The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1897-07-09
HE CARL JOHNSON CASE.

EdSU MOHudy qullc IL idIgt Hulnoci
Of citizens of Moss Point were in the
court house attending the trial OF
those accused of whipping Carl John
son near Moss Point for keeping a
house of prostitution. The trial be-
fore Justices Chidsey and Smith was
concluded in very short time. Moss
Point people do not propose to permit
Carl johnson and his sort to carry on
such an immoral business in their
midst unnoticed. And they are right.
Their action in this matter is endorsed
by the best people Of the county.
The Board of Supervisors, who were
holding court at the time. adjourned
in order to allow Judge ChsGsey and
his associate, A. Ii. Smith, Of Esca.
tawpa, who, being present, was asked
to sit in the case. to have the court
room. Promptly at 10 o'clock the de-
PENDANTS. the Hon. j. W. Stewart,
DR.. J. b. Chamberlain. DR.. w. K.
Thompson, Chas, w. Garner, William
Meyers. William Powell and Dan'l
Mcleod. were ARA gned, charged with
committing an assault and battery
upon Carl Johnson, June 80, by horse
whipping him, ard through their at.
torneys, MessrS. Bulard 4 Bullard
and Hon. G. II. Wood, of Moss
Point. entered a plea OF not guilty.
The defendants then called for a jury
which was quickly impaneled. The
prosecutor asked that the case be con-
tinued until next Saturday, as the at
torney he had engaged, Mr.. h. NJ Bar
Der, of Biloxi, was unavOldably alb
sent. TO this the defendants object
ed and insisted on Il speedy trial. The
court denied the motion for a con-
tinuanCe, stating tIat it could not
subject the defendants and numerous
witnesses for the defense to the veXa-
tion of attending court another day
for the convenience Of counsel, al
though in such cases as this the law
required the court to discharge the
awkward duty of being an impartial
Judge and acting as counsel for the de-
fense. The only witness for the State
was johnson. who in substance stated
that the defendants had taken him
near East side and horsewhipped him,
The defense offered no testimony eX-
cept 10 the character Of the house
Johnson kept, which the court ruled
out, and a number OF creditable wit.
nesSeS who testified that they would
not believe the prosecutor on oath.
One witness introduced for The State,
IA negro, asked to be excused I ON te7'
tiiying. as he might "lDdiscrim nate
himself" After short statement BY
Hon. G. II. Wood, the jury retired a0d
in few minutes returned Wilh the
following verdict:
I'VE, the jury, find the defendants
not guilty
Signed: r. A. Coulson, J. A. Boards.
lee. r. G. Borden, w. +. Herrin, Notl
McInnis and j. +. Palmes.
The verdict was received with q
burst of applause from an immense
crowd who had gathered from Moss
Point and elsewhere to hear the pro
ceedings. As sool as court had ad
jousned the Hon G. II. Wood mount
ed the rostrum and called for the cIti
zen' to assemble in mass meeting 70
business OF Importance. The Hon. G
II. Wood was then elected chairmai
and Hon. j. W. Stewart secretary
After stating the object Of the meet
ing e. Bloomfield, a prominent mel
chant of Moss Point, made short ad
dress and then offered the folow:n
resolutions. which were adopted with
out dissenting vote:
! Resolved, by the citizens OF Mos
Point ia mass meeting assembled a
the court house OF Jackson count,
That whereas the indecent and in
! moral conduct of one Gail JOhnsO
and his daughters at Moss Point mad
it incumbent on some Of the citizen
of that place to take necessary ster
to stop such indecency ard immOra
it,, and whereas said Carl johnson
aided and abctted, we understand. L
Others has caused the arrest of nun
ber Of our citizens: therefore, be it
ReSol yed. That we hearty an
unanimously approve and inGOrSc til
efforts Of our citizens In their con
bncd and successtu endeavOrs to pr
serve the decency and morality OF OF
town. and we thank them sincere
for the prompt action in suppressiI
such disreputaDle nuisance.
Resolved, That we condemn in u
measured terms the action of sa
Carl Johnson and the equally co
temptible action Of any who may
aiding or assisting him in the attem
to prosecute some of our citizens, al
we hereby warn said Carl JOhnS'
and others that we are determine
that no such class of citizens as Ca
Johnson and his daughters shall
permitted to live within the cOnfin
Of our town aud county, and we noti
all interested that we shall use
, means within our power, legal al
otherwise, to guard and protect o
community.
Resolved, That we beg to tend
our apprecative thanks to the rlel
bers of the Moss Point and Scrant,
bar for their valuable and SUGGEST
service in the defense Of our arrest
citizens, and we also thank all +
court officers for their courtesy I
wards our citizens.
: Resolved, That a copy of the force
ing resolutions be published IN t
Plcarune, L mes Democrat and DEN
I CRAT-SlhE.