The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-20
AN AGED WHITE
WOMANMAYD|E
ON THEGALLOWS
MRS. ELIZABETH JOHNSON WAS
CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE
MURDER AND WAS NOT RECON-
MENpEp TO MERCY OF COURT.

Mrs Elizabeth johnson, known also
as sis Johnson, an aged white wo-
man, has been convicted OF first de-
gree murder in Calhoun county, and
not recommended to the mercy of the
court. which in Florida means death
on the galiows Should she be made
TO expiate the crime for which she
has been convicted, it will be the first
white woman in this state to have
however, that such a pressure will be
brought to bear on the governor that
the death penalty WIN be not imposed.
but that imprisonment for life Will be
her fate.
Concerning the crime for which she
was convicted. the Mariana Times
Courier last week printed the follow
ing:
History Of Case.
Last week at Blountstown the case
a second time in the circuit court. She
was charged with the murder of Jas.
Wilmington. an aged white man. near
Altha, on Dec. %, 1910. The killing
occurred at the home Of Wilmington.
where the woman accompanied by her
two sons and sonin law. had gone
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Dur
ing the fatal moments three lives were
snuffed out and it is said an attempt
was made to kill a Mrs. Stone, grand
daughter or wilmington.
According to reports received here
just afterward, it appears that the
Whittingtons were sitting near the
fire conversing with some relatives who
had come over to spend Christmas tide
with them. Monroe Bess, son-in-law
of the condemned woman, stepped into
the door and without speaking, shot
Jno. Wilmington in the side, the lat
ter then seized gun with which to
defend himself about this time Ceph
Johnson got into the ARRAY, leveling
his gun at Jno. Wilmington, but the
latter fired killing Johnson. Just as
Jas. Wilmington arose from his chair
Sis" johnson sprang into the room
with a shotgun, instantly killing Jas.
Wilmington. At this point Mrs. Stone
ran from the building into the back
yard, when it is alleged that isis"
EN- kill all of them" Bess then fol-
lowed the terror stricken woman. fir
ing one shot at her, but his aim was
bad and she escaped.
When the smoke of battle cleared
away it was seen that Jas. Whiting
and Jno wilmington fatally shot.
After being assured that he only had
a few more hours to live. Jno. Whit
tinEton made statement, it is said,
as follows. Mrs. Elizabeth (Sis) John
son killed his father; that he killed
his gun had not missed firing he would
have killed Mrs. Johnson, thus prob
ably saving his fathers life: that Mon
rec Bess shot him, and that after he
had fallen, members of the attacking
party had stamped him.
At a preliminary trial a few days
later when c. r. Warren, of Blounts-
town, and Thos. E. Walker, of this
city, represented the prosecution. and
Price & Lewis of this city, for the
defense.
Judge Leath bound t--4r without bail
Ress and Mrs. Johnson. Later Bess
escaped from the BIountstown Jail and |
for some time enjoyed his freedom, |
but was recaptured. When arraigned |
n circuit court Bess pleaded guilty to |
and was given 20-year !
which he is now serving.
Later isis" Johnson was given a |
nearing. = Hon. W. H. Price, who was !
hen judge, was disqualified on ac- |
count of having conducted the defense |
n the preliminary so he and Judge !
,uits. The attorneys in the case were |
:. l.. Wilson and Thos. e. Walker, for |
state; Amos E. Lewis, r. H. Buford |
md j. Walter kehoe, for defense. This /
rial resulted in q verdict Of murder |
n the first degree with recommen- |
ence for the defendant, who is about |!
80 years old. An appeal was taken !
% the supreme court, which reversed |
md remanded the case, because, it is |
'aid, dying declarations were admitted |
Is evidence.
When the case was called this ti9e |
State Attorney Buford was disqualified |
because of having previously been an !
for the defense. i
Hon. Jno. p. Stokes, of the first cir
,uit, was sent over to prosecute and !
gain Thos. E. Walker, assisted on the
states side. J. w. Kehoe and w. II. |
Price conducted the defense. From |
Monday morning until Wednesday
light the case was Stubbornly con-
ested by both sides and proved one !
# the hardest fought legal battles |
yer held in this section of the state,
,ut despite every move possible by
he defense, the jury after celebrating
Wednesday night, brought in a verdict !
Thursday morning of murder in the
irst degree. Nothing was said of /
recommendation for mercy, which only
PERMITS one sentence-GoveTnor to set
he date for the execution which will |
,e carried out unless the extreme pen
lily is committed by the state pardon
,nard Or another sentence