The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-08
REV. Mr.. JOHNSON ON TRIAL
CHARGED wIrn TIIE MURDER or
WILLIAM =. HELIANGEu.


school Girls and noS decentralization
Of the Evidence for the Prose
cution.
Bamherg s. c.. Dee. The trial %
Rev wiaam T.. Johnson for tho murder
Of Court stenographer William 7 Bellin-
ger. was resumed this morning Il any
thing the interest 100 the case had IN
creased. The new court House was far
GOO small 20 hold the crowd
This Is one OF the very few trials m
this state in resent yenrr that ladies have
attended. but they arc here croWd.nE
Hith the men. ono reason for this -
that "a number Of young ladies and girls
are among the witnesses on both SIDES
Tho killing %; Beningcr occurred ou
path cutting across enc campus 81 the
Carlisle FITTING school and was witnessed
hy numbers Of siris and boys IN the
school
Mr. Johnson the defendant. seems self
possessed aud occasionally prompts orc
~ hts attorneys OF which he has an able
array he o. rather a tail man. perhaps
5 years old with ravcn-black hair and
moustaehe and small dark eyes. set very
close together. His O. not what would
be called an OPEN countcnance. but Mr.
johnson has made many frlends and is
popular 90 his church he ahstalnea from
preaching FOR some time after the KIN.
.ng. but on the request Of his c0ngrega-
lion, he resumed his pastoral work and
has been preaching regularly FOR months
The Drin of Evidence
The drift Of tho states evidence has
been 10 prove that Joe Brown. whose
marriage to Miss Bcilingcr by the preach
- caused the bad feeling between John
son ana The Belingors. drove
up to the parsonage on the
morning Of the killing. thar
this was preconcsrted a. the two baf been
together THAI morning. that Immediately.
on Browns stopping AZ the gate johnson.
rusned ont Of tho house with his gun
passed Brown. who sat Ia his buggy an:
proceeded across the street. whore he IN
teicepted Belluger. who was coming
from the postoillce reading paper. and
mat ne shot him without warning: that
before falling Beliinger drew his pistol
sud fired several shots without effort
Rev. 7. J Sandfor OF che Second Ban
list Church. testified 20 having walker
part Of the way from the postoflce with
belgingor When they separated he saw
bellingor take out his paper and begin
reading as he walked.
Rev. 7. T. O'Dell o. the Mssh1dlst
Church was 10 his FRrden. 100 yards de-
tant. when the nrst shot was nred He
thought the hrst report was that Of a
sun
Nathaplel Al e,r... . ,...s..- a. -.
Isle Fitting school. was Ia his class room
when the nfst shot was fired. II was fol
lowed hy several more In quick auceas-
sion lie went 10 window witch was
near the place OF shooting. and saw Rev.
Air. Johnson standing behind telegraph
post holding sun around the post level
Cd az Mr. Belanger. who had his pistol
pointed az johnson. Bellinger fell withou,
any other shots being fired
r.. Eldon DIME a teacher In tho Car
Isle School gave practically the same
testimony as Prof salley He added that
after the shooting he saw Brown driv.
ing across the campus and heard him ex-
claim. He shot first" The witness did
not know who was meant BY che
J. o. HERS. a student Ia the boys de.
partment Of the Fitting School. heard the
shooting tho gun fired first lie had seen
BelllnRer coming across the campus
. q
saw BelHnEer dead. his pistol IN one
hand newspaper IN the other Witness
heard Brown say; That's all right. /
know who shot FIRST"
l. r. Baker. another student. heard
Joe Brown say 20 Johnson. "Don't shoot
any more. you have killed hm. go into
the house" johnson put his gun on his
shoulder and walked back 70 the par.
sonaEe,
49,. - .tatn rr-tnN
Testimony for the Defnse.
J e Moye. for The defense. testified to
having heard Beliinger curse johnson n
the most outrageous manner The day be-
fore the killing. Johnson had offered TO
aghl IN the street. but Beilinger drew
pistol.
lol. r j. Counts. 70 years old told
about the trouble between the defendant
ana Bel.ueer. lie had tried 20 make
peace. but failed Then he told johnson
that his lifc was IN danger. After hear
inu Of the threats made by ReiliuEer ths
day before the tragedy. be- had GOT
some shells loaded them with hucksho'.
and sent them with q gun 10 johnson -
the parsonage. telling him 10 protect ana
KIN any man VINO irterfered with him
OF trespssrcd on HE premises. Christian
forbeafance. said the witness, had ceased
10 be virtue.
Physicians tcsiifviuE rs experts. said
no man struck with a full load o. buck
shot as BellinRer had been. could remain
standing. or perform an act % volitlnn
The shock would knock him down In
siantly Two other doctors testified 20
the same effect.
w y Baien. a student at the Fitting
School testified 20 having heard three or
four shots. went 90 window and saw
Johnson standing behind q telegraph
poio then he saw him shoot az Bellinger.
Vfs fell.
Edwin spann. another student heard
the shooting looked out Of a window. saw
Johnson behind post saw him rest the
gun on che side Of a post and ere at Bel.
llngcr who fell.
Both shese witnesses said the first re-
port sounded loud. like q CUR
The court room continues packed tiil all
iourument Two hundred ladies we're
present to-day The testimony will be
concluded tomorrow 10 IS probable a fun
day WAi be Consumed IN tbs arguments.