The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-05-12
STRETCH HEMP.


The Fiend, William johnson, Guilty
OF Diabolical Crime.
A siokenine andPathetio Case. Tho
Verdict Meets the Approval
of the People.
William johnson was convicted of
OF criminal assault on Geneva Howell.
q alittle eight-year-old white girl, in the
court OF general sessions on Thursday.
Johnson Is young mulatto about
seventeen years OF age, but we'll de-.
veloped for his age. The fiendish
crime was committed near Bowman a
few months ago. A full account of it
was published in The Times and
Democrat at the time.
The little girl upon whom the fiend.
ish assault was made, Is quite hand
some in face, and she told of her hor.
! rible treatment at the hands of the
brute Johnson in calm and Innocent,
childish way. 1t was pitiful to look
upon her, and her condition tended to
cause the nobler sensibilities OF man
hood to feel indignant against the
fiend who committed the brutal crime
The child was brought into the court
room In the arms OF her mother. She
was seated upon chair in the court
room, within the bar.
When she was called to give her
testimony, the chair was lifted and in
| this way she was taken to the witness
station. After she had testified she
was taken back to the side Of her
mother in the same manner. She is
helpless and cannot walk step as the
| result Of the crime that was commit
ed upon her person by the diobalical
fiend. Being little child, she did
not realize the hellishness of the crime
the fend had committed, and conse
quently she did not tell her mother
until several days after the assault
when the serious effects began to be
manifested. The testimony produced
at the trial is practically as follows:
Geneva, In a frank, childish way,
told Che jury all the circumstances in
connection with the assault She said
she did not utter an outcry at the
time and said nothing about it to her
mother until few days after the
occurrence. She told plain straight
forward story OF the brutal way the
tiend had treated her. While she did
not say so, it Is very probable that
the reason why she said nothing about
the matter she was afraid Of the
scoundrel, who had treated her SO
brutally.
Bette Howell. the mother OF the
child, stated the age Of the little girl
to be eight years. The child was
hearty and could walk before this as
sault, but is now helpless cripple.
The defendant had worked for them
some time back but was not working
for her at time OF assault. She lives
about 10 miles below O1angeburg.
She has never been married, and has
no other children.
Dr. w. M. earn testified that about
week after the assault he examined
the child. He found Inflammation
Later he made more careful exami-
nation and found the child suffering
from loathsOme disease. Could not
tell at that length Of time after the
assault what force was used. There
was no question as to the child s sui.
fering from the disease. The child is
now suffering from chronic poisoning
from the disease. This has produced
rheumatic condition that has rem.
dered her lower limbs helpless.
DR.. d. j. Hydrick testified that he
| had examined the defendant q few
weeks ago, after he had been lodged
In jail. The result Of this examina.
| tion proved to him beyond question
that the prisoner had loathsome dis
ease. He stated that this was true
beyond question
On the part Of the defense DR.. j.
a. Clifton was called to the stand and
he testified that he had made an ex-
animation Of the prisoner a few days
after he was committed to jail and he
had reached the conclusion that he
did not have the disease. He ha not
made a microscopic examination.
The defendant was called to the
stand and denied the charge. He
made a statement Of his innocence.
Stated that he was at the house OF
the child's mother on the day stated,
but had not committed any such
crime.
The case was given to the jury at
half-past one O'Clock, just at the hour
set for the dinner recess, and the jury
had not only had their dinners but
had agreed upon the verdict when
court reconvened at 3 o'clock.
The verdict found was guilty, and
as there was no recommendations for
mercy, the sentence carries the death
penalty.
The story told by the little girl
touched all present and there are some
who think that any other verdict
might have had serious results.
The verdict is regarded as a Just
one by those who heard the testimony.
by appointment Of the judge Johnson
was defended by Mr.. John S. Bow
man. Johnson was sentenced to be
hung on Friday, June 16.
Bucket Shops and Exchanges.
Before the Supreme Court at Wash
ington the other day Judge Crumpack-
er boldly asserted that the Board of
Trade Of Chicago was nothing better
than an institution established for the