The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-19
DIDN'T LIKE THEM
INDICTED MURDERER WOULDNaT
CONFER WITH COUNSEL.
HE STUCK TO HIS CELL.
WHEN THE COURTS APPOINTEES
VISITED HIM AT THE JAIL.

William w. johnson, Indicted for
the Murder of John n. Scott, His
Father-in-Iaw, Maintains "a Haugh-
~ spirit in His Captivity-Case
Was Assigned for Trial To-day,
but Has Been Continued Until July
S-Messrs. Charles &. Edwards and
Gordon Harvey Threw 1t Up in Dis
gust-Lawyer Whom johnson HAD
Selected Threw 1t Up for Another
Reason-COnference i'm Court.
William W. johnson. the young white
man who carved his father-in-law, John
II. Scott, 10 death, one Sunday of last
month, will not be tried for his crime to-
day. The grand jury of the Superior Court
has indicted johnson for murder and the
trial was 10 have been begun this morn
ing 1t has been continued until Monday,
July 8.
Behind this simple statement of the
facts in the case, there is a story rather
curious and interesting, which had its
denouement in an impromptu hearing held
before Judge Falligant yesterday after
noon. in which the defendant, the solicL
itor general and two young members of
the bar Messrs. Charles G. Edwards and
Gordon Harvey, participated.
These young lawyers had a kick to
make. They had been appointed by the
court to defend johnson and during the
morning had paid him visit at the Jail.
Johnson has been saying all along that
he either had counsel or would have by
A.
but he found out yesterday that he
hadn't He was told that the lawyer
whom he understood was going to repre-
sent him had thrown up the case. The
court and the solicitor general had been
so informed also, and Judge F'alligant APP
pointed Messrs Edwards and Harvey to
look after Johnsons interests
1t was after this appointment was
made that they had gone to the Jail to
hold a conference with the man whom
they understood they were to represent,
when he was placed on trial for his life.
They were the more amazed, therefore.
when he refused to see them, or to hold
any conference with them, or even to
linger anywhere in their vicinity. On the
contrary he had gone upstairs to his cell
and left his counsel, wrathy and not a
bit pleased with the treatment they had
received, in the lower corridor of the
cage.
They had complained to the court, and
explained to the solicitor general that
they wished to be relieved of the ap-
pointment. Therefore it was. that the
conference was had in the afternoon.
johnson was brought into the court
room by bailiff and Judge Falligant ad-
dressed him:
II am told" said the court, that al
though you have no counsel to represent
you at your trial, you have refused to
receive or confer with the counsel APP
pointed by me to look after your inter-
| esls. Why did you do this?'
Why" said the prisoner, my friends
| have collected money enough to employ
lawyer to represent me, and 1 did not
care to confer with anyone else. I
| thought all along that Mr.. Colding was
my lawyer, but he told me this morning
he could not take the case
Judge F'alligant pressed the prisoner as
/ 10 his reasons for failing TO provide him
self with counsel before this but John
son only reiterated what he had said be-
fore. He added, however, that he could
not with safety go to trial just at pres
| ent, as one of his most important wit
| nesses, Smith B. Dayton, was now In
New Haven, Conn. johnson said Dayton
had seen the entire trouble, which cul-
minated in the death of Scott from start
to finish.
On this showing Judge Falligant said
he was inclined to grant a continuance
but at the same time he wanted to inn
press upon johnson the necessity of his
! being ready for trial on the day fixed
| He told the defendant that he must place
| his case in the hands of counsel and see
| that his witnesses were summoned, and
that If he found himself unable to en-
pioy counsel TO notify the sheriff and the
court would appoint counsel to defend
him The case. said the court would be
tried on the day for which it was as
signed.
On the question of date Judge Falli-
| giant and Mr.. Osborne had a conference
and the case was put down for July s.
Then Mr. Edwards arose and said he
wanted to be relieved of the appoint
ment. He did not enjoy the attitude in
which he had been placed by the defend
ant, nor the experiences through which
he had passed with johnson, and he want
| ed to get out of the one and be as
sured there would be no repetition of the
other. The solicitor general and Judge
| Falllgant took the same view of the mat
ter and both Mr.. Edwards and Mr. Har-
vey were relieved of any connection with
| the case.
Mr. Osborne had a few parting words
for Johnson before that individual was
led back TO the Jail.
"Iou want to remember" said the So
| Hector general, that you will be tried on
the day for which your case has been
assigned and be prepared for trial on that
day. If you are not able to employ coun-
sell notify the sheriff and His Honor will
| appoint counsel for you. And" con-
cluded Mr.. Osborne, when they come to
see you at the Jail you had better treat
them respectfully, for they will probably
represent you"