Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-03-11
rar snAnp1rss .arunnrn.
Continuation of samuel JohnsOn'i
fntriuH sat Nadia.


MEDIA, Pa, March 4.-The trial of Samuel
johnson for the murder OF John Sharpless
was resumed In the Delaware county court
this morning. The usual crowd was present
showing that the interest In the case is I'M
abated.
The first witness called was DR.. Frank
Rowland, who made the post norton ex-
animation, and he gave description of the
wounds aud said il was his opinion the
smaller wound was caused by sharp in
strument and that the larger one was made
by blunt instrument. The doctor thought
the wounds were not produced by the kick
OF horse, owing to the position In which
the body was found lying.
William Hahn, q lad who keeps news
stand at the foot OF Market street, Phila-
delphia, was put on the stand and stated
that colored man called at his stand the
Monday morning after the murder and
asked him II the papers said anything
about the murder and fire.
This was the first the boy had heard OF
the Sharpless murder, rs the papers had
nothing In them until the afternoon Of that
day.
The man who called at his newsstand he
said answered the description given OF the
murderer and johnson looked like the man
except that he thought Johnson not quite
so tall.
The ether important testimony was given
| by John Norris Of the Philadelphia Record,
who visited Johnson in his cell and OBJ
tanned from him many conflicting state
mnnts.
| Mr.. Norris testified to having walked
| Thursday morning from Lisle and Balm
bridge streets, Philadelphia, where Stevens
house is located, to the Sharpless barn in
Neither Providence. He was accompanied
/ by Lieutenant Roche and Mr.. Curley, and
| tile trio made the time In 8 hours and 40
minutes. The start was made ut $40 and
| they arrived at 10 a. m. The witness ex-
| planned that none of the party had ever
| been over the roads before and were often
misdirected. They were sent fully u miles
| out of their way, which caused them TO lose
| ut least II half hour In consequence. 1t was
| explained that the walk was taken to show
| that the prisoner could have fired the Lind
say barn at 10 O'Clock on the night of the
| murder, which is the time fixed by MIR.
| Lindsay as the probable hour when the
match was applied TO the structure, and yet
| be able by steady walking to reach Charley
/ Stevens house at or before O'Clock on the
Monday morning succeeding the murder, at
| which hour the commonwealth charges that
johnson visited his wife in Stevens place.
| Messrs. RocheHnd Curley Were subsequently,
called to corrOborats MIR. Norris statement
| about the walk.
The district.nttorney again offered to
| place Mollie Stevens On the stand, but the
court refused to reverse its ruling that II
considered Aiollie the wife of johnson, and
the commonwealth was allowed an excep'
ton. Mr.. Baker explained that If the testi
mony was admitted and the prisoner was
convicted, the defence would have the
strongest grounds for asking for u new
trial but Notwithstanding he was willing 4
take the chances on this point, The com
monwealth here closed.
Tho defence called as its first witness
Elijah Yorke, living at No. Slab Warnocl
l Inl, vhF. Tod 60 nbN
sons feet being frozen in january, 1885
Matilda Simmons succeede l in corroborat
ing much of the testimony Of George ant
Annie Yorke, two of the commonwealth
witnesses. Mary johnson of No. 1923, an,
Lizzie Fitzgerald OF No. 1872 Griscom street
Philadelphia testified to having met John
son between the hours alleged by Pritchet
that he CPritchett) was with johnson on tn
Saturday night succeeding his release frot
prison. Benjamin White, Il burly lookin
' | negro, who lives on Emeline street, testille
: that he met johnson on the night before til
I murder at ll.45 o'clock. The next da
e Sunday he saw johnson and his vii
= together at 10 o'clock in the morning. Thes
4 were the only witnesses produced, and III
a evidence Of the Thompson and Fitzgeral
= women and Ben White was presented wit
= the view of attacking Pritchett's testimoI
IS about johnson accompanying him arour
it until o'clock that Sunday morning.
Il District Attorney Baker addressed u
II jury, calling its attention to the poin
Il proved by the commonwealth. CAPITA
:, John b. Robinson, senior counsel for Il
- prisoner, made an address coveringa peril
!. OF three hours. He laid great stress on Il
u statement of John Sharpless to jane Prl
10 that he believed the man who had asked {
III the rope was white man.
~ one Of the jurors stated when question:
/. after being selected, about forming or {
10 pressing an opinion about the guilt or inn
- eence OF the prisoner, that he once believ
VT the murderer to have been "a white mt
rs but believed hecould give an impartial '
as dict according to the evidence. Mr.. Rob
IN. son, however, argued that. as Mrs. Shal
re- less did not say that johnson was the mi
no the prisoner should accordingly be civ
W the benefit of the doubt.
:! EaMr. Baker began his address at o'clC
gu al night. He disposed Of the white II
yer story by repeating the testimony Of ii
he Pratt, who, after being told that it wa
he white man, went out and spoke to him
ON then turned TO her sister, Susan sayi
,ut lie is II colored man." Mr.. Baker said
of must have been doubly sure of that fact al
~ being told TO the contrary minute before.
ny Bakers address was masterly presentat
Vi OF the case.