Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-02-25
AN ODOR OF BLOOD.
The Details Of Freda Ward's s
Murder RetoId.
HISS LILLE JOHNSON IN COURT.

Before Stern Judge, Whose Record for
Convictions Is n Portentous One-The
Unfortunate Prisoner ColIapses After
Giving Her Horrible Testimony-De-
scription of the Tragic Event and How
the Murderess Kissed Her Hand Wet
with Her Victims Gore.
MEMPHIS, Feb. 25.-There was an odor of
warm blood perceptible in the criminal
court room yesterday, so horrible were the
details of the Ward-Mitchell tragedy as
told by various witnesses, among whom
was Lille Johnson, who testified in her
own behalf. One of the principals also re-
lated the history of the relations of the
young ladies. When Miss johnson told
how Alice Mitchell kissed her own bloody
hands, screaming that it was Freda's blood,
woman tainted and was quickly carried
out. Before Miss Johnson took the stand
she tainted in an ante-room while in con-
suItation with her lawyers, and when she
had finished her story, and had undergone
severe cross-eXamination at the hands of
the iron-hearted attorney general, she was
almost bodily carried to her seat.
The Judge "A Stern One.
Prominent physicians from this and
other cities We're present, and hundreds of
people of all grades were interested OBJ
servers. The present issue is Miss John
sons application for bail under the writ
of habeas corpus, and it is the opinion of
those who followed the testimony that she
has not many points in her favor. A young,
innocent-looking, baby-face girl, Weep
ing on the witness stand, who would or
dinarily be productive of sympathy on the
part of trial Judge fails in this case. for
Judge Dubose has all the severity of the
English Jeffrey, and his regard for human
life is not so very high. as will be shown
by the long list of convictions at his bar.
Miss Johnson's attorneys made a desperate
fight to show that she knew nothing of
Alice Mitchell's intentions.
Saw the Throat Cutting.
Miss Christina Purnell, companion of
the Ward girls, was the first witness called.
but she not being present, the court issued
an attachment for her, and Mr.. Lyles was
put on the stand. He saw the last part of
the tragedy. and heard some one shout
murder; therShe saw Alice Mitchell come
up the hill and heard woman Miss
oObhoOIJ III bhS buSSN Shoul.
up" He saw Alice Mitchell take the reins
and dash away. Miss Purnell came in at
this time and said she knew all the parties
to the tragedy, and told how the johnson
and Mitchell girls followed her and the
Misses Ward in a buggy, and how Alice
ran down the hill, cut Freda's throat from
ear to ear and then cried out that she had
done what she intended TO do, and cared
naught for death.
Told Sanguinary Story.
Jack Williams was flirting with, or try
ing to f1irt with some of the young ladies
just before the killing. He heard Misses
Mitchell and Johnson whispering in front
of the custom house; saw Alice follow the
Ward girls; saw Lille johnson follow her,
and then return and drive the buggy close
to the incline and wait for Miss Mitchell.
He heard scream, looked down the in
cline and saw Alice slashing about her
with razor. She grasped Freda Ward
and drawing her back, pulled the razor
across her throat, after cutting her in
the face. The blood spurted on Miss Mitch
ell's face, hair and hands, and as she rush
| ed up the hill, Williams saw her ringing
the blood from her right glove.