New-York tribune., 1896-01-08
STRONG EVIDENCE AGAINST JOHNSON.
SACK or NEAT PLAYS AZ IMPORTANT PART ~
THE TRIAL OF THE COiORED PREACHER


I''i. VI hl'lN
Son.rylllc Jan. (Spoclan-The evidence OF tho
prosecution in the trial of Jacob $. Johnson. the
colorcl preacher charged with the murder OF Sarah
Ann Rogers. was completed this afternoon in the
Somerset Court. and the defence was outlined 10y
james j. Mechln. Johnson's lawyer The state
has woven a chain OF circumstant!ai evidence about
the accused man. but several Inks are missing
Up 30 the time when Johnson and the woman LETT
Ciwloy's saloon. where they were seen together by
several Witnesses their whereabouts have been
traced beyond question. From that time their ac-
tons are somewhat shrouded. Two persons an
sworng 20 their description were TO pass over
the Central Railroad down Bridge-st toward the
river whore Ann Roscrss body was found shortly
after midnight. and the same persons were seen
further along toward the river. Important oyi-
dcncc was given relative to foot tracks In the road
some of which Identified being just like
those made by Johnsons foot in a box OF sand
produced in court. but OF the witnesses will
positively identify johnson the seen with
the woman
Daniel Mead. 4 coored man. living Ncshanic
testified to the fact that Johnson and the Rogers
woman there Saturday right. and Mead
gave Johnson lot of meat TO take home They
went To Aaron Werts's. in the same place and
procured an ordinary two-busho sack IN which
the meat was placed. This sack Of meat bears
important part IN the case. Johnson and the
woman seen to 20 on the rain FOR Somer1lie
10y Edward Kline. conductor and Hasan. a
brakeman. of the South Branch Railroad as well
as hy Mead. Upon arriving at Somcrvllle. johnson
wtnt To rrumpsor's store and Avah Amerman. a
clcrl there. testified that he asked PERMISSION 10
leave a bag there while he went uptown 10 do some
business. Wn.n johnson found 1t was likely that
the st0r" would be closed he returned t. Amerman
10 mi IN, bag out on the porch. \ co.orcd woman
wearing a heht-eray dress. was with johnson.
:. !. Treat landlord ~ the Commercial Hotel. rec
o,nizeI Johnson the man who came his
house Saturday night about $50 with woman.
and asked Tor drinks Tie gave them whiSkey in
the hall. aud they went away after the woman
hal pad .or the drinks. Three or four young men
s.1e',,,' '1 Nnei,s,iis chambers served Them Win
had on light clothes and they thought the gar
ments shown them IN court looked Ike the same
dress but they not positive.
The most interesting ana important testimony
connecting Johnson with the case was that of Joseph
Gnrman nd Carnett Van Arsdae. Th" former is
n svitchman. who had night Job at the Bridges
crossing of the Jersey Central Railroad He saw
Ie.aD o'clock ON that night The woman very
close to him, and he noticed her gray dress and the
man carried IA bag. His attention was particularly
called 20 them because they went toward the river
take the east side. He could not positively identify
Ann Rogers's clothing. and he was not sure the man
wls Johnson.
Van Arsdalc lives further down the street. and
was awakened by the nOis, made 10y the man His
description of the pair they passed under the
electric Hight much Ike Gormans II" also
testified that he IN" same couple come out OF
the Commercial Hotel at o'clock In the evening
Defective. Harcalow testified 20 finding some meat
at the Johnson house on Monday. Several witnesses
gave testimony to the foot tracks in the road
leading to the place Of the murder. and with that
the State closed.
james J. Mcchan opened for the defence lie said
they would prove that thelr story wouid De the
were at Cawley's. After that johnson was ief by
Tin, woman. who was subsequently seen In II store
about town and with another colored man. John
son went home alone by the South Branch Rail
road arriving about a quarter before H. Mrs John
thr stand and "A few preliminary questions were
asked before the court adjourned for tn" night