The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-05-21
Black Fighter Convicted
On Seven Counts
OF VIOLATING THE MANN ACT
Verdict will Probably Lead
To Federal LawsAgainst
MiScegenatiOn.
JOHNSON RELEASED ON BOND

Chicago, May 15.-That the con-
viction of Jack Johnson, negro prize
fighter, last night for violation of
the Mann act against trafficking in
women, is the forerunner of laws
forbidding miscegenation, was the
assertion to-day of Assistant United
States District Attorney Harry
Parkin, who conducted the case for
the Government.
This verdict will go around the
world" he said. at is the fore
runner of laws to be passed in the
United States which We may live to
see, laws forbidding mscegenation.
This negro, in the eyes of many, has
been prosecuted. Perhaps as an
individual he was. But his misfor-
tune is to be the foremost example
of the evil in permitting the inter
marriage of whites and blacks. He
has violated the law, now it is his
function to teach others the law
must be respected"
In his instructions to the jury
United States District Judge Car
penter, emphasized the fact that
the character of the prosecuting
witness must not be considered.
"The fact that tie prosecufiny~
witness is a discarded mistress, an
abandoned woman, does not affect
the issue in this case" the court
said. 1--WE have had many unfortu-
nate people here in this case
trainers, fighting camp hangers-on
and women of the underworld-bu
because of their status in life, their
evidence must not be disregarded."
at is as much an offense under
the Mann act to transport har-
dened woman as an innocent girl.
1t is not necessary that person ac-
used of violating the act shall re-
ceive profit through the trans
portation of woman"
Johnson was convicted on all
The jury returned it's verdict af-
ter celebrating an hour. The max
imum penalty under the finding is
five years Imprisonment or 10000
fine, or both.
A motion of District Attorney
Parkin that Johnson be ordered
cnufnod in Tho ooupt, io;I vra. ~.
erruled by Judge Carpenter and
the negro was released on bond Of
$4,000. A motion for a new tria,
was filed at once by counsel for
Johnson and arguments on the mo-
tion were set for May 10.
Four ballots were taken by the
jury, the first being four for ac-
quittal and eight for conviction.
Two counts of the indictment
We're dismissed at the request of
Judge Carpenter, who declared that
no good purpose could be served
by airing unnecessary details of the
relations of Johnson and the white
woman.
Lucille Cameron Johnson, his
present white wife, did not appear
in the court room at any time. his
attorneys fearing the effect OF her
appearance. Instead Mrs. Tina
johnson. the negro's mother, sat
constantly at his side. Only few
persons were in the court when the
verdict was reached, as a result of
an order of Judge Carpenter that
scandal fans" be barred from the
hearings.
The suggestion of Johnsons "gol- !
den SMILE" which had been on his
lips during the time of the jury's |
deliberations, faded when the clerk !
pronounced the word guilty"
Johnson sat solemnly in his seat
until Attorney Parkin's motion that |
the fighter be taken into custody |
was denied, when he slipped quietly
from his seat and made his way
from the court room alone.
81 have nothing to say" he said |
MY attorney will speak for me-"