Evening journal., 1888-09-26
JOHNSON RESPlTED,

True Bilis Against ''BIg CharIie'' and
"Dutch Gus" Charging Them with tho
Sharpless Murder
Samuel Johnson, the negro who has
been tried, convicted and sentenced to
be hanged for the murder Of John Sharp
less, the Delaware county (Pa) farmer.
will not be hanged on October 16. Thus
is one of the most famous and mysterious
cases in the criminal annals of the county
again deferred. No conviction has ever
aroused so much genuine inter.
est as that Of the pennfless
ignorant negro at the Media jail
who several times stood garbed in
his grave clothes with the noise of the
brawny armed carpenter erecting the gal
lows ringing in his ears Yesterday the
grand jury Of Delaware county held a
special session in the court house at Media.
and after hearing number of witnesses
found five true bills against big Charlie
Wilson and Dutch Gus" Chopaz, charg
ing them with completely in the Sharp
less murder
This action means virtual commute.
tion for Johnson Last night Governor
Beaver was requested to respite the negro
by the Board of Pardons Of Pennsylvania
which met yesterday afternoon at Har-
risburg
At least an hour before the Grand jury
convened the court house was astir
Vehicles Of all kinds were stationed about
the iron fence enclosing the white build.
ing BY 10 o'clock every seat in the
court room was occupied Lawyers. re.
porters, witnesses and detectives all sat
within the rails anxiously awaiting
the termination of the proceedinps
A number of witnesses were examined.
When the clock in the white steeple had
chimed the hour of noon the grand Jury
were liberated. When the twelve filed
into the ante-room look of suspense fell
upon the faces of those present. At 2
o'clock the grand jury returned and gave
forth the verdict already stated. Later
IN the day, when the case was brought
before the Board Of Pardons, that body
continued the case until December 10
permit the request to grant johnson
respite to go before Governor Beaver.
Johnson's case has no parallel in the
criminal history OF the county George
II. Stuart, Jr, of Philadelphia, O firm
believer in the negros innocence. has
spent many hundred dollars TO save the |
man from the seaffold, and remarkable
success has attended his persistent en- |
deavors. Burglars, sneak thieves.
fences, men who received stolen goods. |
pick pockets and all classes Of men who |
gain livelihood by dishonest means. have |
been brought into the case. Samuel |
Tate the burglar and counterfoiter. it is
said, has furnished the clues upon which
the Fernwood gang theory was worked
up. Tate, TO escape sentence for
a crime committed in New Jersey. swore
he knew the man who committed the
famous and still unsolyed Clugston mur.
der. In that case Tate was proven TO be
an unmitigated liar.
Detective James l. Donaghy Of Phila-
delphia was detailed to work up the Fern
wood gang theory He got his first in
formation from a man in New York who
wrote letter to the then Chief
of Detectives Kelly, giving an out
ine of his acquaintance with
Big Charlie Wilson, the leader Of the
land, and the others. 1t was conclusively
shown that on the night of the assassina-
ion-Thanksgiving Day, lsS5-the gang
vas IN Delaware county, Pa. Their ap-
'earance there, after indefatigable re-
earch, gave rise to the belief that they
we're IN some way engaged in the Sharp
ess murder. II was upon this theory
hat Lawyers 9. Oscar Beaseley John b.
robinson, q candidate for legislative re-
several detectives and host
i crooks worked
Samuel Tate, the principal witness in
he case refused last week To swear that
Big Charlie Wilson was the man who
lew John Sharpless This was the man
fest retraction Of his former statements.
IS recompense for his services in the
ase It is alleged, he was told that he
'onld be freed from the charge Of coun
'rfeiting forwhich he is now in Moya-
ensing Prison
Wilson is being defended by the ablest
.wyers in Delaware county They are
District Attorneys Jesse NJ. Baker, V.
ilpin Robinson and Captain Isaac John
N. IL johnson is respited the case win
Of come up before the courts until next
oring. Warden Baker, of the Media .
III, yesterday said that johnson was
rowing fat, and that he was more hope J
II than ever. I