Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-07-27
BIGLER JOHNSON
PAIL PENALTY

The drop fell exactly at 10 .O5. John .
son had four foot fall and his neck
was broken.
The murderer was accompanied TO
the scatfoId by his spiritual advisor,
Rev. MI Dewitt Arriving on the
death platform the black cap was
drawn over his head. his arms pinion-
ed behind his back and the Moose ad-
justed.
The crime for which Bigler johnson
paid the penalty with his life today
was one of the most atfoclous ever
committed in the state OF Pennsyl-
vania. On the night of September IS
last house occupied by Mrs Bigler
Johnson and her niece, Annie Ben
jamin, in Macedonia was totally de
stroyed by fire.
About six O'Clock the following
morning the neighbors who had gath
cred about the ruins discovered the
Charred bodies of the woman and the
little girl. The remains were far be-
yond recognition and as soon as posi-
BILE interment was made.
Since the fire started early in the
evening, presumably before it had been
bedtime, it was hard for the neighbor :
to believe that the two victims were
caught in a death trap. Many would
not believe it and an investigation was
made with the result that on stone
step where the fire had failed to
sweep there was blood stains
1t was the first clue and was enough
to stir the searchers. Later in the
ruins two oil cans we've picked up and
shortly afterwards a crimson stain of
blood was found from the house cross
ing the field.
Bigler Johnson, husband Of the wo-
man was then arrested aud later
Charles Johnson and Alonson John
son, brothers of Bigler Johnson, Nancy
Johnson, u sister, and Mrs. Sophia
Merritt, mother of the boys.
The theory of the commonwealth
during the trials of the accused was
that after the murder of the woman
and child, their bodies we're placed in
a bed in the house, the room thorough
ly saturated with oil and the match
applied
In the parlor of the county Jail
Charles johnson made confession
shortly after his arrest. He said that
he and AlOnson burned the house but
did not commit the murder. Charles
claimed that Bigler said to him /
and ma will put Mag out of the way
and you and Alonson must burn the
house. Charles claimed that he did
not want to take hand, but Bigler
threatened to get him into it even if
he did not participate i'll the foul
crime.
Charles in his confession told how
he and Alonson got the oil can where
his mother had left it outside the
house and had then opened the wind
ow and poured oil wherever they
could Then they threw in matches
and set 1t ablaze. After :he fire had
spent itself Charles claimed Bigler
said They're done for, she is out
of the way and | won't have to pay
her six dollars month anymore.
The motive was the estrangement
existing between Bigler Johnson and
his wife. They separated some time
before the tragedy and in the proceed
ings which followed the court ordered
the husband TO pay to his wife the sum
of S. a month. He obeyed the man
date. but reluctantly and one mont II
before the murder. as he was paying
the money he stated that that was the
last his wife would get from him.
Charles Johnson was the first to be
placed on trial and after several days
were consumed with the offering of
testimony, he was found guilty of
murder of the first degree. The jury
was out but a short time.
Bigler was next called for trial and
he plead guilty and threw himself up
on the mercy of the Court His at
torneys were confident of getting a
life sentence, but Judge Tanning
promptly condemned him to death
The mother and two children were
later released from Jail, the common
wealth having little hope of finding
them guilty with the testimony in
hand. 1t is believed by the people of
this town that the mother will be re-
arrested, as it is said detectives are
still working on the case
The attorneys for Charles Johnson
are still fighting hard to save his life
and the date for his execution has not
yet been fixed. Bigler Johnson has
made so many confessions that little
credence is placed in any of them.
He now states that after drinking a
pint of alcohol on the way to his
wife's home, he killed her and his
niece and burned the house. He min
utely describes his movements before
the crime but that says he has no
knowledge of how he committed the
murder, although he is quite certain
he killed them both, and that he was
alone at the time
An effort will be made upon the
strength of this confession to save the
life of Charles
The man who died on the Bradford
county gallows today is a descendant
of the Johnsons of the Revolutionary
fame, who welded such influence
among the Mohawk Indians The
" Pool Tribe of which Bigler was a
member was founded by an uncle of