The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-10-30


charges against Judge Paul Johnson
by the legislative investigating COM
mittee were enlivened Thursday morn
ing when the most sensational testi
mony thus far introduced was given
by ]. w. Hollis, secondhand furniture
dealer and self-confessed patron of
numerous blind tigers. Hollis testi-
mony if it were possible to substan-
tiate it, would be sufficient to eternally
damn the accused jurist. 1t sounded
more like testimony given against
some corrupt political boss, who makes
his living by blackmail. But when
Hollis. who was on the stand nearly
an hour and had been cross-examined
by the Judge and the whole thing sim
mered down to the alleged statements
of negro dive keepers and hearsay mat
ter, Judge Johnson, his friends and
many of his political enemies felt that
his case had not suffered in the least.
Senator w. A. Evans Joined the COM
mittee this morning and will remain in
attendance on the hearing until it is
concluded, which the members hope
will be sometime today.
The first witness of the morning
was B. w. Sharbrough, of Laurel, who
was called to the stand to explain the
- n A AToC tn, Mny
Augusta lawyer, that Scarborough had
told the former that he had with
drawn from the case, which it was
charged Judge Johnson called for trial
after having had an understanding
with Sharbrough that the case would be
continued. Witness said Mr.. McSwain
was simply mistaken, that the case he
had in mind was another one, where
Atlas Dew, a negro, was charged with
murder.
j. A. Beaumont, formerly city tax as
SCISSOR, stated that the only thing he
knew against Judge Johnson was the
latter's criticism of juries. Knew moth
ing that would reflect on his integrity
and moral character.
T. P. Moore, police officer, thought
Judge Johnson had not disposed Of
certain blind tiger cases. He could not
tell the status of the cases. Witness
admitted that he had nothing against
| Judge Johnson, and | did not want to
come up here" In answer to a ques-
ton by the Judge, Moore stated that 1t
was fact that Johnson had done
more to rid the city of law breakers
than any other judge within his
knowledge.
w. w. Leland, collector, knew
nothing against Judge Johnson. Oscar
Travis, substantial farmer, who had
frequently served on juries, had alb
solutely no criticism to make of the
Judge. Thought he was "the best
Judge we have had in long time"
w. H. Volking, a reformed blind
tiger operator, who is now earning an
honest living by farming, testified that
he owed his reformation to Judge John
son. The latter had sentenced him
to the county farm for selling whiskey,
assisted him in getting a pardon and
since has been a helping friend. He
said the Judge "broke him of selling
whiskey" The Judge said to the COM
mittee, "I just want to show you what
my political enemies are trying to do"
W. J. Bass had no criticism to make
of Judge Johnson, except for his alleg-
ed treatment of a certain grand jury
on which witness was serving. He
thought the Judge had it in for the
members of that jury because he had
been displeased, it was said, with its
finding Of certain indictments.
J.W. Hollis, the "star" of the hearing
so far, came forward when Chairman
Anderson asked If there was anyone
present who wanted to testify. Wit
ness said he was a secondhand furni
ture man and had fright smart" op
portunity to observe Judge Johnson's
conduct on the bench. Certainly does
not think he is fair in his rulings. Hol
: lis grievances were not long in being
voiced as he was an eager witness
Hollis stated that the Judge had shown
him Partially on one occasion. Wit
ness had gone to the house of negro
} woman to collect debt or repossess
some furniture when she "lit in and
| cussed and ,,ahRsadn.s .hipasunzShs,..K