St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-28
LILLE JOHNSON OUT.
The Judge Accepts Bail on Ac-
count of Bad Health.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Feb. 26.-Judge Du-
bose, in the criminal court this morn
ing. admitted Miss Lille Johnson to
bail in the sum Of $4,000 on the ground
that her health was being impaired by
imprisonment. Miss johnson has been
incarcerated since Jan. &c. charged with
being All accessory to the murder of
Miss Freda Ward by Alice Mitchell.
The Judge in his ruling says in part: .
The court is clearly of the opinion
that the proof is evident that the de-
PENDANT aided and allotted in the COM
mission of the crime with which she
and her cO-defendant are charged-a
crime the most shocking and malignant
ever perpetrat2d by woman. 1t appears
from the proof taken in this proceeding
that the defendant Johnson has been
in precarious health since
mere child; that she suffers
continuously with headache and
often with nervous proStration, and the
confinement in the atmosphere of the
prison would no doubt greatly aggra-
vate her malady and thereby endanger
her life. For this reason and this rea-
son alone, the court will admit the de-
PENDANT to bail"
Miss johnson Immediately left the
court room and entered carriage
which awaited her outside, accompanied
by her father and brother. The party
we're Immediately driven to their home.
When in court this morning Miss
Johnson was becomingly attired in
walking suit of dark brown material
and light hat, and when she lifted her
vail her cOuntenance, though CHASTITY
pale, bore most beautiful expression.
She seemed to know, as if by intuition,
that the famous judge who has
presided over SO many sensational
trials would that morning pronounce the
words which would allow her to return
at least for a time to her home and
friends. The general public expected
that Miss johnson would be admitted to
bail, but that part of the judges
ruling i'll which is stated her rela-
ton to Miss Mitchell in the COM
mission of the crime has created a
sensation. 1t is therefore evident that
the state has in its possession evidence
which has not been made public on
which to hold Miss johnson for trial on
the charge of aiding in murder, instead
of the mere form of release from bail,
friends. Interest in this most deplor-
able tragedy is much heightened in con-
sequence.
Miss JOhnSon's Incarceration has told
greatly upon her health. Accustomed
rs she was to her daily drives about the
city with Miss Mitchell, the close con-
finement in the cell with her friend,
now the murderess. soon began to
show itself. She was seen to be
failing daily, and her always
precariouS health was seen to be
undermined. The young girl, pale
and much emaciated, is now but shad-
Ow of her former self. Her condition
Rron>eS the deepest sympathy, and
causes great anxiety among her friends.
1t is not known when the next move
In this famous affair-the proceedings
in the writ of lunacy in Miss Mitchell's
ease - will be commenced. Gen.
Luke E. Wright, chief counsel for
the defense, said today that he though
1t would be thirty days before the in
QUESTION of lunacy would begin. Other
court attaches give it as their opinion
that the matter will be taken up in ten
days. The tragedy has taken firm
hold on the Memphis people, and the
court proceedings are eagerly watched
by all classes. Among the young people
and pupils of the different schools
it is noticeable that the papers are
perused with great avidIty which
threatens to interfere with lessons. The
principal of leading female college
ordered few days ago that no news
papers containing accounts of the pro-
eeedings in the case should be brought
TO school, and requested the pupils to
refrain from reading them at HON e
while the tragedy and court proceed
ings were being discussed in their col
ulunS.