The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-19
JOHNSTON GETS 20 YEARS
Duncann0n Murderer Given the Full
Penalty of the Law-His Life Saved
by One Remark of His Attorney.

New Bloomfield Pa, Feb. 1S.-Dr.
Thomas l.. Johnston, who so cruelty
murdered his next door neighbor, Drug
gist George s. Henry. last September
and was convicted of murder in the Sec
ond degree, was today sentenced to
twenty years at solitary confinement
in the Eastern penitentiary by Judge
Lyons. This is the full extent allowed
by law and gives entire satisfaction
with the people of this community so
far as the efforts of the court are con-
cerned in trying to properly punish the
murder, but the community seems to
be wonderfully wrought up against the
prisoner and in Duncannon, where the
murder was committed there are ru-
mors of an attempt to be made to lynch
the man, should the sheriff endeaVor to
take him through that place on his
way to the penitentiary. This rumor
was strengthened this evening by sew
eral persons saying they would be
ready to take a hand in such a move.
When Dr. Johnston was called for
sentence he appeared very much changed
in appearance, having had his mustache
shaved off and his hair cropped quite
close. He looked unusually we'll and
the wild stare which charac acterized his
appearance during the trial and in fact
since the shooting had almost all dis
appeared. Attred in a new suit of
clothing he looked more like a profess
sional man about to leave for a business
trip than to be sentenced to the peni-
tentiary for murder a smile crept
over his face as the sentence was pro-
nounced and not a sign of regret or
fear manifested itself. He really
seemed to be happy and was removed
to the dilapidated county Jail, which
1t is feared will not hold him very long
because of its tumbled down condition.
The Johnston murder trial became
famous because of the prominence Of
the principals, both of whom We're
wealthy and stood high in Duncannon.
plea of delusonal insanity was en-
tered and four experts on insanity with
international regulations swore the
man was crazy, although none of his
neighbors ever thought he was Sew
eral jurymen said today it was the
threat made by James Nj. Beck, United
States district attorney from Philadel-
phia who said if DR.. Johnston was
hanged he would see to it that the
mans skull would be opened and the
jurors informed that they had sent a
man to his death who was crazy.
This one remark is said to have saved
DR.. JohnstOn's life.
None of his relatives were present to-
day when he was sentenced but his
Wife's two sisters were in the village
ready to render him any assistance.
Mrs. Johnston is i'll in bed from the
effects of today's proceedings She will
sell off her household goods and likely
go to live with her sister, Mrs Hester,
at Newport.
Or. Johnston had been unruly and
very stubborn since incarcerated, his
counsel even not being able to do very
much with him. He has been endeaV-
Oflng by every means possible to get
his wife to come to see him in his cell
but she has thus far persistently re-
FUSED to do so, because it is believed
he would kill her if she went there He
attacked his niece, Miss Lizzie Mount,
the other day when she refused to
bring his wife to see him, choking her
very severely. 1t leaked out this after
noon that DR.. Johnston transferred all
his property to a relative during the
trial. He wanted to prevent his attor-
neys from securing their fees by this
| scheme but they caught him in the
game before he had accomplished his
purpose He also wanted to beggar his
| wife and at the same time try to pre-
vent Mrs. George S. Henry, widow of
| the man he killed, from securing any
thing in civil suit for damages. He
| has always been considered very hard
| pay and this shrewd move to save him.
| self thousands of dollars, although un-
| expected was not at all unusual for
| him to do Mrs. Johnston has been
provided for, however, and it IS said the
| murderer has very little wealth left,
| although only a few months ago he
| was worth $4,000 The doctor expect
| ed to be acquitted and since his attor-
| neys failed to do so much for him, he
feels that they have not done their
duty in merely saving his life. He is
| ungrateful and exceedingly cunning
| causing much uneasiness for the sheriff
and those who come in contact with
| him. He will be taken to the penten-
| tiary on Saturday or Monday. Mrs
| Henry has not yet decided whether OF
not she will bring a civil suit for dam
| ages, but her friends are urging heI
| to do so.