The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-08-21
bound OVER.
The Negro Frank johnson Held to Ans
wer the Charge OF Murder.

According to our account in last
weeks issue, the negro Frank John
son was arraigned for trial before
Judges r. E. Erwin and 7. j. Cole
burn last Friday morning.
The white man, Milton Robinson,
whom the negro Johnson had impli-
Gated in his confession, was released
without trial, since it was made to
appear to the satisfaction of those in
charge of the prosecution that Milton
Robinson was at or near Spring Hill
the evening of the murder. 1t APP
peared from the proof that Johnson
told another negro, Jim Crowder, of
the killing, confessing that he asked
the negro to change dollar in order
to ascertain if he had any money, !
and that a white man, who was sup
posed to have been Robinson, struck |
him in the head with an ak; that |
then they robbed him and divided |
the spoilE, the white man taking So
and he, Johnson, receiving 81.
1t developed also that Johnson
stayed at the house of Maria Hug
gins, where the AK belonged. Maria
is a negro woman who lives Just OPP
pOsite the Arsenal on the Hampshire
pike. Saturday evening of the muir
Der, Johnson had used the AK there
at the house, and left the house
alone Immediately after supper.
That night, between IL and II
o'clock, Johnson returned to this
house and spent the night.
Sunday, after the murder, Johnson
told Smith Crowder that if they got
him (JOhnson) up about this murder,
he (Johnson) wanted him for wit
pess; and also told him that he
would be down at the phosphate
mines, where Smith worked, Mon
day or Tuesday, if they did not get
him up about this scrape.
There were some other corroborat-
ing circumstances, but the most sat
t isfactory evidence against him was
! his own testimony. He seemed to
, be perfectly at ease on the stand,
and he contradicted himself with as
much unconcern and displayed as
much Indifference to consequences
as if he had no idea of the magni-
tude of the crime alleged against
him. He lost himself in hopeless
l contradictions, and when one of his
1 statements would be shown to be
e inconsistent with another, he would
:, then fatty deny one of them. Al
Il times he seemed to be much tretted
at allowing himself to be tangled
up, and in a mumbling undertone
: would give expression to his disgust
d 1t was also shown that he was ii
o town that night and at the negro
g Mack Miller's barber-shOp on South
Main street, about 20 or 30 minutes
n after the murder was committed
e He was drinking and carOusinI
l. around that night, and had plent!
d of money for a negro, although TO
several days before he had not hat
ID any.
$, Mr.. James A. Smiser represented
o. the prosecution and Mr.. George w
Hayes represented the defendant
The case was submitted withou
argument, and Immediately, with
n. out further deliberation, Judge
=, Coleburn and Erwin bound hiT
~ over to the next term of the Circu1
-, Court, which meets here the 2n
ii Monday in September, to answe
II the charge of murder in the frs
degree.
Inc Il6SIO SIOWuOLi w hOi
IN the confession had been made, wa
~ put under bond of $3.50 to appea
De as a witness. Mr.. H. I. Arnol
OF made the bond. The witnesst
us Maria Higgins, John Higgins an
~ Smith Crowder, were required
lls enter into a recognizance of $2i
each for their appearance.
Much interest was manifested
the trial, which lasted pretty muc
all day.
in Frank Johnson has unbosom'
himself of the whole matter to M
J. G. VOORHEES, and Mayor A.
Nichols. He says that he al
b. Jim Crowder, the negro tn
peached on him, had determin
to have some money someho
and that by appointment Satu
nal day night they met in front
ra Mr.. G. r. Hughes and proceed
out on down the pavement waiting fol
is monied victim. Frank says that
orh did not know at that time that j.
is had the AK, for he had it conceal
rop under his coat, and that he did l
,wn know exactly how they were goi
her to get any money from anybody,
ool that Jim instructed him to ask peol
for change for dollar, to ascerta
if they had any money, which he
cordingly did. Austin Rye was
cry, first man to come along with a
at signs of money.
me Frank and Jim stationed the
1t selves under the shade of the tr
there at DR.. A. l.. Pillows sand WI
Austin Rye came along, Frank ash
q of him if he could change dollar; /
lad replied that he did not think he
the anything but five dollar bill an
nm quarter, but pulled out his pock
tied book to see. While he had
Intv peck et-book out, Jim Crowder, v
ali was concealed behind tree on
the side of the pavement, stepped up
hind Rye and buried the ak into
head. The negroes then W
through his pockets and found
,o+s five dollar bill, and quarter
g u.9 silver. Crowder gave Frank
o'O quarter and took the five dollar
u and went off up the street, and FIR;
N' came on down to Mack Miller's /
Der shop and got his hair cut. Fra
says that on Monday Jim gave /
-, one dollar of the other money.
VIII This in substance is Franks c