The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-10-31
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE LEFT
LAST NIeHT-ExPEcTED TO
EXoNERATE JUDGE.
PROBE WAS COMPLETE
VINDlCATI0N Of HIM
Accused Jurist Took Stand Thursday
Evening and Explained Every Act of
Hammond Charge Fell Flat.

After thoroughly probing every spe-
ciic charge and every rumor and re-
port against Judge Paul B. johnson. of
this city, the legislative investigating
committee concluded the hearing, so
far as Hattiesburg is concerned, and
adjourned Thursday evening shortly
before Z o'clock.
Members of the committee left last
night for Jackson, where it is expected
they will announce their findings to-
day or tomorrow. Judge Johnson re-
quested the committee to either lex
onorate or condemn" him at the earli-
est possible moment, as his court con-
venes here next Monday, and he does
not want to be hampered in the per
formance of his duties He was assur-
ed that he would not be kept waiting
very long.
Judge Johnsons request was made
while he was on the witness stand,
which he had taken voluntarily, and in
his usual calm, dispassionate manner
explained away the Clark charges and
others brought out dcring the investi-
cation. and answered all questions
members of the committee PROFOUND
ed.
The investigation of the charges pre-
ferred against Judge Johnson was
OPEN fair and thorough and both
friend and foe of the accused jurist
had nothing to complain of on that
score At its conclusion there was but
one opinion prevailing among those
who have watched the proceedings
with open minds; that Judge Johnson
had been fully indicated on every
charge brought against him, and it
was the general belief that the commit
tee would so find.
The close of the three-day hearing,
marked many times by tense moments,
was the most dramatic since the inves-
tigation begun last Tuesday. Judge
Johnson was told by Chairman Ander-
son that he could make any statement
he desired and would be allowed the
widest latitude, as have been all wit
nesses during the hearing. After con-
ferring with the committee and several
Of his close personal friends the ac-
cused jurist announced that he would
take the stand instead of filing a writ.
ten statement with the committee.
Next to Judge Johnson's testimony
the most material witnesses at the
Thursday afternoon and last session
of the committees hearings, were J.
e. Davis, whose name has been almost
as prominent at the hearing as that
of Judge Johnson; j. r. Tally and ex.
sheriff ]. C. Magruder.
J. c. Magruder.
Mr.. Magruder testified that while
he and Judge Johnson were political
enemies he wanted the committee to
know that Judge Johnson should not
be censured for the verdict In the case
against him. He showed how the
records had clearly shown he was in
nocent and how upon his insistance
for trial his case had gone to jury
and he was acquitted by jury.
Chairman Anderson read into the
record the following letter from A. A.
Hammond, dated at Boyce, Miss, Oct.
2s:
"I received your letter relative to the
johnson investigation and desire to
say that since writing you from Heidel-
berg have become conviaced that
must have been mistaken, and misun-
dersteod the witness In the case that
put rne.in Jail for contempt. y
"Others have said that the witness
(Johnsonl did not testify the way un-
derstood his testimony, and do not
feel justified in putting my own under
standing II the testimony against that
of so many others. Outside Of my own
case. know nothing of my own knowl-
edge. the other matters in my letter
being hearsay purely
J. {. Davis.
]. n Davis was then called by the
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