The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-10
KILLING JUSTIFIED
JOHNSON NOT GUILTY OF MURDER
ING HIS FATHER-IN-LAw.
JURY'S VERDICT A SURPRISE
COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE MADE
A HARD FIGHT.

| an Acqutftnl-State'S witnesses
Abused and Condemned by the De-
fense-AbIe Arguments by Judge
TwiGSs, MIR. oliver and Solicitor
General OsbOrne-Judge TwiEgs
Particularly Severe on Witnesses
for the ProsecutiOn-SOlIcitO Com
| mented Upon This and Had n Tilt
| with Counsel for Defendant.
Judge FaIligant Had to Take
| Hand I'm the Afair-Judge Twiggs
Denied Positively That He Used
Language Credited to Him.
After celebrating for an hour and half
last night the jury in the William W.
johnson murder case returned a verdict
of not guilty. On the second ballot, it is
understood, the jury agreed that when
Johnson stabbed John Scott, his father
in-law, to death, on the afternoon of
Sunday, May 49, at Sims and Wilson
streets, he was justified.
The verdict was received with surprise
by the court officers and those who
watched the case as it progressed.
few of them had rather expected verdict
of manslaughter, and the unqualified ac-
quittal was looked upon as a great victory
| for Judge Twiggs and MIR. Oliver, who
| fought hard for the defense. The
prisoners entire expression changed when
the foreman announced that after due de-
liberation verdict of not guilty had been
agreed upon. After over a month of con-
inement he was free, and he thanked the
members of the jury.
1t is understood that on the first ballot
ten were for an acquittal and two were
for manslaughter. The twain who con-
sidered that johnson had been guilty of
the lower grade of crime changed on the
next ballot. Counsel for the defendant
had literally riddled the witnesses for the
state during the arguments, and the jul
rors appeared to look at the testimony in
the same light The arraignment % ale
witnesses hy Judge Twiggs aad Mr.. Oil
yer. had the desired effect.
Mr. Marion Lucas was put on the stand
by the state in rebuttal, at the morning
session of the court. He had seen and
talked to the prisoner shortly after his
surrender to the police. The witness did
not think that the defendant had said
anything about the cut in the side john
son had, however, displayed the cut on
his fingers and had stated at that time
that the wound had been made by SCOTS
knife The witness was also foreman OF
the coroner's jury that first investigated
the homicide, and had taken down the
testimony of the witnesses at that time.
| He was quite sure that Gill had made no
| reference to knucks being used by john
son, and the records showed that he had
not mentioned the subject Gill insisted
when on the stand that he had told OF
the use of the knucks.
Mr.. Oliver opened for the defense and
made an able argument. The court room
was crowded to the doors and the atten-
tion of the spectators, as well as the jury,
was held until the last word fell from his
lips In commenting upon the testimony
of Mrs. Scott counsel said that some feel
ing of charity would have to be exercised
in considering the testimony of the wom-
an who went on the wftness-stand wear
ing the Widows weeds. Her evidence
must be colored by feeling when she con-
sidered it her duty to stand by the dead
and possibly unmeaningly she had chang
ed her story. He commented upon the
fact that under the law one wife could
testify while the others lips We're closed
Mrs. Scott had communed, and lived and
playing her widows weeds.
why, oh! why, in two months had the
coroner's witness changed so materially"
he asked. "Allow for human infirmity and
passion and prejudice, but what could
have prompted some of the states witt
nesses in acting so on the stand. Har-
rison with his everlasting smile was black
corruption. His heart was restless Tor
the very life-blood of the defendant. He
| nd he wilt ~
still"
, Mr.. Oliver charged that some of the
witnesses had breathed upon the clear
light of truth until 1t had become cloudy.
and asked that If upon such testimony
twelve intelligent men would take John
son from the little boy his son, who
looked up into their faces.
Judge Twiggs followed MIR. Oliver and
! made strong appeal for an acquittal.
He did not consider that he was arguing
for life, but for the liberty of the ac-
cused. He paid his respects to Mrs.
Scott and the witness. who was in the
, court room. was restless. He declared
that a lingering sentiment in her bosom
sealed her lips. Counsel mimicked the
, witness to the amusement of the specta-
tors and to her discontinue.
8 He placed the homicide at the door OF
drunkenness, and declared that the fact
that Scott was drunk on the Sunday in
question was responsible for his death
Counsel charged that drunkenness is the
greatest curse to humanity, and that
strong drink has made more widows and
impovished more children than any other
{ red-eyed Demon that stalks i'm darkness
1t has filed the path of life with wrecks
and ruins.
: As usual Judge .Twiggs threw the regu-
q lation floral tributes at the solicitor gen
eral. He spoke of the artful tongue OF
an artful lawyer, and declared that when
I he got the last say he cut the bridges
from under him. He will chew me up
like a mule at a side saddle but he
wouldn't do 1t IL / had the last show
. He may soar in the clouds OF oratory
e but you must not pay too much attention
a to the honey and music of my friend S
eloquence"
Counsel went for the witness GILL and
| repeatedly referred 20 him as "Knucks
Gill The witness was upbraided and
, ridiculed and the comments upon his tes-
: timony, and actions upon the stand. were
caustic to say the least. Counsel declared
that he would not trust a man of that
:. sort as far as the Pulaski House with a
ragged umbrella. He referred to the
mouthy vagaries of these unreliable crea-
lures. upon whose words the state would
have an existence blotted out and soul
hurled into eternity. He felt that no jury
would send fellow creature across the