Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-30
MRS. JOHNSON FREE.
WHILE HER HUSBAND AND HIS FATHER
ARE HELD
To Answer an Indictment Before the
Next Grand Jury-ClOSe Of
the Examination at
M~OundSville.

Another large auulenCe aSSeihol0u '"'
| Court House at Moundsyille yesterday
morning to hear the continuation OF the
examination before Justice Edwards, OF
Eugene johnson, the murderer of Marshal
Thatcher, and of his wife and father, held
as accessories. As OH the previous after
noon. there were present a large number
of the most prominent citizens OF the town,
including a number of ladies, there SEEM
ing to be no dimunition ofinterest in the
case. At half-past nine the examination
was commenced by the defense calling
LoRENA GILMORE.
Identified the. dress Mrs. Johnson wore
Mt the time Thatcher placed her undo ar
rest. Witness saw Thatcher at Mrs. john
sons house early on the morning Of the
murder; Thatcher asked to have the door
opcned. and Mrs. Johnson said she wouldn't
do il; heard a noise rs Thatcher opened
the door himself and went up stairs; then
came to me and asked If | had seen Mrs.
Johnson: said no; Thatcher came back IN
the evening: he opened the door and heard
Mrs. Johnson say, Get out Of here
aftera while heard Mrs. Johnson screaming;
Alexander johnson came up, and Thatcher
told him to stand back, as he had Alright to
take the woman, for she drew a Ratchet on
him: then Eugene Johnson came out, and
said, MIR. Thatcher, ifyou don'tlc let hergo,
I'll shoot" Thatcher held her with his
left hand, and reached in his pocket with
L., r;,ht ynhan Iohnsnn shot
TO Mcighen-I was in the house most OF
the time; Alexander Johnson said to let
the woman up and let her 20 lie
Gently. A long crOSS-eNaminatlOn here
enSued as to Mrs. JohnSon'S dress, worn at
the time of the arrest by Thatcher, and the
rents in it and when they were made. The
witness insisted that the dress was not
torn before Thatcher took hold OF the wO-
man. Witness saw Johnson shoot ThatCh-
or; did not see whether Johnson came out
of the house or around the house; after he
shot he went along the railroad. Lhatchet
shown. The Ratchet lay on the chair by
the door on the evening Of the shooting;
the next day Miss Johnson said she threw
it away; little brother o witneSs ound 1t.
MISS MELISSA JOHNSON,
sister OF the mnrderpt, First heard Of the
shooting after it WAS all over; when got
there. about one hundred people were
present; after | saw Mr.. Thatcher, went
upon the pOrtico, and Mrs. Johnson picked
IN the Ratchet and said, Il couldn't
kin II toad with it," she
laid the Ratchet on d chair, and
|, without thinking, picked up the Ratchet
and tossed it over the fence OFF the char;
afterwards, when spoken to about the
Ratchet. | sent 4 boy for it; we had no
counsel ut the time, SO | could not be or
dered by couLScl 70 lind the hatchct.
To Mr.. Ewing-Knew IC.EiGg Of
Eugenc's intention to kill Thatcher; after
the assault on Porter, advised him to
have a bearing; Aad IN communication
with him after his shooting up IL the time
of his arrest; | had IN idea where he would
be found; le has j relative back Of Wells
burg. in secluded place, and thought he
might 90 there; never heard Eugene say
he was going there; never had a CONVERSE
ton with him on the subject; never told
Detective lIa9gerty that it ho would bring
Johnson back and protect him until he
was placed in the custody Of the officers,
| would tell where lie was; ! only said
| would tell where | thought he was.
DOR THATCHER,
son of the murdered man. Went with
father to JohnsOn'S house on the morning
of the murder; went 10 the back door while
father went 10 the front; father Nuni IN the
door on the pOrtic0; | held the back door.
JOHN MARTIN.
Helped arrest Mrs. Eugene Johnson;
dress shown; can't really tell whether
this is the dress or not; | noticed the dress
was torn that night, but hardly as much
as it is now; however, | was on the right
side all the time, and the tear is on the
left; couldn't say whether l would have
noticed tear as being of that extent.
To Dovener-MeiiSSa johnson called my
attention to Mrs. JOhn$on's dress, and
wanted me To get some other clothes; Eu-
genes wife had u shawl around her shout
dCrS.
WILLIAM WELSH.
Can't identify the dress; the arms of her