept like children. We wish W.
could publish his speech. We expec
to have verbatim copy of it before
long and will then publish it in full
We could not be present to hear Capt
j. II. Robingen's closing address fol
the State, but learn it was an able argu
ment. At the time Of going 10 press
the jury has not returned q verdict
and the general opinion is that Their,
will be a mistrial G. E. M. writes Il
the Nashville american about VooI
hees speech, as follows:
Senator Voorhees, effort is regarded
as one of the noblest and most thrill
ing he ever delivered. For four hour
volume OF elequence swept the audi
ence along with the speaker. H
spoke with deep feeling from first t.
last in clear, ringing, resonant voice
at times pausing from emotion, as j
overwhelmed with the subject. III
said the deep and painful responsible
ty he felt yesterday was lightened b,
the able and remarkable speech OF hi
associate, Judge Ingersoll He cam,
from the same State as the defendant
not that he had ADLER counse
here, but his life had beer
spent in upholding the law. H
loved his country, every state and sec
ton, her laws and her institutions
His clients safety was in the law
Ae asked only justice under the law
OF the country. His whole life 70
more than forty years was laid bore
and the speaker, who had known hin
nearly twenty years, defed any on
to show single blot upon his charac
ter. His public duties bore heavil,
on him; he came not for himself, bu
when this poor wan, heart-brokel
man was exposed TO the most terrible
series of misfortune and persecution