The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-09
HIS PLEA DEFENSE
w. w. JOHNSON on TRIAL FOR MUIR
DER OF HIS FATHER-INLAW.
HE KILLED JOHN SCOTT
STATES WITNESSES PICTURE A d.
ABOLICAL CRIME.

Hands Thrown Up and i'm a Plead
ing Voice He Asked johnson NOT
to Cut Him-Was on the Ground
Then-StOry Denied by Prisoner,
Who Claims Justifica ii On-SOIfcitOr
Osborne and Judge Tvyiggs Had
Several spats-Wife of the Dead
Man Testifies Against SOn-in-Layv
and swears That killing Was
without ProvOcatiOn-Nitne to
Prove Turbulent Character OF
ScOtt-WOmen Witnesses Would
Not Get Ratified.
The trial of W. w. Johnson. charged
with the murder of John Scott, his faith
er-in-law, took up the entire day in the
Superior Court yesterday, and all of the
evidence is not yet in. Several witnesses
will be put on the stand this morning,
after which the arguments will begin.
The trial caused several tits between So
licitor General Osborne and Judge H.
D. D. Twiggs. The spats were frequent,
and afforded the crowded courtroom some
amusement, and excitement.
The crime for which johnson is being
tried occurred on Sims and Wilson streets,
in the early afternoon of Sunday, May
10. The states witnesses made out
case of murder beyond all peradventure,
and, too, the act as pictured by them was
a cowardly and cold blooded one. There
was not single redeeming feature from
their point of view, and, according TO
their version, Scott was cut to death,
when in an almost helpless state of intox-
ication. Most of the witnesses for the
state had already given testimony before
the coroners jury.
c. W. Collins, for the state, pictured
frightful crime in a graphic manner He
swore that after Scott had been cut
twice, and had fallen on his knees, the
bleeding man looked up pleadingly, and
throwing up his hands, said, John, don't
cut me-" Scott was unarmed and the
witness saw no reason for the killing.
| had been assaulted by Jasper Gill, be-
cause he had remarked that Scott should
have been killed years ago.
On the cross-examination the witness
did not become ratified rapidly, and his
answers were short and to the point, al
| though respectful. His attitude, how
ever. did not please counsel for the de-
| PENDANT, and Judge Twiggs said: You
are exceedingly pert, and you'll find that
you'll get along better If you behave
| yourself"
This brought Mr.. Osborne to his feet.
| He did not want to see his witness brow
| beaten, and he submitted that the ques-
| lions had been answered properly. He
| did not propose to have counsel act in
such an arbitrary manner. Judge Twiggs
| said he didn't care what the solicitor
liked. Mr.. Osborne said that he was ad-
dressing the court.
| 81 am addressing the court, and 1 sup
pose that have a right to address the
court without asking the Solicitor Cen
| eral," said Judge Twiggs. Judge Falls
| giant ruled that the witness had answered
| the questions in a respectful manner.
| II don't care about the Solicitor Cen
eral" said Judge Twiggs. 1.-The court has
already ruled that the witness is conduct
| ing himself properly and 1 guess he'll
| care about that" answered Mr.. Osborne.
II will leave it with the jury If the wit
ness was courteous or not said counsel,
| continuing the examination.
Joseph Gin, Jr., was quite sure that
| johnson had struck Scott with knucks,
before he used his knife. He was certain
that he had made this statement to the
coronerS jury and could not understand
why 1t was not in the evidence on record.
| He. could not have been mistaken about
the fact. On the ciross-examination the
| witness admitted that he had assaulted
a man named Dayton, because he had re-
| marked that johnson should have done
it three years before
When the state announced that it had
closed its case Judge Twiggs outlined
| what the defense expected to show. He
| pictured Johnson as a quiet, orderly and
peaceable young man, and Scott as a
violent, turbulent and dangerous charac-
ter. The defense would show that Scott
had threatened, on more than one occa-
sion, to kill his son-in-law, and had ac-
tually attempted to take his life. The
defense would show that the two men
were engaged in mutual combat, and that
both used knives. Johnson would show
that he was justified in taking Scott's
life and that it was really forced upon
| him.
Johnson made a lengthy statement and
displayed signs of nervousness through
out. He told of numerous occasions when
Scott tried to kill him and of threats
| made against his life. He stated that
on one occasion Scott attempted to kill
his two-year-old Fred johnson, by brain
ing him with a chair. On another oo-
| casion the old man had almost cut his
coat from his back. The prisoner declared
! that he had been repeatedly warned that
| Scott was going TO kill him as soon as
he got a chance.
The defendant stated that he had been
employed at night, and that on another
occasion Scott went to his house. and
with an open knife in his hand, searched
every room. His father-in-law stated
then that he was going to kill him. "At
! another time he cursed me and said: I'm
| going to kill you. This was on the street
! and he ran at me with an open knife in
| his hand. 4 managed to get away then"
| said Johnson. AT another time he tried
| to kill me in bed. He had his knee press
ed down on by breast and the knife at
my throat My wife happened to come IN
| the room, and by begging and pleading
with him, she and / managed to keep him
from cutting me. lie would have killed
me in bed that time, but for her.
81 went to him when he was sober, aft
erwards, and asked him what he had
against me. He said that he didn't have
any use for me and that he was going
to kill me as soon as he got a chance.
| He was sober then and cursed me- l
| told him after that that he could not
come to my house any more
ION the. day OF the killing I was In
formed before / got home that Scott was
there drunk, and cursing my wife. and
Mrs. Scott, and threatening my life. Be-
fore | got to the house heard him
cursing. and when I came up he SAID.
"a Il.