Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-25
TRIAL TO BEGIN WEDNESDAY
Prisoner Accused of the Murder of
Charles T. Smith.
RESIDENT OF ALEXANDRIA CITY
First Time in Years Military Required
to Protect Prisoner in
County.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, March 25.-William
Johnson, alias George Midget, colored, I'M
der indictment for the murder of Charles T.
Smith, was brought to Alexandria from
Fredericksburg, Va, this afternoon at - 35
o'clock under military guard, and shortly
after / o'clock was landed safely in the
Alexandria county Jail on Fort Myer
Heights. The troops will guard the pris-
oner until the conclusion of the trial. This
is the first time in recent years that the
military has been called out In this vicinity
to guard a prisoner, and the arrival of the
guards was the sole topic of conversation
among the residents of the city this after
noon.
Owing to the intense feeling against
Johnson in this city Gov. Swanson, through
Adjutant General Anderson, ordered out
the Fredericksburg company for the serv-
ice mentioned. The train bearing the troops
and their prisoner pulled into the union pas
senger station in Alexandria City at the
time named. The guard consists OF Com
pany l., 18th Virginia Regiment, known as
the Washington Guards. 1t is in command
of Capt. T. NJ. Larkin, First Lieut.. A. G.
Billingly and Second Lieut.. B. NJ. Leavel.
The company is forty-four strong.
AS soon as the train bearing the prisoner
came to a stop the troops embarked and
quickly fell into line. A few minutes there
after Johnson appeared. He was manacled
to Sergt. Ruben MCGEE and Warden Will
liam e. Gambler Of the city Jail also had
'nippers' attached to the left wrist Of
the prisoner.
Viewed by Curious Crowd.
A curious crowd of about 100 people had
assembled at the depot to get a glimpse
of the murderer and all eyes were focused
upon him. Mayor Paff, who was present,
handed to Capt Larkin the necessary papers
for Johnson's commitment to the county
Jail. Johnson was placed in the center Of
the company and the soldiers and their
prisoner marched to Spring Park, a short
distance from the depot, and boarded a
special train which was in waiting to carry
them to the south end of AQueduct bridge
From the last named point the company
marched with their prisoner to the county
Jail.
When Johnson was brought from the train
he appeared to be a badly scared man, and
his looks indicated that he realized the
gravity of the situation. 1t was observed
that when he marched toward Spring Park
his eyes never turned from the vicinity OF
the old fair grounds, near at hand, where
the murder occurred.
The military company brought with it a
large quantity of supplies. The men are
practically prepared to stay indefinitely
They win escort the prisoner to the court
house Wednesday morning next, when hi:
trial Is scheduled to occur
The company will, 1t Is expected, re-
turn to Fredericksburg at the conclu-
sion of the trial. and it is more than
probable that, In the event Johnson is
sentenced to be hanged, he will be re-
conveyed to Fredericksburg until date
Is set for the execution. y
City Sergt. r. H. Cox and Warden
Gambler went to Fredericksburg yester-
day afternoon. and the impression pre-
vailed here that he was brought back