Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-28
THE JOHNSON CASE.
Defendant on Stand Denies Charge Of
Improper Conduct.

Special 20 Tianes-Republican.
Eldorn, March 28.-The Johnson rape
case being tried In the district court
now in session here is creating much
comment. Yesterday during the trial
the court room was packed with men
anxious to hear the whole Of the affair.
Thanks to Judge c. E. Albrook all per-
sons under II years OF age were ex-
cluded early IN the case.
The county a4tdrney In his opening
speech to the Jury Monday morning
said no would show that While Hazel
Noach was 10 years Of age she had a
mind physically Of a child Of 10 or ~
and morally Of child Of not more
than or possibly even younger. The
evidence would snow. he said. that the
girl had not been right since birth. that
she was not now normal, that she lack
ed ability to understand or to compre-
bend. and that In her studies she was
not a. advanced as, q girl Of Is should
be. being az she Is In but the eighth
grade.
The hearing OF the evidence started
Monday. Hazel 'Noach. the girl upon
whom the alleged crime was commit
ted. was the first to testify. She told
that she had been at the skating rink
run by the defendant. ]. s. Johnson
several times. but had never had any
thought Of skating until he came to her
on the afternoon in question Saturday
March Is, and asked her II she did
not want TO learn. She told him she
might try 1t once, with the result that
he took her on the floor and had a
skateboy put skates upon her. john
son, she says. skated with her from
about 3 o'clock until closing time at S.
Her story went into detail as to now
she was kept after the other girls had
left. and all that happened during the
ten to twenty minutes after closing
time In which she was with johnson.
The evidence Of three lads, Melvin
T-ackey, aged 10; Cecil Smith. aged a.
and George Diehl. aged II. was TO hav-
ing see Johnson thru the window on
the Saturday afternoon referred to af-
ter closing hours at the southeast corn
or Of the rink. Of seeing the coat and
hat Of Hazel Noach in the ladies' cloak
room and Of later seeing the girl leave
the rink and start for home. followed
by Johnson some little time later. This
all Is co-oberative OF the evidence OF
the girl herself. Other corroborative
evidence was introduced.
The testimony Of DR.. Whitney con-
ciuded the evidence OF the state The
defense called on William Johnson, a
brother of J. S. johnson. who has been
in Eldora the past month or ever since
trouble is the nature Of fight and the
like started at the rink. The evidence
Of the brother was not Of an excep-
tional nature. relating principally 70
the location OF certain seats and cloak
rooms In the rink. and as to whether
or not tho location Of these had been
changed to his knowledge within the
past two weeks. It Is probable the
brother will be asked to take tho stand
again.
The state then called the defendant.
J. s. Johnson. himself. Johnson said he
was So years old. Born near Mt. Nor
ris. ILL.,. but raised At Newton, iowa. His
life story Is that OF a drifter. He >,n,
spent he time IN many parts OF the
country and in many towns johnson
was married nt Newton when 20 years
old. living with his wife but few
years. Tho evidence showed that ma
has been in the state INSANE Hospital
at st. Peters, MIMI. at three different
times, and at Mount Pleasant hospital
for Insane IN Iowa,
The singular part Is that johnson
absolutely denies having had inter-