Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-26
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Everything in Readiness for
Trial of Johnson.
TROOPS GUARD PRISONER
Defendant Makes Absolute Denial of
the Charge.
FOURTH CHURCH CONFERENCE
Elections of Oficers-Meeting of the
City Council-Other Matters
Of Interest.
FOURTH CHURCH CONFERENCE

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, March 20, 1907.
Everything is in readiness for the trial of
William Johnson, alias George Midget, col
ored, which is scheduled to begin at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning in the corpora
ton court room in this city. Judge Barley
will preside. The court has assigned Attor-
neys R. D. Brumback and Howard w.
Smith to defend the prisoner. Common
wealth Attorney Brent will conduct the
prosecution. While it is generally expected
that the trial will be a speedy one, it is, on
the other hand, pointed out that many
people have already expressed an opinion
regarding the guilt or innocence of the
accused that the court may experience
difficulty in securing a jury from the one
hundred talesmen summoned In the event
jury is secured tomorrow it is more than
probable that the case will not be opened
until late in the afternoon.
1t is pointed out that after 4 jury has
been selected the trial will progress with
rapidity.
Attorney BruS>back. who is counsel for
Johnson. paid his client visit yesterday
afternoon at the Jail at Fort Myer and
held talk with him concerning the case.
1t is understood that Johnson absolutely
denies having killed Smith. and claims
by Frank Minor, colored, who was john
sons companion, and who an hour pre-
vious to the murder, it is charged, made
IA murderous assault on Policeman A j.
Nicholson while at the old Il; " grounds
Bullet in His Leg.
1t is also said that Johnson told his
attorney that the night of the murder he
was in the fracas that eliminated in the
assault on Policeman Nicholson, and that
he subsequently fled from the crowd, and
as he did so he fired two shots over his
head with pistol. Johnson has bullet
imbedded in the lower portion of his right
leg. When asked for an explanation as TO
the presence of the bullet in his leg, 1t
is stated, he said that he was fired upon
by the crowd as he fed from the old fair
grounds Policemen on duty that night
Claim that no one fired at the accused
1t is also commended by the policemen that
the bullet imbedded in Johnson's leg was
fired by young man In the crowd svn VINO tho
murder had been committed, and 1t is also
said that the shot was fired at the fugitive
as he ran down Peyton street.
Eight members of Company L, 10th Vir-
ginia Regiment of Fredericksburg. last night
kept guard on the outside of the little Jail
at Fort Myer Heights, where the prisoner
is confined. The remainder of the members
of the company remained in the Jail.
Under Military Escort.
The entire company will leave the Jail
tomorrow morning shortly after o'clock
and march to Rosslyn. Va, whence they
will take an electric car to this city and
proceed to the courthouse. The prisoner
will be under military guard until the
conclusion of the trial. 1t is understood
that Johnson will then be reconveyed by
the military to Fredericksburg.
Sergt. Cox stated this morning that
Johnson after being placed in his cell
yesterday afternoon had nothing to say,
and in fact since his arrest at Harris
burg Pa. has had very lutte to say: He
reiterates that he is not guilty of the
crime with which he is charged.
Fourth Quarterly Conference.
That the financial affairs of the Washing
ton Street Methodist Episcopal Church
South and the religious tone of the congre-
cation are in a satisfactory condition was
shown in reports submitted at the fourth
quarterly conference last evening, in the
lecture room of that church Rev. DIR. J.
8. Hutchinson, presiding elder of Washing
ton district, presided, and Mr.. James +.
Alexander served as secretary. The sum
of $4,000, l. was shown, was raised dur
ing the past year for the church work.
Rev. Charles D. Bulla, pastor, reported
that a design has been adopted for the
George r. Hill Memorial building, which is
to be erected at cost of about SIS, 600. The
work of construction will soon be COM
menced. The building, which is to serve
in general an auxiliary structure to the
church. is designed especially for the
young people. 1t was stated that w. Leon
Clark. a local architect, had been COM
mssioned to prepare plans and specitica
tons.
A building committee was appointed as
follows: Rev Charles D. Bula, j. Clinton
Smoot, E. C. Graham DIR. Charles Z. Out
calf and j. F. Myers.
The conference elected the following
stewards for the ensuing year: Frank j
Pollard, James E. Alexander, ]. Clinton
Smoot. Dr. Samuel r. Cats, Henry K
Field, E. G. Graham, j. G. Graham, George
w. Keys, ]. F. Myers, Dr. c. E. Outcalt,
w. F. Plaskett. Alvin Powell, John p Rob
inson, W. w. Sherwood, ]. f. w. Timber
man, j. b. Watkins, ]. T. Wilkins, W. H.
Wilkins, Preston o. Cockey, Oscar B. Pier
pont.
Mr. James E. Alexander was reelected
superintendent of the Washington Street
Church Sunday school, and Mr.. ]. F. Myers
was reelected superintendent of the VIII
lage Chapel Sunday school The conference
adopted a resolution expressing appreciation
of the work of the presiding elder, Dr.