Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-11
! ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS.
William Johnson in Custody on
the Charge of Murder.
KILLING OF CHARLES SMITH
Place of the Prisoners Incarceration
Net Disclosed by Officers.
PREVENT HIS BEING LYNCHED
Board of School Examiners in Session
Program Of Exercises by
Teachers-Briefs.
KILLING OF CHARLES SMITH
PREVENT HIS BEING LYNCHED
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, March II. 1907.
William johnson, alias George Midget coli
ored who is indicted for the murder OF
Charles Smith, son of Lieutenant James
Smith of the police force, is In the custody
of the Virginia authorities, and is in prison
somewhere between this. city and Freder-
tcksburg Va. The authorities will not d.
yulge just where Johnson is incarcerated.
Johnson was brought back. from Harris
burg Pa. Yesterday afternoon by Police
men Ferguson and Roberts, aid the two
policemen. after conveying their prisoner
through Alexandria. returned home TINS
morning shortly after 1 o'clock
AS vet the date has not been set for john
sons trial. although it Is confidently expect
Ell a special jury will be called by Judge
Louis c. Barley of the corporation court
some day this week. and the case will be at
once taken up. When the train carrying the
prisoner arrived in Washington yesterday
afternoon Mayor Paff, Chief Goods of the
police force and City Sergeant r. III. Cox
boarded the train and conversed with him
until the train reached this city.
When seen at police headquarters this
morning Policeman Ferguson stated that
Johnson was arrested by the authorities at
Harrisburg Pa, Wednesday last. 1t was
learned that the arrest was made because
of information obtained from circular let
shortly after the murder. The Harrisburg
authorities had Johnson under surveillance
for the past month, and it was observed
that he acted in a rather peculiar manner
which aroused suspicious. Wednesday last
i. decided to take him into custody.
sergeant of the police force OF that city
and five policemen surrounded the house
where Johnson was stopping and arrested
him without difficulty.
Makes an Admission.
mitted having been in this city the night of
the shooting but denied having committed
the crime. He told the officers that he as
ssulted Policeman Nicholson with the butt
end of his revolver and then fired two shots
into the ground and afterward made his
escape. He claims that he went to the old
ST Asaph race track, just west of this
city, and hid there until the following
night Sunday, when he returned to this
city and entered house No. 122 North West
street. where his pal, Frank Minor, alias
Frank Robinson. colored, was stopping. and
after entering the house through a window,
he opened Robnson's trunk and stole two
pistols of IS caliber therefrom. Johnson
says he then left for the north and since
that time has been employed in Philadel-
phia and Harrisburg, spending most of his
time in Philadelphia.
The story of the theft of the two pistols
from RobinsonS trunk is untruth the
police say. Immediately after the shoot
ing Robinson's trunks and other personal
effects We're seized by the police and con-
yeyed to the station. so that his story rela-
tive to this part of his escapade will not
be horne out when the case is called for
trial.
Cast Suspicion on Robinson.
Johnson also told the police that he knew
absolutely nothing of the shooting of Smith,
and that il any one killed him it must have
been his companion Robinson. and he also
asserted that if the police had expended
much energy in locating Robinson as
they did in his case they would have the
rght man.
When johnson saw the Alexandria po
Gcemen at Harrisburg he at once recog-
nized Policeman Ferguson, and when he
ascertaned that they had the proper pa
pers to convey him back to Virginia he ex-
pressed a willingness to go. 1t is said,
however. that when he ascertained he
would be brought back here he told the
Harrisburg authorities that he was wanted
n Phoenixville. Pa, in connection with a
murder which had been committed by Rob-
fnson In view of this fact the authorities
here consider themselves lucky in securing
him.
Will. the prisoner told of everything that
occurred the night prior to the shooting. he
disclaimed knowing anything further. He.
haWever. told the officers that he knew that
when ne was tried here he would he
hanged. and in his opinion, he might as
Well plead guilty.
Johnson is twenty-eight years of age.
he has been in Robnson's company for sew
eral years past. and that during that time
Robinson has murdered several people. He,
however. says that he has never murdered
any one
According to the statement of Policeman
Ferguson Johnson says that he has been a
sport for several years past and that
there is absolutely nothing in that kind of a
lie He appears TO be thoroughly repentant
for his past misdeeds. and when he left
Harrisburg he had Bible with him.
The officers say that when they left the
train at the place where he was taken for
ssfekeeping Johnson appeared exceedingly
nervous when cluster of curious people
gathered about him. and ne appeared to be-
Iievr that he was about to be lynched, and
upon arriving at the jail seemed to feel de-
ctdsdiy more comfortable.
In the opinion of the authorities here
Johnson is the right man. and some of the
officers inclined to think that he will
MAKE complete confession if pushed very
hard
Story Of the Murder
TIL" murder OF Smith occurred opposite
The old fair grounds on the night of October
n 1r6. Johnson was suspected OF being
Implicated in an assault which was made
nm hour previous on Policeman Nicholson
He was taken in custody by Policeman
Feeder ok Garvey and Smith. it Is stated
WIS deputized by Policeman Garvey to as
sast IN the arrest. The policeman and Smith
proceeded toward the Hotel Jackson, half a
siLafe west of where the arrest was made
Wien. without warning. johnson wbipped
sat y '-volVer from his hip pocket and in
SANITY shot Smith dead. lie made good his
escsl-. and every possible effort was made
10 capture the fugitive without success and
tn authorities were Inclined to believe that
hts capture would never be effected
Commonwealth Attorney Samuel G. Brent
Is again confined 20 his home lis North Co
tunous street. by illness. 1t 10 expected,
however, that he will be stifflciently recov
errd TO conduct the prosecution when the
csss is called for trial
TIE Idea OF the authorities here in con-
Seyins Johnson out of the city was tn pre
vent tue possibility of lynehins as the feel
s"s against the prisoner is strong.
Board Of Examiners Meats.
The annual meeting of the state scboo,
beard OF examiners convened in executive
session at 10 o'clock this morning at the
Astei F'leIschmann with the following mem
beEs present: Harris Hart president. Roam.