Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-27
James R. Porter Testi6es in Cabin
John Murder Case.
COULD NOT IDENTIFY GRIFFIN
The Fighting, He Said, Occurred
After Dusk.
DIR. LINTaICUM'S TESTIMONY


Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
ROCKVILLE. Md. April 27.-The habeas
corpus proceedings in the case of Emmit
E. Griffin and Robert e. Dennison, the
young Washingtonians charged with the
killing of Albert A. Johnson at Cabin John
bridge on the evening of Sunday, April 10,
came UP here at noon today before Judge
James B. Henderson. Mr.. Patrick O'Far-
rell of Washington and Mr.. William H.
Talbot of Rockville appeared for the pris-
oners. and States Attorney H. NJ. Talbot
represented the state.
Quite a large crowd. including number
from Washington. were present at the
hearing. The first witness was James A
Green of Washington. He testified that he
accompanied Johnson from Washington to
Cabin John bridge on the afternoon of the
assault, arriving there about o clock, and
remained until about or later. During
that time johnson drank about three bot
ties of beer. They purchased peanuts and
boarded car for home, but johnson go;
off and went back after more peanuts. The
witness promised to wait Johnson did moi
return and the witness went to look for
him. He saw man lying on the bridge
surrounded by a crowd. The mans face
was bloody and badly bruised.
Brought Back to Washington.
He was placed on the front of an electric
car and taken to Washington. When
Washington was reached witness heard
some one remark: 1T is Sergeant Sullivan's
brother-in-law." This was the first intima-
ton witness had that the man was John
son.
DR. Otis NJ. Linthicum of Rockville, who
assisted DR.. Glazebrook at the autopsy de-
scribed the dead mans injuries He stated
that the left side of his face was bruised
and discolored, and there was a confusion
over each eye. His left hand was skinned
in several places. and on the left temple
there was a decided bruise The skull was
not fractured, and in the opinion of the
witness death was caused by hemorrhaFe
into the BRAIN caused by blow on the
temple by some dull instrument. The wit
ness gave it his opinion that such an
injury could have been caused by falling
on some projection, but not by falling on q
fiat surface.
James r. Porter of Washington testified
that he witnessed an alteration between
two men on rustic walk, near Cabin John
bridge, on the evening of April 10. He
saw two men locked in each others arms
and as they separated one of the mer
struck the other twice. There were seven
or eight men in the crowd. and he heard
one of them say. XIII him. Denny
Separated by Man Wearing SILK Hat
A gentleman with silk hat got between
the two men and remarked to one of them
You have been looking for trouble all the
afternoon" The smaller of the two mer
started to run and the other started after
him and overlook him Just as he reached
the top of rustic steps, leading up to Cabr
John bridge, and grabbing him by the arm
turned him around and struck him twice.
From the manner in which the blows
were struck 1t appeared as If the man
held something in his hand. The man
that was struck remarked, Il don't want
to fight" and started to run toward Cabin
John bridge. The other man started aftel
him, and they were soon out of sight.
Witness saw nothing more of either OF
them until he saw the man who was struck
lying on his back on the bridge, with
his face badly swollen and discolored
He was told that the injured mans
name was Johnson. Witness stated that
the trouble occurred about twilight, and
he did not get good look at the men,
He could not identify Griffin, who was in
the court room, as the man who struck
the blows.
The hearing will probably occupy the
entire afternoon.