The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-11-10

There was a session of court Thursday
the first business being the consider
alton of counsel fees in connection with
contested will.
Watson Buck, convicted of atrociou
] assault and battery, was sent to tn
, state reformatory.
The license formerly held by Margaret
Murphy to keep hotel at Jobstown
was transferred to John Dubell, who haC
! recently purchased the place
The case of the state against Johr
Frech was then called. Prosecutor At
kinson was compelled to go to tht
neighborhood of the murder near River
side to look up some matter SO he turn
ed the Frech case over to William A,
Slaughter. The Indictment charged tht
illegal sale of liquor.
4 The testimony offered by the state was
that Frech lived in a bungalow al
lMoOrestown. John Hurto and Israel
Thorn paid him visit one evening and
bought liquor. Each man bought three
drinks. Hurto testified that he bought
two half pints from Frech and that be
had bought drinks at other times The
chief of police of Moorestown had two
suit cases filled with bottles which were
captured at Frechs house when a raid
was made on it. Some of the bottles
contained liquor. Hurto said the liquor
was asked for and sold to him without
any hesitation on the part of Frech. He
said the latter met him one evening in
front of store. Hurto said he was GO
| ing to Merchantville to get drink and
Frech said there was not any need for
him to go that far, but if Hurto would
go to Frech's house and keep quiet about
it he could get liquor.
The defence put in general denial
F'rech said the story about going to
Merchantville was all untrue. He also
denied that he had ever sold drop of
liquor to anyone. He admitted having
it in the house, being compelled to use
it for his health. He is threatened with
tuberculosis. He said Hurto had come
to his house and acted as if he was per-
fectly at home. A bottle of liquor was
on the table and Hurto picked it up and
took drink, without even asking per-
mission. He did this more than once
and Frech was compelled to lock the
liquor up. When the raid was made
bottle of it was found in trunk. This
was thought to be a suspicious circum-
stance by the officers who made the raid,
but the reason for locking it up dispelled
this idea. Frech is very deaf and could
not hear the testimony given against
him and when he went on the stand he
told straightforward story which con-
tradicted the states testimony.
In addition to his own evidence there
was the testimony of several of Moores-
towns best citizens who said they had
occasion to pass Frech's home several
times day and they never saw any
thing out of the way or noticed any dis |
order. The man has always borne a |
good character and this was the first
time any charge had ever been made |
against him.
Judge Lippincott decided the state
had not made out case and rendered a |
verdict of not guilty.
On Monday morning Judge Carrow |
called the list of cases and made arrange |
ments for their trial.
JOHNSON MURDER TRIAL.
Judge Kalisch arrived at 10.45 and an
that the Bishop murder case |
would begin tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
The case of the State against Griffin |
James johnson, for murder, was then
called.
The prisoner was brought in by two
officers. He was handcuffed, but the
shackles were removed after he entered
the court room. The two officers, how
ever, guarded him closely.
uc were Ju6u CdlleQ anu dC-
cepted or rejected as recorded. The usuai
questions whether the juror had formed
an opinion, had scruples against capital
punishment, ETC., were asked.
Harry b. Gale, Chester, accepted.
Harry Bovine, Southampton, excused
by defence.
Jesse A. Estilow, Woodland, accepted.
Frank Ridgway, North Hanover, &C.
,epted.
John w. Fenimore, Beverly township,
Charles Braddock, Medford, excused
by defence.
George Kirby, Lumberton, accepted.
Wilson Haines, Medford, excused be-
cause of conscientious scruples against
capital punishment.
Jacob Ellis, Burlington, excused by
state because he was opposed to capital
punishment and could not find verdict !;
n accordance with the evidence if it
took human life.
Albert HI. Walters, Palmyra, excused
oy defence owing to prejudice against
colored race.
Charles NJ. Willitts, Eastampton, &C.
,epted.
John b. Colkitt, Mansfield, accepted.
Charles F. Clymer, Evesham, excused
oy consent of both sides.
Frank Cook, Springfield, accepted.
Edward Willitts, Southampton, &C
,epted.
George L. Wurst, Mount Laurel, ac-
cepted.
Joseph Colby, Springfield, accepted.
Robert Sutton, Florence, accepted.
1t took 81 minutes to select the jury.
Prosecutor Atkinson opened for the
state. Griffin James Johnson, on the
A =, Of CO., Tor, hfar hrx, "A l
coming enraged at Laura Smith, cut her
in several places. The first cutting took
place in the house where she lived. She
fled to another house and Johnson broke
into this residence, using an axe to break
open a window. The residents of the
house ran out, and Johnson continued
his murderous work. Then he went
back to the Smith house, got his suit
case and went to Camden, where he was
5 Cora Elizabeth Smith, daughter of the
murdered woman, left her home on the
evening of September 14th, to go to the
store. When she got home she heard a
great noise upstairs, screams and scufh-
ing. Sounded like her mother. Witness
started upstairs and voice that sound
ed like Johnson's told her to go down
stairs. The girl ran into the next house
and her mother came running in, with
her throat cut. johnson followed with a
revolver in one hand and an axe in the
other.
Elwood Bolton, coroner, was called to
the scene of the murder, and found the |
body of the woman, with her throat cut |
from ear to ear, and there were slashes |
on her arms. The clothes worn by the |
woman were not exhibited to the jury, |
counsel for defence admitting them to be |
the articles that were worn by the |
woman on the night of her death.
Louisa Gross lived next to Laura |
Smith. First noticed Johnson acting |
queerly on the Saturday evening before |
the murder. There was another man in |
Mrs. Smiths house and Johnson wanted i
to get at him. The other man left His
name was Winfield Johns. He was at |
the home of witness on the night of the |
murder Johnson called Mrs. Smith to |
come home. She went and soon after
there were screams. Johns ran out. |
Mrs. Smith came in with her throat cut.
johnson tried to get in the door but it
was closed. johnson broke through the
window, and cried, II want Winfield"
Witness said ''he is not here" Mrs.
Smith ran out the front door followed by
johnson.
Jacob Gross, son of the last witness,
was at Denneller's store when Cora
Smith came there. Went home with
her. He went into her home. Saw Mrs.
Smith who said ''My throat is cut" He
went for constable and then went to look
for the woman and found her lying dead
in the road.
James Gross gave testimony similar
to that of his brother