The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-06-04
EDWARD JOHNSON TELLS OF
MURDER PLOT TO DISPOSE OF
PUTNAM FOR REVENGE.
SCRIBNER TRIAL ON AT ADA
Conspiracy IS the States Strong Plea
For Wholesale Convictions-What
the state May Prove-one Hun.
dred Witnesses.

Ada, Okla, June 3d. Edward John.
son. held as an accomplicc of Dan.
icl Scribncr in the murder OF Ickc
Putnam at Allen. made e fun con.
fcssion OF his relations with Scibucr
while on the Witness stand today
and declared his Dclicf Scrbner Kill.
sd Putnam.
Johnson testified that wncn he
met Scubner i'm Ada three weeks
before Christmas last year. after
drinking liquor with Scrbncr and
Mack Lee, Scribncr proposed that
Johnson would be given title to 100
acres Of land if ne would Kill Zekc
Putnam. Scribner told Johnson that
Putnam had accused him of swear
ing a lie in the case wherein Put
man was accused Of killing Clarence
Lee
Later Johnson and Scribnor met
in Ada and the proposition was re-
peated. This time Johnson consented
and the two went to Stonewall and
later to Allen on Christmas night
They saw Putnam on the street and
Scribner declared he would kill him
there but Johnson prevented Scrib-
ner shooting a woman through the
window of the house. They failed
to get an opportunity to commit the
crime that night and stayed at the
home of Mack Lee.
Next day they went to Stoncwall
and thence TO Frances Later they
returned to Ada. Here Johnson con
cluded that he would settle his
personal matters with Putnam face
to face and not cooperate with Serb.
ner in the assassination.
At II o'clock today the long drawn
out effort 10 secure satisfactory
/ jury for the trial of Dan Scribner
was concluded. Those constituting
/ the jury are: c. II. Neal. c. Y. Par.
tain. ID. Jeter. Tink Bevils. John
/ Mckinney, Claude Russell, G. W.
Farmer. Charlie Cushman. w. c.
Rollow, G w. Garrett, ]. w. Fuller
/ j. A. Scott
When the jury had been sworn
IN, County Attorney Wimbsh stated
to the jury those facts he expected
10 prove as establishing the guilt
of defendant Dan Scribner wi,h %e-
ing guilty Of the death of Zeke Put
man. The state would prove that
Dan Scribner on January 6 moved
to ldabel, Okla. that shortly after.
Ed Johnson. accomplice with Scrib-
ner, joined the defendant, apparent.
ly working for him: that the state
would further prove that on Jan.
uary II defendant Scribner received
a letter from Mack Lee of which
the contents in part would be pro
ven, that on the same day Scribner
and Johnson went to the depot al
ldabel, starting on their Journey 10
do the murder. The states attorney
continued that there would be pro.
ven the pathway from the date of
leaving ldabel of these defendants
until after the murder had been com.
mtted. Deputy Sheriff Thompson of
ldabel would swear that he saw
defendant at the depot at Idabel
who told him that he was not 60
ing anywhere. Other creditable wit.
nesses who got on the train at
Swain. between Idabel and Hugo.
Will swear that both Scribner and
Johnson told several conflicting sto-
ries Of their proposed destination
before they reached Durant The
state would prove that Scribner and
Johnson We're next seen at Atoka
on January 10, where there was
purchased by the defendant ten
shells loaded with buckshot, that
from Atoka they went to Stonewall.
. got off the wrong side of the train
. and proceeded direct to the home of
. John Sclfbner When John Serb
: ner's was reached that It would be
. proven that an Indian boy was sent
TO hardware store at Stonewall for
, a shotgun, that when the gun had
, been secured Johnson and Scribner
borrowed two horses from John
Scribner and went To Mack Lees
and from there To l.. lmpson's.
The state would prove that the
, first trip of defendant and Johnson
I 10 Allen was without results for
the reason that Zeke Putnam was
out of town; that on the next night
: which was Thursday night, the de,
fendant and Johnson did not go to
Allen, but that on Friday night they
went to Allen when they got a line
on Putnam but failed to kill him
on account OF the gun swapping