The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-02-13

Prosecutor Atkinson then asked the
court to pronounce sentence on the pris-
oner.
"You have been convicted of murder
In the first degree, said Judge Hendrick-
son. Have you anything to say WHY
iudgment'should not be pronounced ?"
After some hesitation and with a be-
wildered look, johnson replied: eff it
could be delayed would like it to be de-
layed for a while"
lis that all you have to say 2" queried
the Judge.
But Jacob c. Hendrickson came to the
relief of his client by remarking: IF
your Honor please, l presume that he
layed 80 as to make preparation for his
death. Isn't that SO, johnson ?" and the
prisoner replied yes"
Continuing, Judge Hendrickson said
ut becomes the duty of the court, under
the law, to impose the penalty upon you
for this sad crime. Considering the sit
uation and circumstances the time of ex-
ecution has been fixed at nearer date
than what generally follows when such
sentences are imposed. feel it my duty
to speak to you, although the court feels
that the verdict is justified by the evil
dence, and feel very sorry that you are
In such position. / advise you to spend
what time you will have to prepare your.
self for that dread event which will come
to you. We commend you to the Father
of all mercy, and ask Him to forgive you
for all your offences. You can have the
benefit of spiritual advisers. The sen.
tence of the court is that for this offence
you be returned to the jail, there to be
kept in close and safe confinement until
Friday, February %. between the hours
of 10 and 2 o'clock, either within the Jail
or jail enclosure, you be hanged by the
neck until you are dead, and may God
have mercy on your soul"
This was Judge Hendrickson's first off
cial act of Importance in this county, and
his manner plainly indicated the unpleas-
ant duty which he had to perform. Judge
Gaskill sat on the bench during the trial,
assisting the venerable jurist in every
way possible.
The Judge ordered the prisoner to be
removed. Detective Parker and Deputy
Sheriff Fleetwood, who had the prisoner
in charge, put the handouts on Johnson.
Under a strong guard he was escorted
back to the Jail from which he will never
emerge alive. The death watch consists
Of Constables Charles Gilbert and John
Throckmorton, Jr., and they went on duty
at once. the latter serving as night guard.
After Johnson had left the room and
appeared in the open air for his last time
on earth, the audience was called to order
and Judge Hendrickson read the following
list of men who had been appointed by the
court to witness the execution: Benajah,P.
Wills, Thomas R. Finley, ]. Franklin
uaicIor H.
Melcher, Mount Holly; Ambrose Shreve,
Bordentown; John G. r. Rogers, Haines-
port; Franklin B. Haines, Cookstown;
Blanchard III. White, Pemberton; Ellsworth
II. Adams, James V. Roberts, Beverly;
Evan F..Benners, Moorestown.
The jury summoned by Sheriff Nor
cross is composed of the following: Ma
than Haines, Griffith W. Lewis, George
A. Atkinson, j. Frank Cline, Burlington;
Joseph G. Bower, William B. Ireland,
Mount Holly; J. Holmes Longstreet, DR..
| l. G.. Leedom, Bordentown; Walter s.
French, Moorestown; Robert Gotham,
Florence; Oscar II. Wittmeyer, Burling-
ton township; DR.. Charles B. Sitgreaves,
Pemberton.
The following physicians will take
charge of the body Immediately after the
trap is sprung and announce when the
murderer is dead: DR.. E F. Rink, Bur-
lington; DIR. David Baird, Florence; DIR.
Richard G. Darlington, Mount Helly.
| Since being taken into custody johnson
has lost over thirty pounds.
| AS Jacob Hendrickson had all along
insisted, there was only one point in the
case and that was the degree of the crime.
Everything else but the allegation of as
sault he was willing to admit. He wanted
to narrow the issue down and save time,
but the Judge said the statute prevented
the acceptance of any proposition of that
kind. The case must go on, and the
Prosecutor must prove the man guilty by
corroborative evidence. Counsel sought
to show that no assault had been commit
ed, In which case he would be entitled tC
second degree verdict, but this theory
was weakened by the testimony of Drs.
Stokes and Stroud, who made the autopsy
The law only requires a professions
opinion on this point.
4 When the jury retired at $50 O'Clock
every body remained in the court room
expecting that a verdict would soon b.
reached. 1t was 80 when Judge Hen
erickson announced that there would be {
recess for one hour. AS the jury was no
! ready to report at 7.30 o'clock, all sorts o
theories were advanced and the crowd be
came impatient. Instantly the prejudic
r against the prisoner was famed to create
proportions and incendiary comment
were freely made The verdict rendered
the only satisfactory solution of the dread
full crime.
Hundreds of people with curious mind
5 flocked to the court house and jail, o.
Thursday morning, drawn there to Sc
: the murderer and to listen to the detail
a of the crime which has so disturbed tn
public mind. Men and women held dow
u the court house steps over an hour befOr
4. the doors were opened, only to meet wit
disappointment, as none but men wer
r permitted to attend the trial Sheriff Nor
i. cross had admission cards printed, whic
10 he placed in the hands of those person
d whose presence was required at the trial.
The large number of special deputis
: summoned by the Sheriff to preserve O
e der and protect the prisoner, were o
y hand at o'clock, and for two hours the
were kept busy attending to preliminar
d arrangements and keeping the crowd
check.
As soon as Judge Hendrickson rsppe
l. for order at 10 O'Clock, lie ordered thi
q Rufus johnson be brought into court, az
., the felon was brought from the jail und
y an escort of policemen, headed by &c
e. Fl. Branson, of Mount Holly. The Gu
al prit took one glance at the large audien'
10 and then dropped his head. His comp
- sure under such trying circumstances i
. dicates plenty of nerve and that he is
L. dangerous man. When the handcui
~ were removed from his large ebony wris
6. he was given seat at the table of b
counsel, to whom he spoke not sing
. word during the long session of ten hour
:, In the selection of jury Howa
IEvsns, of Evesham, was the first pers'