The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
BONDS OF COUPLE
 LOWERED BY JUDGE
Johnson's Bond Fixed at S700
 and Wife'S at $500
THE TRIAL LASTED HOURS
Alleged Picpocket Succeeded in Max ing Bond at a Late Hour Last Nght-Johnson on the
 Stand.

Night-Johnson on the
 Stand.
 After hearing the petition for writ of habeas corpus seeking to have the bonds of J. J. Johnson and Ethel Johnson, al- legged pickpockets, reduced from s1OOO each to $500 each, Chancellor A. H. Ben ners yesterday fixed the bond of Johnson at s70o and the bond of the woman at $500. Johnson furnished bond at a late hour last night.
 The case was stubbornly fought to finish by the attorneys for the petitioners and for the state. The hearing began at 2:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon and lasted until nearly z o'clock last night. A number of witnesses were introduced and lengthy arguments were made by B. M. Allen, attorney for the petitioners, and Solicitor H. P. Heflin for the state. Johnson, alias Ray. alias Tyler, and his wife are accused of picking the pock- ct of Louis B. Hanks at the union sta ton on the afternoon of President Roose- velts visit to Birmingham. They were arrested by the officers. The bond of Johnson was first set at $500, which he made. The woman's bond was set at 5000 by Judge Feagin at the preliminary and she never could make it. The grand jury returned indictments against the couple on the charge of larceny from the person and their bonds were fixed at 5000 each.
 After a long controversy between the attorneys yesterday they finally agreed to introduce testimony in order that 1t might be ascertained whether the charge against Johnson and his wife constituted grand larceny or petit larceny.
 Chancellor Benners stated that in fixing the bonds the consideration must be suf- ficiently ample to insure the appearance of the defendants on the date of their trial, and that their ability to make bond must also be considered in fixing the amount
 Witnesses Testify.
 John Mccoy, day warden of the coun- ty jail, was the first witness. to be placed on the stand. On examination by Attor- ney B. M. Allen, he stated that the usual bonds fixed by the courts for grand lar ceny, burglary and similar charges were from s25O to $500.
 The county jail docket was produced and Attorney Allen read large number of instances in which the bonds for grand larceny and similar charges ws<a fixed at sums from $50 to $500.
 John G. Bradley, clerk of the criminal court, was the next witness introduced. He stated that the usual bond fixed by the criminal court in non-felony cases were $S0O In answer to a question from had been fixed as high as 5000 for non felony case, he answered in the nega- tive.
 Detective George w. Bodeker, who as- sisted in the arrests of the alleged pick pockets, was the next witness. He tes- tifed that he was on duty at the sta ton on the afternoon of the President g visit.
 ''I saw Johnson grab MT. Hanks pocket book and pass it to the woman. She placed the pocketbook inside of her hand bag. I assisted in arrestlng both the man and the woman"
 The handbag and the pocketbook were reproduced and identified as the ones taken from Ethel Johnson.
 Louis B. Hanks, who was relieved of his pocketbook, was called to the stand. He swore that he lived at WoodIawn and was at the union station on the afternoon of the Presidents visit That he was robbed of his pocketbook. As to the sum of money in his purse he could not ex. actly remember.
 On cross-examination by Attorney Al. len he stated that he had the Saturday before about s21 and in giving the list of his expenditures admitted that he had spent all but about s4 of that sum.
 Johnson on the Stand.
 Johnson was placed on the stand and stated that he was not able to make a 5000 bond.
 If my wife and myself had the means to give the bond. we would certainly have made it. and not remained in jail all of this time.
 On cross-examination by Solicitor lief lin, he declined to state where his home was.
 '1 must decline to give the name of my home, because I don't want to let my folks know about this affair." he answered. The solicitor then asked if Johnson was his right name. Attorney Allen objected on the grounds that the grand jury had returned the indictment against him under the name of John- son.
 Policeman Baker was placed on the stand and testified that he assisted in the arrest of Johnson and his wife, and that he found sum of money on the man.
 A controversy then arose over the ad- mission of certain testimony that the