The Press., 1888-12-27
THE JOHNSON MURDER TRIAL.

THE JOHNSON MURDER TRIAL.
 Deputy Sheriff Fisk was the first witness on rebuttal. He sad he had known Mrs. Johnson twenty-five years had few con- versations with her, and had charge of her after her arrest. From all he knew about her he had no doubt she was of sane mind. She was determined, forcible woman.
 Fred Miller, @ resident of Holland for thirty years, had known the accused ever since he had married her cousin, Emeline Webster, who is now in the insane hospital at Middletown. For his second wife he marred sister of Mrs. Johnson, and she dled few years ago. He was well &C., quainted with the accused and her habits of life, and did not think her insane; had seen her drink cider, wine, rum and whis- key, when "she would get on pretty high heeled shoes" He could not tell how many times he had seen her the worse for liquor, as he did not ''chalk it down." but it was probably hundred times. Witness always kept cider and Santa Cruz rum in the house, and the accused would drink with him, sometimes taking as many as six glasses of cider. She would get happy and dance and kick mp. Johnson was quiet man, and drank very little liquor. The accused appeared the same now as she used to. Witness knew Marcia, the alleged insane sister of the accused, and said she lost her health and her husband deserted her, which made her little simple mind ed, but she was not crazy, and in witness's 8 opinion she "knew more than enny on | 'em."
 On cross-examination by Mir. Briscoe, witness stated he married Emeline Web ster in 1857. He went to the war in 1862, 1 and on his return, three years after, his i Vx1f TyIfh xuh she cleared out, taking some of the prop erty belonging to witness. She went west, but her sister brought her back some months after but he would not take her in, as she had left him. He did not know she was insane until long after she left him.
 Witness said he was on good terms with Mrs. Johnson. and had talked with her about the shooting, when she joked with him about being a single woman, and now she said she could live with him. Within the last three years Mrs. Johnson, while at his house, had danced with witre ss when not drunk, and would thtn say, Let's have some cider on that" Witness ad- mite that he was in the habit of getting drunk himself, but only on special occa- sions. Being asked if the accused was in the habit of swearing, witness said she was, especially when talking to the "critters."
 
 Mrs. Howard, neighbors at Stafford Springs, testified that they noticed nothing Tn Mrs. Johnson's actions to show that she was in- sane. They knew nothing about her drink ing.
 Richard Webster, of Holland, cousin of the accused, testified that he knew Marcia Webster, who was in feeble health and had weak mind the latter part of her life. She was bright, active girl till she was 23. Then she had shock, and after that could not talk plain, but she talked as ra- tionally as any person he ever saw. With the exception of his sister Emeline, there has never been any sign of insanity ill his fathers family. Witness is well &cquaint ed with the accused and never saw any thing to make him think she was insane. During the past elght years he had not seen her many times, but as far as he had observed she has been of uniform tempera- ment On cross-examination witness said he was on good terms with the accused, I but that they did not visit much,
 Amos N. Nichols, Stafford Springs, had seen Mrs. Johnson in church and heard her make exhortations, but noticed noth- ing to make him think she was insane. On cross-examlnation witness said she had the privileges of the church, although she was not member of the Stafford Springs church. u-s
 Charles Ellis, B. K. Taft, and H. B. Bumsted corroborated his testimony. On cross-examination Mr. Taft, druggist, said he had sold her chloral four or five times, beginning in August, 1887.
 David Matthews, who had been acQuairt- ed with Mrs. Johnson for five years, said he thought her mind was ''just as good as anybodys." In his opinion, an insane person is one who raves and tears around. and he did not think Mrs. Johnson was crazy.
 Mrs. David Matthews said she had called on the accused a number of times and con sidered her sane, but of an independent and lawless makeup.
 George Eaton, Holland farmer, testi- fled that he was acquainted with the Web ster family for four generations and he knew of but two insane persons s-Sybil and Emeline. He had known accused for forty years and considered her sane. He had never thought her any thing else.
 Mrs. Eaton noticed nothing wrong with Mrs. Johnson except that at times she talked loud and boisterous. She never had a thought accused was insane. On cross examination witness said that in church accus ed sometimes acted little excited. but there was nothing irregular that made uer Cn4HK sue was QerangeQs
 l.. w. Crane, of Stafford Springs, testi- fled that Mrs. Johnson worked for a time in his family and also traded in his fancy goods store but he never noticed any, thing wrong about her. On cross exami- nation he admitted that he did not see her much about his house.
 Mrs. Matthews and her daughter Lillian. recalled, said they never thought Mrs. Johnson was crazy. On cross ss-examination the daughter, young woman of 20, said she never saw an insane person but had been told how they acted. Mrs. Johnson appeared like other women.
 Dr. H. s. Fuller, the expert for the de- fense, on cross examination, said he is not come cted with the Insane Retreat at Hart ford, but with the General Hospital, where insane patients are not received. The wit ness detailed the examination of the &C., cused. The first was last week, Monday evening, in MT. Briscoe's room in the hotel connected with the jail Accused was broug ht into the room and sat down in a chair in listless way, seeming very ner- | oko .,k C.b#