Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-10
VIM. JOHNsONs MURDER.
Further Particulars of the AtrOciOus
Crime-Williams Makes Confession.

Further Particulars of the AtrOciOus
Crime-Williams Makes a Confession.
The News has already published an ac-
count of the murder OF VIM. johnson in
Pulaski county. We find the following
additional particulars of the horrible af-
fair in a Hawkinsville special to the At
lanta DAILY journal, under date of June 8:
Since the finding of the body of William
johnson, an old and well-knOwn citizen
OF this county, efforts have been made to
discover the murderers, which have been
crowned with success. Suspicion rested
on John Trammell and Frank Williams,
who had dealings with the murdered man,
and they were arrested. Since their ar.
rest Williams has made full confession,
and has given the details of the atrociOus
crime. Johnson lived alone in his house,
near Bluff creek, and was the owner of a
considerable area of valuable land. He
was a paralytic, and could not 90 about
without assistance. He owned a fine
tract of land which Trammell determined
to get hold of, and villainOus plan was
cOncocted to accomplish the purpose.
The substance of Williams confession is
as follows:
Coming to town last week, Trammell
had deed to the land written out, con-
veying it to him in the usual form. Then
taking it home, under pretense of its
being a road commission, he prevailed on
old man johnson to sign it, thus convey
ing away a valuable property. Having
got the possession of the coveted land,
the next act in the tragedy was to get the
old man out of the way, so that Tram
nell might enjoy undisputed the fruits of
his scheming. To do this a most villain
Gus plan was OncOcted-nOthing less
than to lock the old man up in his house
on Saturday night, saturate it with kerO-
sene, and then apply the torch to burn up
the helpless old man alive.
This is the tale that Williams tells: He
said everything was prepared for this to
occur Saturday night; but even his own
mind revOlted at such horrible thing,
and he prevailed on Trammell to fOrego it
and try some more mercifal method. On
Monday morning, both being at JOhnsOn's
home, they hitched up the Old mans steer
and cart, and, placing him in the cart,
started him off to the mill, not very far
distant. Filled with the desire for eX-
ecuting their purpose, they did not walt
until darkness might assist them in hiding
the cruel deed, but started to boldly com
nit a deliberate murder on the highway
at midday. They took a near cut through
the field, overlook the old man near the
ford OF the creek IN which he was found,
and there finished the nefarious crime.
From an examination Of the body by
the COrOner's jury, it was shown that
the old man was struck a severe blow on
the back of his head, which probably
stunned him, and then choked by a grip
around the neck. The prints OF finger
grips were perfectly plain on each side of
his neck. The old man, although helpless
in his lower limbs, was unusually mus
cular in his arms, and, II is said, was
more than match for an ordinary man.
SO the precautiOn they took in coming
upon him unawares and striking him from
behind is obvious. After committing the
crime they threw the old mans body in
the water near his cart, and then unS Oked
the steer from the cart and tied the lines
to the cart body. One OF the pins was out
Of the yoke, and the affair was clumsy
arrangement TO deceive one into thinking
That the steer by tossing bis head threw
out the pin and became uny0ked from the
cart, and that johnson IN endeayOring to
control the OK was thrown or fell In the
water and drowned.
Williams aVOws his own innocence,
saying that Trammell conceived and exc
cuted the whole affair, but there is little
doubt that be Is more or less implicated.
Tue tracks were seen that both Of them
made through the field 10 the ford and
then back, without crossing the creek.
the same way TO the mill, where il Is said
they arrived In a very excited state OF
mind. The body was found within half
an hour after he was killed. John Tram
neil Is a slightly built young man, about
% years old; has slight mOustache OF
rather light color and brown hair; seems
TO be OF ordinary intelligence, but has not
prepossessiug face. HIS eyes are rather
retreuting, and the upper lids drOop, In
dicatng "A disposition 20 prevaricate,
which your correspondent learns is his
principal charaeteristic. He has never
borne a good reputation, nor, on the other
hand. has be before this been accused Of
anything really bad. He has a young
wife aud one child. Frank Williams N
also a young, slender fellow. unmarried.
lie hns b0rue d better character than his
accOmpiice. Both waived preliminary
examination and are safe In jail.
nORsFORD's ACID PHOSPHATE
W<lteA a CooIlnn Drink