Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-25
THE STRANGE GIRL LOVES.
Continuation of the Hearing In the Mitchell
Johnson Ward Case.

4
Continuation of the Hearing In the Mitchell
| Johnson-Ward Case.
The criminal court room ct Memphis wa
damned by halfpast 8 yesterday morning to
hear the continuation of testimony in the
Mitchell Johnson Ward case Miss johnson
was quite i'll on yesterday. When taken back
to Jail Yesterday morning. however. she had
recovered. and during the session assumed her
usual manner Dir. G. W. LyIes being called,
testified that he saw Miss Mitchell jump in the
buggy after the killing and grab the rcins and
then heard some one in tic buggy say: Drive
| fast" could not tell which one OF the girls
used the language.
Miss Cathrena Parnell testified she was with
the Misses Ward at the time of the killing and
cried out: Don't let her kill my friend" She
also identified and read letter from Miss
reds Ward to Alice Mitchell as follows:
Memphis. Tenn. January IL go.
Dear Allie ioEs you n0wand a xo and T Love-
obey. You say am as much 10 blame as you are. II
ilrfe qSh lex y yo a4i ior.iveness
P.rase do Z .-t any one Lnow wrote this No one
family that Is un!es you told some one. We
20 bses to Go d Dust tbs evening. r.,n,
The escapade referred to being the intended
elopement of deceased and Allie Mitchell last
summer.
J. W. Williams testified he saw Allie Nit
chell get out Of the buggy and run down the
hill. He heard the scuffie and ran down. meet
ing Miss Mitchell she came back up the hill.
He saw her jump back into the buggy and
drive off rapidly. Heard Allie Mitchell say
Il have done il"
Miss johnson was then introduced in her
own behalf and testified to being friendly to
all parties; that it had been her custom for a
long timo to go driving with Allie Mitchell;
that on the day of the homicide Allie came by
ard called to her to 60 driving: that she went
with her; that when they observed the Ward
girls on tho street Allie drove after them; that
she said to Allie, Lets not follow them.
they will think we want to speak to them"
Allie said: Il will follow them to the post Of
fee" We we're getting out OF the buggy at the
custom house when the Ward girls passed US
going down to the boat Allie said she must
see Freda once more and followed them.
thought to Kiss her goodbye. followed after
them with my little six year-old nephew with
me. / did not see the cutting and when she
came running back up the hill saw blood on
her and said: What has happened to you?"
thought she was cut. She jumped in the buggy
before did and l said to her: ''Drive straight
home and tell your mother what you have
done" She asked ME if there was blood on
her face. L said yes, wipe 1t Off She said:
NO, it is Freda's blood; let it alone. love
her So"
When Miss johnson told how Alice Mitchell
kissed her own bloody hands, screaming that it
was Fredas blood, woman tainted and was
quickly carried out. Before Miss Johnson took
the stand she tainted In an ante-room while in
consultation with her lawyers and when she had
finished her story and had undergone a severe
cross-examination at the hands of the iron
hearted attorney general she was almost bodily
carried to her seat. Prominent physicians
from this ard other cities were present and
people of all grades were out in full force.
The present issue is Miss Johnson's applica-
ton for bail under the writ of habeas corpus,
aud it was the opinion of those that followed
the testimony that she had not many points in
her favor. A young, innocent-lsoking, baby
faced girl, weeping ON the witness stand could
ordinarily be productive of sympathy on the
part OF tria! judge, but ii fails in this case. for
Judge DuBose has all the severity of the En-
glish 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 Johnsons attorneys made desperate
fight to show that she new nothing of Miss
Mitchelrs intentions when they parted in the
buggy. but they partially failed to do this.
Miss Christina Puruell, "a companion of the
Ward girls was the first witness called. but she
not being present the court issued an attach
ment for her, and Mr.. Lyle was put on the
stand.
He saw the last part of the tragedy. He
heard some one shout murder" Then he
woman Miss Johnson) i the buggy shout:
Hurry up" He saw Alice Mitchell loose the
relns and dash away.
Miss Purnell knew all the parties to the
tragedy and told how the johnson and Mitchell
girl followed her and the Misses Ward in a
buggy and how, when 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 and cared naught tor death.
Jack Williams was flirting with or trying to
hirt with some OF the young ladies just before
the killing. He heard Miss Mitchell and John
son whispering i'll front of the custom house
and 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 a scream, looked down the
incline and saw Alice slashing about her with a
knife. 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 Mitchells face, hair and hands and as
she rushed up the hill Williams saw her wiring
Ing the blood from the right glove. Assoon as
Miss Mitchnll reached the top she cried, Lii,
have done her."
LILLE JOHNSON on THE STAND.
This closed the states list Of witnesses and
Miss johnson was introduced to testify in her
own behalf. After the young lady was almost
carried to the stand, having tainted a few
moments before. she raised her head and on
her face was a look of awful misery. Her head
was lowered, but the court asked her to look
straight ahead and speak aloud Tor the benefit
OF the reporters She said sine was twenty years
old and had been educated at Notre Dame
Ind, and In Memphis. She had known Alice
Mitchell for five Years and had known the
Ward girl for two years. Joe was her favorite
while Alice was friendly with Freda. She loved
Freda and Ereda loved her. When the girls
were separated Alice confided the story of her
love 10 the witness and often wept that
she could see Freda no more. On the day
of the killing she driving with Alice
Mitchell. After they had gone to the custom
house the Ward girl passed and Miss Mitchell
said: "Oh. Lii, Ereda Ward winked at me
and L am going TO bid her goodbye" She
followed Miss Mitchell to the corner, but re-
turned and got into her buggy. In a moment
Alice came running up the hill with her face,
hair, hands and dress soiled with blood. Wit
ness cried: "Alice. who has cut you?'' Miss
Mitchell then jumped in over the wheel of the
buggy and cried out: Il have cut Freda
Wards throat; tell me the quickest way to kill
myself"
Don't kill yourself" said the witness; go
home and tell your mother"
Then Alice said: lis there much blood on my
face?'
Witness answered, "Yes."
Alice replied, ''Wipe il of" but changed her