The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19

perhaps, best known. During his prac-
t1ce at Sacramento he defended four
teen persons charged with murder in
various parts of the State, and of that
number all succeeded in escaping cap
llaI punishment. In the celebrated
Hurtado murder case Mr. johnson
changed the course of legal procedure
IN the prosecution of a man charged
with numbering his wife's seducer. Be
fore that it was held that the defense
could prove the facts of the seduction
for the purpose of justifying the acts of
the defendant, but Mr.. Johnson con-
tended, and successfully, too, that
proof of seduction was not permissible,
and that when the defense proved the
effect made on the defendants mind by
the statement as to the guilt of his
wife that was all the law allowed The
case became a notable precedent in
law.
Mr.. Johnson also defended Huron
Miller, who killed DR.. Hugh Glenn, and
although the evidence against Miller
was overwhelming he kept his agree
ment that Miller should not hang. Mil
Ter was sent to the penitentiary and
later pardoned, only to die a short time
thereafter in Texas. He appeared as
one of the counsel in the Martin will
case, and his work during that trial
accentuated his fame as one of the
most skillful lawyers in the State. He
was attorney for Sacramento in the
matter of the proposed removal of the
State capital to San Jose and the de-
feat of the project was largely due to
his mastery presentation OF the law
governing the case.
Politically = h,-{I
liant record. He was the first clerk of
the Swamp Lands and reclamation dis
tricts at Sacramento, he holding that
office from 1866 to 1873, despite the fact
that majority of the Board of Super
visors was politically opposed to him.
In 1877 he was elected to the Assembly,
and two years later to the State SEN
ate. In 1894 he was sent to the Fifty
fourth Congress by the Republicans of
his district, in which body he served
as member of the committee on Pa
cific railroads. He is distinguished as
being the first member from the Pacific
Coast to be recognized by the Speaker
during his first term of office. While
in Congress he delivered strong
speeches in favor of free silver, the in
crease of the United States navy and
the absolute restriction of immigra-
ton. His stand on the latter PROPOSE
ton created a great sensation, he being
the first representative who had the
courage to espouse those principles.
Mr.. Johnson is we'll known in frater-
nal circles, he being one of the great
sachems of the Improved Order of Red
Men of California. In 1881 he was grand
representative from California to the
Sovereign Grand Lodge, I. o. 0. F. He
is past chancellor of the Knights of
Pythias and past arch of the United
| Ancient Order of Druids He was the
| first dictator of the first lodge of
Knights of Honor instituted in Califor-
| mia, and is past master Of the Ancient
| Order of United Workmen. Mr. John
son is a man of genial temperament.
which serves to win for him the friend
| ship of all with whom he comes in con-
| tact.
| OF his associates it may be said that
| Mr. Linforth is a native of this city
and young attorney with bright fu-
ture. He has been connected with i'm
portant litigation in this city. in which
| he displayed ability of a high order.
Mr.. Whitaker is also a we'll known
| young attorney, whose reputation is
| that of a keen, hard working, indus
| trious counsellor at law. The firm en-
| joys a large and lucrative practice. the
| limits to which it is now impossible to
| foresee.