The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-14
PAID PENALTY FOR CRIME ! AFTER D YEARS HAD PASSED

and interposed plea of guilty to maR- slaughter in the first degree. He was sem tenced to two years at hard labor for the county and Is now at work under a lease to the Union Naval Stores Company near Flomaton.
 The, crime for which George Johnson, once an honest, hard-working citizen. of Monroe County is now toIling. side by side with hardened criminals. was committed in the summer of 1879 in the interior of Clarke Count. The persons concerned in the tragedy represented the best blood of South Alabama and 1t was the terrible climax to an occasion where mIrth and merriment. beauty and brightness were swept aside in the twinkling of an eye and terror struck the hearts of bright faced women while brave men were stun ned by the awfulness of the quick trans formation.
 Mike Murphy, one of the popular young men of Clarke County, was to be wed- ded to a beautiful young woman and the people from the two counties had gath cred at the country home of the bride-to- be to witness the solemn ceremony and to participate in the wedding feast.
 Among the guests were George Johnson. cousin of Mike Murphy. the bridegroom. and John Hunter Smith. member of a prominent family. They were young men and each had his wide circle of friends. After the wedding ceremony, the young men gathered in a room to quaff the cup of good cheer and to toast the happily welded pair.
 A note of discord was sounded. A dis pute arose between Mike Murphy. the bridegroom. and John Hunter Smith. Hot words were passed. a pistol shot rang out on the air, and Mike Murphy. the bridegroom of an hour. sank into the arms of his friends and ere his bride could reach his side. his soul had passed into the Great Beyond George Johnson. the devoted cousin. realizing the situa- ton, sprang to the defense of his kins- man. and in another terrible moment. a pistol ball sped into the heart of John Hunter Smith. sent there by George John son.
 The happy home was thus quickly trans formed into a house of sorrow. A young bride, widow, the marriage feast be- came a feast of desolation and tears.
 George Johnson returned to his home and made no attempt to escape. The grand jury of Clarke County met and re- turned an indictment against him. but he was not arrested until g years had passed.
 After serving reasonable length of time st hard labor, his neighbors and friends have petitioned the Governor to be merciful in his case. Johnson is now 50 years old. He Is not in good health and his wife and children are dependent upon his effort. Thousands of persons have signed the petition for clemency These include tae officials of Clarke and Monroe Counties, and the names of Hon. John M. Wilson. Probate Judge of Clarke County. and Hon. N. J. Stallworth, Pro- bate Judge of Monroe County, are con spiouous on the petition.
 The State Pardon Board has carefully weighed the case and the members of the Board yesterday, with unanimous. voice, recommended to Governor Jelks that Johnson be paroled. The Governor will probably take some action on the case today.
 John Hunter Smith. killed by George Johnson, was a brother of Robert Smith. a well-knowns young railroad man of Montgomery. who is associated with the local freight department of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company