Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-07
FOR KILLING HIS LITTLE ONE.
Execution of Harry F. JohnapR RI al
Allentown, Pm.

Execution of Harry F. JohnspR sat
Allentown, Pm.
ALLENTOWN. Pa, August T0Lehigh
ccunty's first legal hanging since the coun-
ty was Incorporated in 1872 took place this
morning in the Allentown jail yard, Harry
F. Johnson being the victim. The drop fell
at 1924, and death ensued at 1O:35 1-2 from
strangulation. ,u'r
The crime for which Johnson today paid
the death penalty was the murder of his
three-year- old daughter, Bertha johnson, on
July %, 1893. .-
Johnson, who was q shiftless sort Of a
fellow, had separated from his wife, the
latter keeping the child. Finding 1t bur-
densome to maintain the child and herself
By her labor she perststently demanded con-
tributions from the father for It's support
Finally, on legal proceedings being institut-
ed, Johnson agreed to pay a small sum
weekly for Its support. He kept up the pay
ment for ten weeks and then stopped. Fur
Their demands from the mother for the
Childs support being unheeded, she left the
child at the livery stable at which Johnson
was employed. Johnson took the child to
his mother, Susan Frank, who kept the
child for four weeks, finally sending it
back to him on the morning of July %, 1888
The child remained at the stable all day,
the father during the day making several
Intellectual attempts to have some one take
charge of ii. In the evening of that day
about 8 o'clock Johnson borrowed a horse
and buggy fIom his employer for the pur-
pose, as he said of taking the child home
lie took Bertha in the buggy with him and
drove away. That was the last time the
child was seen alive. johnson returned
alone to the stables in less than an hour
On the 3lst of July the body of the Child
was found in the Lehigh river. There were
no marks of violence, and, SO far as dis
covered, death was caused by drowning
Suspicion at once pointed to the father as
the guilty party, he having told many con-
flicting stories as to the disappearance of
the child.
He was arrested. and at the coroners in
quest he said that he had given the child to
a man from Philadelphia. A man named
Robert Zimmerman testified that Johnson
told him he met a man on the street and
gave the child away.
The stories told were so conflicting that he
was held for court He was tried before
the court of Oyer and Terminer of Lehigh
county.
went to the livery stable on July 20 to Sc
cure the child for a Mrs. Roberts, testified
that Johnson told her he had given the
child to a woman in the sixth ward and that
he would see If the woman would give her
up, telling Miss Keller to call on the follow
ing Friday. On Friday, when Miss Keller
called to see about the child Johnson told
her the parties would keep Bertha for two
weeks.
Other evidence of a like nature was pro-
duced, and the jury brought in a verdict of
murder in the first degree. He was SEN
fenced to be hanged, but his attorneys made
an appeal to the supreme court. Justice
Dean, on May %, 1891, handed down a
the lower court. One week later-June L
Johnson made confession, saying that he
murdered his daughter because he did not
want to take care of her.