The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-10-11
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LYNN SHTCK.
Attorney Of Emiurure and eader Of a
large element which believes Johnson
innocent. Shuck volunteered TO defend
the accused.
Jury this possibility was gone into and
put aside as without sustaining evidence.
Cunningham n the Sheriff. John Bay.
insist that all phases OF the case were
taken before the Grand Jury. that the
only recourse was the Indictment OF John
son.
johnson says" said Cunningham. that
he was lying upon the be and asleep. The
bed was In a corner Of the room and
against the wall. the girl on the inside.
The murderer must have struck across
Johnson. II he We're on the bed. But blood
spots were on the sheet from the place
where the girls head was when struck. I'm
q line each a Few inches apart. across to
the outer edge OF the bed. These spots
must have been made by the dripping
from the ak when 70 was withdrawn after
the blow. II johnson Rad been on the
bed. there would have been a space as
wide as his body between the spots
The AZ was found in the middle OF tho
floor and IN such position that II seemed
10 have been laid down and not dropped,
as Il would II a man ran from the place.
Johnson states. too. that. awakened by
the stroke. he grappIed with a and
that a scufhe ensued. Several who were
In the room a Few minutes after the kill
Ing declare that there were 10 indica-
lions OF such a scufhe."
in the fight johnson declares that he
was cut about tho chest with the mans
AK. Physicians have said that II was not
probable tina such wounds could have
been caused by an ak, but appear TO have
been afflicted by a sharp knife or a
razor"
In answer 10 some Of these contentious,
and in supplying others. which he thinks
tend TO eXouerate Johnson. Lynn Shuck
said:
My clients statement Of the occur
rences that night seems straightforward
and plausible. Early the evening q the
18Th. Jim johnson and Billy johnson. the
one a brother. the other an uncle 10
George. passed the lstteTs home going TO
Jim's house. 30 yards away. Billy John
son. his wife and daughter. Della. had
come down from Birch Tree to visit Jim.
They topped at Georges house. and he
asked Della % stay with him and his
wife. The little girl pleaded 20 stay. and
finally her parents granted the permits
sion
After supper johnson went with his
cousin NJ into Winona 10 buy some gro
ceries. Shortly after he left his wife
went with two other women to a lodge
meeting IN WiuOnn. and. accordingly. Mrs.
Johnson was away when the murder was
committed. Johnson and the little Girl
stayed a while in Wiuoua and then started
back. He had bought her some peanuts
and they returned by n roundabout way.
as they were In no hurry.
When they did get 20 the house.
Blanche Chiffon met them. She had al
ready met NesbIt in the rear yard. but
heard Johnson coming and had gone into
the house. She talked with them a while.
then helped the girl uudress and put her
10 bed in a nightEown Of Mrs. ~Johnson's.
since the child had none Of her own with
her. Johuson then went 20 bed himself.
putting out the light In his room. The
Chiffon woman turned the lamp low In the
front room. closed the door into John
sons room. and rCjoined Nesbit.
"Johuson's next sensation was a sudden
shock and the consciousness that some
body had hold of him and seemed to be
trying to pull him from the bed. He
fought. but the mamie says that IL was
n man-used the Ak TO push him away
and. finally. dropped the weapon. turned
and ran out Of the door. Johnson ran
after him 10 the door and began to shout
FOR help. crying. -4body has cut me all
TO Pieces After thus giving the alarm. he
went into the front room. turned up the
light. and re-entered the back room. there
80 a. HhnH H. -raH hma - -.-H--a
Ills excitement became intensified. and
he rushed out o. the yard crying. on.
God Somebody has murdered my POOR
cousin Blanche Chiffon. by that time.
was standing at the front gate. she ran
10 awaken the ~neighbors, who soon
crowded around.
Ny idea OF the case Il that the muir
derer mistook the girl for Mrs. Chiffon
and did not know that the man In the
bed was johnson. The girl. clad in the
long gown. and In the dim moonlight
which sifted into the chamber. might cas-
iy nav been mistaken for an older WON
an. The Chiffon woman's hair Is red. So
also. and very long. was that OF Della
johnson.
zone physician did say. when testimony
on an application for bail was taken. that
the wounds which Johnson bore probably
were no; inflicted by an ak. But another
said that they very easily could have been
made BY a sharp *. and this az was As
sharp as such a tool can be.
Moreover. upon Johnson's back was a
long welt. that appeared very much as u
caused by a blow from IN ak handle. This
welt was IN such a place that IL could not
have been self-iuhicted- II Johnson were