The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-03
PRELIMINARY
HEARING OF
DEL JOHNSON
Oklahoma Murderer Shows
Insanity in Court
MORE FACTS IN THE CASE
He Tells Sheriff How the
Whole Trouble Happened.
MORE FACTS IN THE CASE

Guthrie, o. T, March 2.-The prelinnin-
airy hearing Of Del johnson. for the muir
der Of his father and mother In the vicin-
ity Of Orlando night before last occurred
this afternoon before Probate Judge
Goodrich. But one witness was exam
tned. w. R. Baehman. a neighbor, who
testified as to the nature Of the Wound5
aound on the murdered couple, ana the
prisoner was remanded to the grand jury
without bail
The attitude Of the prisoner during the
bearing increased the strong impression
that ne is wholly unbalanced mentally.
When the accusation was read and the
court asked if he desired TO plead guilty
or not guilty, the prisoner for fun
three minutes said not a word but gazed
vacantly into space. then answered:
''Weu. 7 guess that's right"
Again when asked if he had any state
ment to fake he gave no outword sign
Of having heard the question and after
waiting about five minutes for reply the
court ordered the prisoner bound over.
The following additional particulars OF
the double crime have been received:
Del Johnson. together with his younger
brother by five years. VIII Johnson, lived
with their parents onthe fathers home
stead claim All were highly respected,
well-to-do. influential people, among the
hest of northorn Logan county. The
father was about Co years Of age, the
mother few wears his junior
Tha young lady Ass Borden who
teaches The school tn that district boards
at the Johnson home and on Thursday
evening had accompanied VIII Johnson to
"a literary enter.a inmenL When they re-
turned horrible sight met their eyes.
The dead body Of the aged mother was
lying across the rear porch. where 1T had
pitched forward after receiving o bullet
through the head as she was fleeing from
her mad son. In the bed room the FAITH
or was lying across the bed, also dead
with a bullet through his brain. he
Cad just retired when the son entered
and killed him. Going up stairs. Win
found his brother Del lying across tho
he'd win said. MY God. Del, what
have sou done2'
"I1illed ma and pa" he responded.
After committing the murder Johnson
had placed the Winchester rifle that he
had used behind the door and gone up
stairs 20 lie down. In al he had fired
five shots. The first he had fred at his
mother. She had been up stairs arrang-
ing the boys room for the night and de-
scending was met by Del at the foot OF
the stairs. He sot at her and evidently
missed. She ran from MIN toward the
kitchen door.
Leaving his mother. Del entered the
bed room and fired twice at his old faith
er. one bullet entered a leg and the
second plowed through his brain. enter
ing the head just over the right eye and
coming ont at the back. The father had
evidently not spoken.
Having disposed Of the father Del fol-
lowed his mother. She saw him coming
Standing in the door she turned TO run
when a bullet entering the back Of her
head. entered her brain. Death was IN
stantaineous in both cases Del then
placed the rife behind the door and went
mp stairs 10 retire 1t IS not known how
and at whom the fifth shot was fred.
Del told Sheriff Carpenter that he kill
ed his parents about S o'clock. WIN
johnson and Miss Borden returned home
near midnight and found the corpses.
Blood was despatched everywhere Miss
Borden fainted. Neighbors and friends
were aroused and came TO tho scene and
messages were sent as soon as possible
to Probate Judge Goodrich ard sheriff
Carpenter. The latter received the mes
sage about 4 o'clock yesterday morning
He took the $40 train which however.
was two hours late. and hurried as soon
as possible 10 tho scene
Johnson had not resisted arrest. The
mea who had come upo nthe scene had
tied him securely Sin his room. where
Sheriff Carpenter found him. lie was
brought To Guthrie on the 1855 train yes-
terday afternoon ana placed in the coun-
~ JAIL
BY the time that the sheriff was leav-