Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-03-17
HELD WITHOUT BAIL
Fred Johnson Will Be Tried on
Charge Of Murder
Is Now In Jail In 6ennIngton-story Of
Shooting at 6ondvllle Feb. ~ as Told by

Is Now In Jail In 6ennlngton-story OF
Shooting at 5ondvllle Feb. % as Told by
Witnesses.
Fred johnson OF Bondville, who was
given a preliminary hearing on the
charge Of manslaughter, having shot and
killed his brother, Jay Johnson, Feb. 22
and admitted to bail and afterwards ar
rested on the charge Of murder, was Civ
en- another hearing in the town hall in
Bondville Friday to determine whether he
should be held for trial on the latter
charge. Justice NJ. r. Swift OF Benning-
ton presided. Attorney General c. c.
Fits OF Brattleboro and States At
torney w X. Daley Of Bennington APP
peared for the prosecution, A. e. Cud-
worth OF South Londonderry, ]. L. Mar
tin of Brattleboro and F. c. Archibald OF
Manchester appearing for the respondent.
About 200 people crowded into the hall
to hear the testimony.
The first witnesses were Mr.. and Mrs.
Herbert Benson. Mrs. Benson is sis
ter to the Johnson brothers. They tes-
titled that they lived about 30 rods from
the Johnson house and were at home on
the day of the shooting They saw Fred
johnson go from their house to his faith
er's house; Mrs. johnson met him at the
door and gave him a number Of articles
which belonged to him. ne started back
with them to the Benson house. Jay
johnson almost Immediately appeared at
the door, and they heard him shout 'I'u
do IT now" or words to that effect. Fred
johnson started to run and Jay John
son gave chase. Fred johnson fell
in the deep snow, about 10 rods from his
home, and while down drew his re-
volver. a self cooking weapon. and with
his back turned partially toward his
brother reached around his body and
fired. The Bensons heard but one shot,
and II was their impression that Fred
johnson could not see his brother when
he shot Jay Johnson turned partly
around so that one bullet grazed his back.
going from one side to the other.
Another bullet entered his right shoulder
blade and passed nearly through his body.
Fred Johnson. after reaching his sister s
home, unloaded the revolver and gave II
to his sister. He put the loaded cart
ridges in his pocket and dropped the
empty shells on the floor. Two cartridges
and two shells were recovered, so II is
not known whether two or three shots
were fired.
DR.. h. F. Millington Of South London
derry and DIR. F. c. Brigham Of Jamaica
testified about the wounds, concerning
which there is no dispute.
Herbert johnson, who represented the
town OF Winhall at the last session OF
the Legislature and who was reelected
first constable at the town meeting last
week. testified about what took place the
day before the shooting He is a brother
of Fred Johnson and lives a short dis
lance from his fathers house. He knew
that there was trouble at the house and
when he was driving past. a few rods
away, he said to himself. according &c
his own testimony, Il ought to go VI
there and lick him." meaning Fred John
son, and by --- l will" He hitched his
horse and went to the house with the in
tention Of licking Fred and genera
fight followed. AT that time Fred John
son was removing some of his things
from the house by team, which was OBJ
jected to by the other brothers.
The only other witness was Walter
Castle who worked for Herbert Johnson
His testimony was not particularly i'm
portant. He helped carry Jay Johnson e
bed after he had been taken home.
Justice Swift held the respondent with
out bail for trial at the June term of tn,
Bennington county court, and the pri
soner was taken TO the Bennington jail.
When Johnson was first arrested n,
was in H. ID, Smiths barber shop il
Chester. This gave rise to a story to thu
effect that he had his moustache shaved
leave the state. one of Johnson's at
torneys has a letter from Mr.. Smith stat
ing that he did not shave of Johnsonj
moustache or do anything in any wa!
tending to disguise him. Johnson's at
torneys say that he had worn no nous
tache the past year.