The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-02
SHE DEARLY LOVED FREDA.
Testimony in the Notorious Mitchell
Case at Memphis.

Case at Memphis.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Feb. 23.-Judge Due
bose in the criminal court this morning
overruled the motion made by the defense
in the Mitchell case, to have the state
produce letters now in its possession, said
to have been written by Miss Mitchell.
The proceedings in the habess corpus case
OF Miss Lille Johnson, now under arrest
charged with being an accessory to the
murder of Miss Freda Ward ny Miss
Mitchell were begun. No decision was
reached and court at / :l5 adjourned until
tomorrow.
The details OF the terrible tragedy Of
Jan. % were told by one or two witnesses.
They are substantially as have been re-
ported in these dispatches. The testis
mony OF Miss Joe Ward, who was accom-
panying her sister to the boat
on the fatal afternoon, was given
in a clear manner and Is re-
garded as the most reliable account
of the affair yet recited. She said she was
on her way down to the boat to 90 home
in company with her sister Freda and
Christina Parnell. At the custom houss
the buggy containing Miss Mitchell and
Miss Johnson drove up, and both got out.
Witness and her companions passed the
pair without speaking, and started down
the paved walk They had not gone
more than few steps when Alice Mitchell
came up and attacked her sister and cue
her. Freda fell, but got up again and ran
toward the river Alice Mitchell followed
and caught her near the railroad track,
where she caught her throat. Witness at
tempted to stop Miss Mitchell and was cue
bv her. After doing the cutting Alice
Mitchell ran rapidly up the hill. Miss
Johnson was not upon the scene. She
was az the buggy She did nothing TO
help Alice Mitchell, so far as witness
could gee, nor did she show any weapon Of
any description.
"Were they not engaged to be married
to each other?" interrupted Attorney Pst-
terson at this point, "snd did they not
write each other loving letters?"
The encouragement objected to this
line OF investigation and the court ads
judged the question incompetent.
Miss Ward said her elder sister Mrs.
VoIkmar forbade all intercourse between
them because Alice and Freda had arr
ranged to elope and be married. Freda
was dressed and ready to come to Mem
phis and be married to Alice Mitchell
when the discovery was made. In this
matrimonial arrangement Miss Mitchell
was to be called Alvin G. Ward and
Freda, Alvin Ward. Miss Mitchell was to
be the husband and Freda the wife. The
elopement had been planned to take placs
in August.
MEMPHIS, Feb. 24.-The criminal ccurt
was again crowded this morning by peos
pie of all classes TO hear the continuation
of proceedings in the habeas corpus case
of Miss Johnston, the alleged accessory Of
Miss Mitchell in the murder of Freda
Ward.
q. w. Lyles, an eve witness, testified
to the killing of Miss Ward by Miss
Mitchell. Miss Christina Parnell, who
was with the young ladies on their way 20
the boat at the time of the killing, also
depicted the scenes Of the murder. Jack
Williams, q plumber, also recited the
killing.
After the expiration of fifteen minutes
Miss johnson and her counsel retired. It
appears that she had very nearly tainted
before the conclusion of the testimony.
She said she went on the steamer Ora Lee
with Alice on the Friday preceding the
killing. She went at Alice's request, who
said she wanted to 90 aboard the boat to
tell Freda goodby. Alice dearly loved
Freda, even after they quit speaking.
Witness never heard Alice speak OF treda
except in terms of affection. Other meme
bers of the johnson family were then ex-
amined, after which the court adjourned
till tomorrow morning.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Feb. 25.-The testis
mony in the habeas corpus case OF Miss
Lille Johnston was completed in the
criminal court this morning The Rev.
John Veale, pastor of St. Patrick's church,
testified to the good character Of Miss
Johnston and DR.. 3. G. Henning stated
that he had treated the young lady since
childhood for nervous complaints. NJ R
Patterson and Col. George CAN'T then
made argument in behalf of their client.
but Acknowledgement Peters declined to
argue the question.
Judge Dubose then took the case under
consideration and Miss Johnston was
returned to Jail. She broke down CONS
pletely today when Col. CAN'T was speak-
ing in her defense and her physical stats
inspires compassion. A decision is exs
pected tomorrow or Saturday.
The proceedings in lunacy in Miss
Mitchell's case will not begin before the
first week in March.