The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-03-01
In SELF
DEFENSE
Was AL Wicks Killed, tho Jury
Decides at Inquest.
Robiou Johnson Tells His Story and
Is Fully Corroborated BY
Others.
is DISCHARGED FROM CUSTODY

Robiou johnson was this morning
exonerated by the coroner's jury sum-
moned to hold an inquest over the re-
mains Of Al Wicks, engineer at the
Palmer house, who died yesterday
about noon from injuries inflicted by
johnson at Wick's home Saturday
night. Johnson, who had been guard
ed by Officer James CLARK since he
gave himself mp yesterday afternoon,
although no guard was necessary, was
promptly released upon the finding OF
the coroner's jury this morning.
The jury was called together at 8 a.
IN. by Coroner VIM. Peal, and taken in
the patrol wagon to the wick's home
on North Fourth street below Madi-
son to view the remains. Upon its
return il convened in the council
chamber at the city hall, and the wit.
nesses were heard. There were not
many spectators.
Ed Love, who was with Wicks Sat-
urday night and assisted johnson in
carrying him home, was the first wit
ness. He testified that he was called
to the Palmer house Saturday after
noon to do some pipe work, and did
not finish until or O'Clock in the
evening. Wicks was drinking, and he
and Johnson some time later, after
they had been at a Fourth street sa-
loon, started to take him home.
They got there, he said, and while
they had considerable trouble with
him, there was no i'll feeling and no
trouble Of any kind. He stepped into
the rear room, as he stated yesterday
to Judge Sanders. and when he re-
turned Wioks was on the floor, badly
hurt. There was not much blood, he
said, and Wicks only mumbled some
thing when asked what was the mat
ter He said he had known the dead
man for l2 years or more; and that he
was not only dangerous man when
drinking, but was a very powerful
man, IN fact one of the strongest in
the city. He did not see johnson, he
said, after Wicks was found injured.
Mrs. Wicks was called to the stand
and despite her nervous condition told
a clear straightforward story. She
said her husband had been drinking
for the past several weeks, and for
several days previous to the trouble
had been drinking very heavily To
the best of her recollection he came
home TO dinner Saturday. but not to
supper.
Between 10 and IL O'Clock he was
brought home by Love and Johnson,
and did not seem to want to be brought
in, but he was forced in. They talked
loudly at times, and there was a scuffle
or two, but he was finally taken in
and the folding bed let down. John
son often brought him home, Mrs
Wicks said. and they were on this &C.
casion as friendly as usual, except
that the irrational condition Of her
husband made him object to being put
kA no OIL hn kaA
been put there he raised up and struck
Johnson, knocking him down time
or two. BY this time she had stepped
into the next room TO look after the
children. When she came back a mo.
ment later, her husband was on the
floor hurt. He did not seem to bleed
much, and said he was not much hurt.
His pistol was found on the floor
nearby. She, testified to his being an
unusually powerful man, and said that
he was very quarrelsome when drink
ing. She also said that he and john
son had always been the best of friends,
and johnson had for some time past
been taking his meals there. Her hus-
band, she said further, Yves rational q
part Of the time, and then said that he
was to blame as much as anyone.
She said she saw him trying to get to
the pistol which was kept on a shelf,
and heard him declare that he would
kill johnson before he would allow