The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-09
JOHNSON MURDER TRIAL.
some strong and Important TestI-
mong Was Brought out Yester-
day for the Defense.

my toF thc defense.
Columbia, $. C.. Dec. SIN the trial OF
Rev. William johnson al Rambsrr for
the murder OF ". T. BelHng,r the clos.
inc testimony Tor the defense was the
most Important. Il was known that the
defendant would take the stand. ana ,he
Court House was packed before court
met. Again women were In evidence.
A feature OF the case Is that two mon
who have for years been antagonists. are
tAe leading lawyers on the dlnerent sides.
and each Is conducting the cross-exsrnira-
lions for his side. The an.mosity existing
between Attorney General BeIiinger and
Ioi. Robert Aldrich Is a matter OF general
knowledge. They met once before on on.
poeate sides Ia famous case
II was az Walterboro I'VE y,ar,.
aKo. when Belinger was solicitor
ana pushed the prosecution OF the "Brox.
toh Bridge lynchers." Aldrich defended
the white men who were charged with
whipping 70 death an inoflens.ve old ne
gro woman and her son Il was the con.
euct OF this case that won Mr.. Beliinger
the attorney gcneralship. lie ana Col.
Alarich have been contesting every point.
Both are able lawyers. and the honors
are about even
joe Brown, the only eye witness 20 tes-
ufy for the defense. said he was a mem
Der OF MT Joansons Church and a broth
er-in-law OF VIM. I. Beulnger. the de-
ceased. lie married Belllngers sister IN
June 1873 ard johnson performed the
ceremony.
On the morning Of May 4. he drove
into Bamberg from has farm and heard
OF the trouble the previous day between
Johnson ana Beliinger. He went 70 John
son $ house, told him he wac sorry "a
hear Of thu trouble: then took
johnson IN his buggy down
town. They went to the postofice. John
son left him there. Later witness drove
by Johnson's house and stopped.
Mr.. Johnson came out with a gun In
his hand, and we saw Bellnger coming
across the campus. Ny horse becam,
FESTIVE. Moved up and then back. expos.
ing Johnson 70 the fun view OF BeIlnger
VINO was coming up az the time. Belllngel
saw johnson and opened fire on him: shot
tw4ce, and then Johnson shot him. John
son and Belllnrer were within twenty.
i've or thirty feet Of each other. Bellinger
| fell Immediately after being shot. he nred
twice before and twice after johnson
shot.
7 do not remember saying: That's all
right. you have Killed him; 70 IN the
house"
The witness said he had warned John.
son that his lie was in danger. had told
b m that Willie Bclluser had made
threats against his life.
Thomas FEEDER OF Denmark testified
that he was In Brokers hardware store
! ia Eamberg. when Be.linger came IN. got
a pistol. loaded 81 ard put q IN his pocket
as he started away he said TO Brooker.
I'm shoot the -" Witness
heard Brookcr SOY. You had better keep
/ IL to yourself q"
S. II. Sanders. a merchant OF Florence
told about having been IN Bamberg "a;
he time Of ine trouble; OF having. at the
7rggestion % Col. Counts. loaded shells
with buck aud duck shot, and taken them
With gun 70 the parsonage. He thought
u the duty o. any patriotic citizen Ia
offer a man THE protection. johnson had
wife ana three small children lie
would have done the same FOR Belilnger
/ under similar circumstances. He was al
the inquest. When someone called Tor
The gun he left ana went 20 the parson-
age moved the gun from one room 20
another so the cheriff could not md II.
he didn't think the eherin had any RICH,
70 81. and thought Johnson might need u
again.
Rev. Mr Johnson was the last witness
for the defense. He tod about the same
story as Brown. first rccitng the circum.
stance OF his having married Brown ana
Miss Bcllingcr. when he started out enc
door 10 meet Brown. Who was az tho
gate. be saw Belilngor walking acros.
The green and be picked up the gun
ana took II with him TIE was talking fo
Brown when Bellngcr began shooting.
He shot after Bellnger's second ssot.
Tie said ae was unconscious Of a tele-
graph role being near him.
Ine speeches were eloquent. the fudge
charge without color. The jury took tho
case az o'clock. At ! O'Clock this sun
day morning. after being out six hours
they have not agreed The court room
y stu packed. johnson being among
those IN waiting