Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-05
THE MURDER TRIAL.
THE CASE DELAYED, OWING TO THE ILL
NESS OF 4 JUROR.
Little Testimony Taken Yesterday-Nothing New
Elieited-The Attendance Of Specta-
tors Large.

The second days proceedings in the
Johnson murder trial, at Moundsville, were
DELAYED until two o'clock yesterday after
noon on account of the illness Of Mr. Steele,
oneof the jury. When the session of the
Court was finally resumed, the State pro-
ceeded with its case as follows:
DIR. s. NJ. Steele testified as to the nature
of the wound inflicted upon Sergeant
Hatcher by the discharge from Johnson
gun.
James BlakemOre was the next witness.
He said he witnessed the shooting. 1t
was but a few moments after Johnson told
Thatcher to let 20 of his wife until he
raised his gun and fired the fatal shot.
Thatcher was facing toward Johnson when
the latter raised his gun. AS soon rs
Thatcher fell the defendant walked
toward Alex. johnson, his father, eXclaim-
ing: $50 for doctor" Witness told
old man Johnson to stay where he was and
he would 20. Witness went for physi-
clan.
DR.. +. G. Thomas was next called to the
stand. He testified TO the location and
nature of Thatcher's wound. He thought
it broke the second rib, but it might have
been the third rib. The charge went
downward and inward. Witness passed
his finger into the wound. The question
was asked if Mr.. Thatcher would not have
had to been standing up to receive the
wound. TO this the witness replied:
"Yes, / think he would"
Clyde Pylcs stated that he was about
one half mile from the scene of the MUIR
der. lie had Il. conversation
with Gene Johnson in which he stated
johnson said that he had not had any
thing to eat. Pylcs told him that if it
was him he would 90 home and get some
thing to eat. Johnson answered that he
thought that they had u warrant for him
and that he would like to borrow money
to pay his fine PyleS said that he did
not have the money or he would loan it to
him. johnson told witness that he would
shoot Thatcher before he would he arrest
ed. In the crOSS-eXaminatiOn Pylcs was
considerably tangled up.
NGDIRt IIODhS Nltllti lllsll il' llttN a. WI
versatiOn with Gene Johnson about one
o'clock on the day of the shooting, on the
switch near the coal hank. He told
Gene to look out, that Thatcher was after
him. He replied that that was all right.
He also said:
~ will kill the OF 4 ---.'
He stated that he heard of the murder
about dark. No one was present ut the
conversation with Johnson except wit
ness.
Mayor /, T. EGrdy stated that MIR.
Thatcher had gone to arrest johnson, and
that he had processes and all necessary
papers according to law. He also stated
that Mr.. Thatcher was an officer sworn in
by the town of MOundSvillc
Elige BlakemOrc being duly sworn testi-
fled that he first saw Mr. Thatcher on the
porch at Johnson house He then saw Mr..
Thatcher drag Mrs. Johnson down
towards the gate. Alex. Johnson then
came running down and asked what he was
doing, and telling him to let her 80 Mr..
Thatcher then pulled out pair Of nippers
and put them on Mrs. JOhnson's arm. He
stated that Gene told Mr.. Thatcher TO LET
her 90 three times. The third time he
waited few moments and then hfed
Witness stated that Ike door was open and
on crGSo-eAamlnatiOn said that he saw
| Mr.. Thatcher break the door in, also that
Mrs. Johnson told Mr.. Thatcher that if h,
would let her change her clothes she would
60 with him. Then neappeared upon tho
scene with the we'll known result. With
this the case was postponed until to-day
at O'Clock. The attendance was good
yesterday, the greater part being ladies.