The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-05-23
F''R||E.l LOVE
.I||I'HE'''1|l|IlS|E !
l!l|||;l|I||IDE|R. ]; R.
.fSs-.a-' -
johnson Ills Of
His Deed at
g Gypsy.

to the evidence of Frank J Johnson. col.
ored. related by him ON the witness
stand Friday in circuit court in his
own behalf. afree-love affair caused
the killing of Beulah Martin by him
at Gypsy on March 8, last.
Admitting that he killed her. he
proceeded to narrate in detail the
history that led up to it, and 1t seem
ed as II he were seeking to lower the
death sentence to life Imprisonment.
Prior to July 1G. last, when he
went TO New Chieftain beyond VII.
sonburg ne had known the Martin
family at Gypsy. They were in desti-
tHte circumstances and he moved;
them to New Chiettain and provided
them with food aud clothing. July
1G he was ut a house with Mrs. Mar
tin and she told him she cared more
for him than Martin and their re-
lations were familiar. After that by
signal. that Of tacking a newspaper.
on the end OF the house, whenever
Martin was away. Johnson was invi.-
ed to the Martin home. Those as
sociations continued until about
Christmas. when Mrs. Martin set up
the wall that the holidays, were at
hand and that she had no clothes 70:
herself and a child of which she was
the mother but Martin not the father.
That set johnson TO bawling and he
offered to buy them clothes. provld-
ed that Martin would reimburse him.
SO, she and johnson came to the cltr
and he paid $3.50 for clothes
bought for them that day.
Returning home the woman con-
c1uded she wanted to live with Johrl-
son and not her husband. Shortly
after that the child was badly burn
ed In some unknown manner on tho
back of the head and on one OF its
sides. johnson had a physician CALI
ed. nursed the child and paid the doc.
tor bill. Martin borrowed money
from johnson and the latter. stool
good ut tho store for the purchases
Of the Martins.
One night Johnson, Martin and
others went down to shanty to
play cards. Mrs. Martin followed
them and a quarrel ensued between
Martin and his wife. A little later
Johnson went to, the Martin home
and found Mrs. Martin injured. She
complained that while she was In
441ed her husband hit her on the heal
with. a 3s six. shooter Colts gun AMI
shot at her; the bullet going through
a pillow six inches above her head.
Johnson dressed her injuries. an'l
then she wanted to so with him
again.
February 90 Johnson saw Martin
and asked him why he assaulted Mrs
Martin. Then. a bargain was struck
up for; Mrs. Martin to leave Martin
and live with Johnson. They. agreed
to leave It to her and went to the
house to see her. Both gave theil
guns to sister OF Martin and she car
rled them into another room. Mrs
Martin concluded she would stay with
Martin. Johnson was about to leave
when both called to him to stay. They
told him the proposition had been rath
! er sudden. but that they had changed
their minds. and 1t was planned fol
Martin to obtain n divorce and ther
Johnson was to marry the woman.
Tuesday before the murder John
son came to Clarksburg and made
some purchases and returning hi
saw the Martins at Adamston stand
ing on a platform and that A1artl:
5 made a motion as II to shoot into tn;
street car ut Johnson. The woman
t ran into the store. while Martin pull
cd out n gun. Johnson went OF
., home, then came back to the city
!. went to Pinnfckinnick to Martins
: sisters house, inquired for. the Mar
;. tins and was told by the sister tina
!. she did not know anything abou
81 them and did not want to be nike
up In the trouble. johnson mex
t went to Fairmont and loafed al
night, taking the 8 o'clock mornIn;
car for Gypsy and requesting tn
conductor to let him or a quarter o
( a mile from Gypsy. his reason 10
t this being that he did not want t
]. meet Martin at the station and pc,
= haps shoot others In an. attempt t
/. shoot him. The conductor did ,thi
and he went Into a house and fror
the second story saw Martin boar
the car he had gotten off. Marti
j. was carrying o. hester rifle. 500
) AIRS. Martin; came out Of the Brode
e house and Johnson fired ut her4w
!. q Winchester rifle. Then he ran t
a the sBroden house and went In an