Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-11-27
The Murder Wednesday Night

Inc CDiDbCi = July -"
county yesterday afternoon brought in a
verdict to the effect that Joseph johnson,
coIored. met his death at the hands OF
John Williams, colored, and that the
act was premeditated murder; also that
Martha johnson, wife of the murdered
man. was an accessory. Williams and the
Johnson woman we're committed to jail
TO await the action of the grand jury.
The inquest was held by Justice Blrrell
anS he iury and witnesses summoned
by Constable Grady. The facts brought
before the jury varied but little from
those published in yesterdays Gazette.
johnson had appeared in the neighbor-
hood of the old canal basin and had sent
for his wife, who was in a nearby house.
He had not lived with her for nine
months. She came at his summons and
the couple had proceeded some distance
up the road toward st. Asaph Junction
when Williams emerged from behind
freight car aud shot Johnson in the fore
head. The latter fell with his head
toward the north, and Williams and the
Johnson woman fed. Later Constable
Grady of the county was informed OF the
murder and he having good reasons to be-
lieye that Williams had committed the
act, started after him and Johnson 5
wife. He soon reached the latter s
house and put her under arrest and then
with his prisoner started after Williams.
He found him in his house In bed,
and the constable asked the wo-
man to knock and request admls-
sion. When Williams opened the
door to admit the woman the officer
pushed his way into the house and tod
Williams he had come to arrest him.
The latter pretended to be greatly aston
isbed and asked the constable what
charge he had against him. When told
he was suspected Of having murdered
joseph johnson, Williams observed int
he was suspected of committing al
crimes in the county. The officer told
him to dress himself and accompany
him to the station house in this city.
The darkey complied and when the con-
stable reached the corner OF Princess
and Fairfax streets he met Officers
Belts and Knight and the three officers
proceeded to the station house with the
man and woman. Later Constable
Grady went to Williams house and
found the pistol with which the murder
had been committed under the pillow
on Williams bed. He had reloaded
the weapon after he shot Johnson. The
constable also found a small razor lying
near the spot where johnson fell. Yes
terday morning the constable carried the
prisoners before Justice Birrell who con-
Quoted the coroner's inquest. 1t was
stated that the pistol used by Williams
was purchased by the johnson woman
in Washington several months ago.
Johnson had recently complained to
Constable Grady of the relations exist
ing between his wife and Williams, ana
had intimated that the circumstances
warranted him in committing some overt
act Williams reiterated in substance
his statement of Yesterday morning to
the effect that he was getting coal from
car when he heard cries OF distress
from the woman that when he went
to her assistance Johnson produced
razor and threatened to kill HING that be
(Willams), acted in self-defense. The
woman's version was about the same as
she gave Yesterday at the station house.
She repeated the statement that she DID
not see Williams and did not know who
fred the shot. The witnesses who had
been summoned threw no additional light
on the case 1t is now generally believed
.hat Williams was aware OF the fact that
Johnson was in the neighborhood and en-
deavoring to have an interview with his
wife and that the murderer secreted
himself behind the coal cars. When he
saw Johnson and his wife in the road he
supposed the woman was about to return
TO her husbands home, and this incurred
his jealousy to such an extent that he de-
termined to kill the husband. The tes-
timony of the johnson woman, II ad-
mjtted, shows that Williams crime was
Dremeditated, as she maintains she did
not know he was in the vicinity when
she heard the pistol shot; hence there .
reason to believe he lay in wait for his
victim. Both the prisoners shed tears
copiously during the inquest.