The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-24
READY TO SURRENDER
JoHNsoN's STORY OF THE KILLING
OF HIS FATHER-IN-LAW.
TO SAVE HIS OWN LIFE.
STABBED SCOTT WHILE THE LAT
TER WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM.

johnson Has Returned to the City
and Has Written the story of Sum
days TraEed y to the Morning News.
Says He VIII Give Himself Up to
the Police When 1t Has Been Made
PubIic-The Police Believe the
Letter Genuine and Think johnson
May Have Been Justified in XIII
ing Scott.
W. W. Johnson, the young man who
stabbed his father-in-laEv, John H. Scott,
to death in Robertsville Sunday afternoon,
an account of which was published in
the Morning News, has written letter
TO the Morning News. Johnson made
his escape after the killing and at the
coroner's inquest the jury charged him
with murder.
johnson says in his letter that he has
been done an injustice and that he is
not as black he is painted. He left
the city, he said, because he feared bod
lily injury and said that he will surrender
10 the police as soon as his version of
the killing is made public. The letter
was shown to the city detectives and they
at once pronounced it genuine.
They have samples of the young
mans handwriting and it agrees in every
way with that in the possession of the
Morning News.
The officers say that they have all
along believed that Johnson would sur
render, and they pin a good deal of faith
in what he says in his letter of defense.
The officers said Sunday from what they
had been able 10 gather they believed
that the young man was justified in what
he had done. Scott did not bear a very
enviable reputation on the Westside, and
according to all of the witnesses was
drunk on Sunday. When in an intoxi-
Gated condition he was anything but
agreeable. The police stated last night
that they believe, and have every reason
to, that Johnson will do just what he
promises. The letter follows:
Please allow me space in your paper
to make this statement concerning the
trouble on last Sunday between ]. H.
Scott and myself. l have been charged
with cutting him to death in cowardly
manner. 1 did not and only used my
knife to protect my life. l did leave the
city but have returned and expect to
give myself up to the police in time.
Il went home last Sunday and found
Scott cursing and about to run every one
out of my house When / entered he at
tempted to cut me with his knife. I ran
into the yard and picked up two rocks.
] ordered him 10 get out and we became
engaged in a fight in the hallway Scott
cut me on the hand and then ran outside.
faI-. h . . l1sa ut
him. 1 missed my mark and he came at
me with his knife again.
Il ran back and began to open my knife.
/ could not use the hand that was cut
and opened the blade with my teeth
When l did get it open he was upon me
and we started in to cut at each other.
I did not stand over him to cut for he
never fell to the ground. When
that had cut him badly left him and
he walked in house on Sims and Wilson
streets. l walked away from the crowd
after they took my knife away.
Those witnesses swore falsely against
me and l can and will prove it. did not
cut at GIL or shake hands with him.
did cut at Collins. He rushed in between
us when / was cutting a. Scott. l ran
away because l knew that II l remained
those people around there would have
done me up. 1 do not go with them ard
they have no use for me. l would have
given myself up then but was afraid to
do it. Let the public know the truth and
I will prove that my statement is correct.
That was the third time that Scott at
tempted to take my life.
Il only protected and saved my own
life when l killed Scott The killing was
done in self defense and was not the act
of a coward If you viii publish my
statement i will give myself up to the
police at once"