The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-01-07
CLARKS ON TRIAL
FOR THE MURDER
OF TOM JOHNSON
ARRAIeNEp BEFORE LOCAL MAG
lsTRATEs FOR PRELIMINARY
EXAMINATION.
SEVERAL WITNESSES TESTIFY
Joe Rummage, Recent son-in-Law,
Describes The Death Of johnson.
Says he Was Knocked Down And
Carved Up.

B Carved Up.
; The preliminary trial Of Bud and
Walter Clark. charged with the muir
der of T. B. Johnson at Rally HILL
was held Wednesday in the County
Court room before Esquires Guest,
Hayes and Fariss
The first witness examined was Joe
H. Rummage, son-in-law of the de-
ceased, since the first day of this year,
having married Johnsons daughter
subsequent to the tragedy.
| According to Rummage's statement,
Walter Clark and Arthur Cole came to
the house together. Clark wanted to
see his sister, who was the wife of
Jesse Johnson, and who was residing
with her father-in-law The request
was. refused, and Clark then asked
that his sister come out to the fence
and converse with him, but she had
refused to come. Rummage was at
the gate at this time and demonstrated
with Clark, who had a rock in his
hand. Bud Clark then rode up on
mule, with Jesse Johnson, his son-in-
law riding behind. The two Clarks |
after short parley had started to
enter the house, the lower floor of
which is divided into two rooms, scpa-
rated by an open hall, with portico to
front and kitchen TO rear. Bud Clark
had gotten in advance of Walter in
entering the place. and was met at
the hall door by Mrs Johnson, who
had tried to prevent his entering. Bud
Clark had grabbed her around the
neck. saying that he would choke her
to death Mr.. Johnson, the deceased,
had then emerged from the door of
the West room, armed with a small
three pound axe, and had struck at
The Clarks. He stepped back into the :
-oom, closing the door behind him.
rhe Clarks entered the door. Walter !,
Clark knocked johnson down with a
chair and But Clark cut him three :
lines with knife. The Clarks had
hen been put out Of the house by
Iummage, and had tried to get back ),
n, hurting two stones through the
window, one of which weighed about
fifteen pounds. The Clarks had cursed
he entire Johnson family, and had
threatened to re-enter the house and
ill them ALL H.
Arthur Cole.
Arthur Cole corroborated RummageI
/ many particulars but did not see
he fight, as he had remained at the
ate trying to release his coat, which
ad caught on a nail in the fence
e had gone with Jesse Johnson for
lie doctor, and while coming home N
ssse had stopped briefly at his
,usin's store. When nearly back
ome had met the Clarks and their
aughter, Mrs Gertie Johnson, and
I'D Clark had said Jesse, if you ever w
ant to live with Gertie now is your
me-" That Jesse had then accom-
Inied the Clarks home Cole stated
at Walter Clark had proposed going
Johnson's to see his sister, and that 90,
had agreed, as he wanted to see .,
who he thought would be e.,
ere He said that Bud Clark had ~;
ed to re-enter the house after the 10
tting, brandishing a two-bitted axe N.
d cursing loudly.
DR.. Criswell. nj,
Dr. Criswell, who treated Johnson, a
'Ied thaI ne was cut three umes' will
ce on the hand, once on the leg and wo
ce across the abdomen, the latter
uld being about four inches long;
1T the intestines protruded from the n
unds. Johnson had been found ly-
, at the top of the steps in a criti-
condition and had begged to be
alone to die in peace. The doctor
| examined Walter Clark and had DE
md that he had been cut across the
,ulder with sharp instrument, the
und being about three inches long
two inches deep. Spe
Other Witnesses. N
)ther witnesses examined at the Ha,
rning session were Mrs. Rummage that
Jesse Johnson, who corroborated viol
others in many respects. Mrs. ficie
image was reluctant witness and ---
med averse to answering the ques- ,uw
Is of the attorneys. in
he prosecution was represented by
:. VOORHEES, and the defense by H.
Tiguers and ]. H. Dining.
I the conclusion OF the States
Of the defense announced that no
nesses would be introduced The