Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-09
THE MURDER TRIAL.
The Defense Rests the Case-Arguments
To Begin To-day.

The Defense Rests the Case-Argaments
To Begin To-day.
The fifth day of the johnson murder trial
was taken up with hearing of the testi-
mony for the defense. The attendance
was larger than any previous day, and the
interest of those present intense. The
first witness was Alex. johnson, father
of the defendant, who had previously tes-
titled. lie stated that he went down TO
Mayor Purdy on the morning OF the day
Of the murder and asked him what kind
of q paper he had given Mr.. Thatcher-it
he had given him paper to break into
peoples houses. The mayor said no, and
took him in the Office and showed him the
kind of paper he had given Thatcher.
| Witness also asked the Mayor
rs tO the amount of the
fine. Mr. Pudy laughed, but did not say.
| He also stated that when Mr.. Thatcher
went away that morning he went towards
Mr.. Rogerson's and Mr. Rogerson said to
witness:
Il wonder what Thatcher is doing
| dlouuu uCit ~ tdh - iic "uHt 'N 'oON
ing for Gene Johnson"
To which johnson replied
''He better look out or he will get n
load of shot in him for going around peO-
Piles houses so early in the morning"
Wm. NickersOn stated that he resided di-
rectly opposite to where johnson resided,
and that he saw Gene johnson on June
~, 1856, down on the railroad switch and
was talking TO him. This was between
| 10 and | o'clock that morning. He saw
him about o'clock that afternoon when
Alex. Johnson was with them. They had
! conversation. lie said that he also had
a conversation with Mr. Thatcher about 9
o'clock that morning He asked hlm II
Gene Johnson was at home, knowing that
he lived near johnson. Nickerson said:
II don't know"
Thatcher said:
~ am going down there some time to-
day and see if he is home. am going to
arrest him if lose my life to do it,"
In croSS-eIaminatior witness stated that
| Mr.. Thatcher's exact words were:
~ am going down there some time to-
day TO arrest him il ! lose my life or Mr..
Johnson loses his.
lie also stated that in conversation
with the prisoner at 1 o'clock on the day
of the murder he told hm'to stay away
from the house that day and night until
he and his father Alex. Johnson could
get some money TO pay his fine.
Eugene Johnson, the prisoner, was next
put on the stand. lie was considerably
excited and INDUCED in little laughter
during his testimony. He stated that he
did not see Mr.. Thatcher on Monday, the
2lst Of June the day preceding the MUIR
der. but had been informed by his wife
that he had been there On Tuesday, the
I'D day of June, Mr.. Thatcher came there
between and o'clock in the morning, a
little while after daylight. He and his
wife were in bed, his wife being asleep.
He heard a knock ut the door. lie
awakened his wife and told her that some
one was at the door She raised partly up
in bed and said: "Who is there" A
voice replied: Open this door {" His
wife said: 81 won't do it," and Thatch-
er then broke in. When he heard
Mr.. Thatcher break IN, he jumped out on
the top of the portic0 within five yards Of
Mr. Thatcher lie heard Mr.. Thatcher
searching the house, aud also heard him
say TO his wife when he left: "All want
is TO get my eyes on him." He heard
him 90 down stairs and leave. He then
put on his clothing and started on up the
bottom to try and raise some money to
ray his fine. He then stated his
conversation with Jackson, cOrrobOrating
Nickerson's testimony. He also stated
his conversation with Clyde Pyles, in
which he lPyles) told him if he had the
money he would loan it 20 him 10 pay his
fine. johnson stated that he told Pyles
that if Thatcher did not quit breaking in
TO his house that he would get load OF
shot put in him He stated that he came
home about clock that day, after being
out in the wet all day. lie went home
and went into the house and began 20
change his clothes, they being wet. He
saw Mr.. Thatcher coming He went TO
his wife and said. Here comes Thatcher"
she was cutting kindling wood at the time
and had a hatcbet in her hand. He opened
the kitchen door and climbed up into the
loft. Witness said:
heard Mr.. Thatcher knock at the door.
The next thingiI heard the door being
broke in and heard terrible
racket, and then heard considerable
screaming. | heard Mrs. Martin say, let
her 90 Mr.. Thatcher said / won't do it.
She drew butcher knife on me- Then
Mrs. Martin cried for her husband. He
heard his wife screaming and then he
Jumped ont Of the loft and ran through the
kitchen and saw his gun standing in the
corner. He grabbed it up and ran out
and saw Mr.. Thatcher have his wife on the
ground holding her with his left hand. He
called. "Iet her gor' ''let her gO"r ''let
her co. and fired ~ quick as he could,
because he saw him have his hand by his
revolver. He then dropped his gun and
ran. Witness also stated where he had
been before his capture, a. has been mar
rated in the REGIsTER.
MIS-. Emily Clark was recalled and re-
peated her testimony Of Saturday.
Geo. Brooks was recalled and testified
AZ TO what he had said before and that il
was all he knew Of the Gaze.
Rev. c. Cowner stated that Mr.. Thatch
or did not belong 90 the West Virginia
Conference at the time Of his death and
had not mp to some time previous.
Amanda Tomlinson stated that she did
not think the dress which was exhibited
| in the Court House was the same dress
which Mrs johnson had on the night Of
the murder.
Mrs. Tom Isreal, c. A. Weaye, H. H.
KeIlar, Isaac Rice and w. J.. Edvart.s,
Esq, also swore that they did not think
the dress was the same a. worn by Mrs.
johnson. The defense then rested
The ease will be argued to-day.