The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-23
JOHN JOHNSON THE
PRINCIPAL WITNESS
Stated That Maloney Told
Him of Burning of Bridge
Witness Says He Was
Later Fired Upon-Ac-
cused Men Produce Wit
nesSeS to Show Their
Whereabouts.

Before the largest crowd that has
assembled in the United States court
room in many months The contempt
cases of W. C. Mccain. Henry FIJI
lingi mand John Maloney were called
iH the federal court yesterday morn
ing, and concluded with the eXcpp-
ton Of The testimony OF one witness
and the arguments of the counsel Tor
-he government and defense. ". y.
Ei0unt appeared for the government
and {. NJ. Jones for the men. cited Tor
{ ontempt. and they fought every
point brought forth by the witnesses
during the day.
Much testimony was heard by
Judge Sheppard, who paid the clos
est attention, and frequently exam
ined the Witnesses afyar the attorneys
had concluded the most damaging
-.iJence against the men was that
Of John Johnson, MO stated that Ma
honey mad not on'y told him If setting
fire 10 the bridge. bat a.5O tOld him
hat if he told on them his life would
not be worth a CEN, and that after
wards he was fred upon as he was
going home. The accused men pro
duced Witnesses 30 prove their where
aboutS on the night in question, Nc
=
the night at the Merchants hotel,
and Maloney AT his home. \ number
OF witnesses were introduced TO prove
this
The first witness to 20 on the stand
B3 y-Ss1r- r47-N---=---------at Big
discover the bayou trestle in Aaro->>~~
eIrd who extinEuishFd the Hrc. fTs--
gave the hour he discovered the fire
TO be about , a. III. He said the
:. 81
most IN the center.
Manager JnG. W. Leadley. Of the
Pensacola Electric Co. was the next
fitness called. ana stated the condi-
tiOn of the bridge, saving that six ties
and about fifteen feet of guard tim
Der rad been burned. He also stated
that something which snelled like
kerosene oil had been placed on the
timber.
John Johnson Testifes.
The most important witness for the
government. John Johnson. was then
placed on the stand. being questioned
by w :. RiOunt for the government
and G. VI. Jones for the accused. John
sons testimony WIS as follows
Direct examination, 10y w. A.
BlOUnt-
Q. Mir. Johnson. what is your bust
LeSs?
\ I have none now
0. Where do you Live?
A On West Government street.
Just this side of E street. about a
quarter of q mile from .Fisherville.
O. What direction from there, east
CT west?
:. West
Q. Do YOU remember the morning
q May the third, that the treStle was
burned at Big Bayou?
4. Yes sir.
O. Where were you that morning?
A In back Of my house in my gar
den. picking snap beans.
.. What time was that?
A About fOur-thirty or five O'Clock.
@ What direction was ms gar
den from the house?
A. Northwest.
Q. What direction from the house
is the trestle?
A Abcut southwest
Q. What body of water is this
t~estle over
A Big Bayou, some people call it
pcyOU GraIde.
0. What body of water does Big
BAYOU empty into?
A. I do not know
Q. What water does Baskerville
face on?
A. The bay.
Q. You say that you live near
Baskerville
4. Yes sir.
Q. How far is it from the Big
Bayou
A. About two and a half miles.
0. What are the means of access
from FishervilIe to rhe Big Bayou?
A BY the electric cars.
Q. Can you go by beat?
A Yes sir
@. What is the distance by water2
A From Baskerville ID Big Bayou?
Abept two and half mties.
O Yeu said that Won were in the
garden on this morning.
O. Did vGu see the defendants. G.
G. Mccain, Henry Fidlingim, and Jao.
MalOney?
A Yes sir.
O. Did You see either of them TO
speak to?
A Yes sir.
q. Tell the court from what tErec-