Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-06-24
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR AT WESTERLY
Big Demonstration Planned For TodayJohnson and jack
son, in Chcus2ow, Sent to Mrs. Elizabeth Champ
lin ss Years Old Friday-Nass Meeting For Irish Relief
Fund Tomorrow Evening.

The Third district court, Judge Oh
yer H Williams, YVES In regular session
in Westerly Friday. and there was
hearing on the cases Of Chief of Police
Charles Johnson, charged committing
violent assault upon Benjamin Waters
and Joseph WEIGH in the Westerly
freight yard on the night Of June IS.
The men assaulted are connected with
the Cook e. Wilson circus. The case
against jackson was first called
benjamin waters testified that his
home Is in Scranton, Pa, and he is a
musician in the employ of the Cook q
Wilson circus. He said he was stab
bed by jackson after the show was
over and the stabbing occurred in the
freight yard. Jackson and others were
making a disturbance and in the party
was also the other prisoner, Johnson.
Witness with other circus men ordered
them off andslboth Jackson and Johnson
whipped out knives and witness re-
ceived a cut two inches deep in the
back He took the knife away from
jackson, gave it to an officer. He
identified TIE knife and said he had
visited a doctor every day since.
jackson had no lawyer and conduct
ed his own case. He asked witness
who threw him down and witness re-
piled he did and took the knife from
him. jackson said he was knocked
down with club or some other
weapon and asked witness IL he did it.
Witness said he did not
Dr. Henry l. johnson testified that
he attended Waters for a stab wound
in the back. The stab was caused by
knife and was nearly two inches deep
and about quarter inch wide. He treat
ed him in the freight yard and advised
him to see a doctor the next day in
the town where the circus was going.
Jackson said the reason why he did
not employ counsel was because he
did not think he needed any
Chief of Police Thomas q. Brown
testified he saw George Jackson the
morning following the fight and arrest
ed him In the Bentley-Clark garage,
where ne was employed. He received
the knife alleged TO have been used by
Jackson from Policeman Chase. Jack
son said he was at the freight yard
on the night of the fight and claimed
ownership of the knife, which he said
he had lost there, and also that he had
lost his. watch.
notified by the court that he had the
privilege of taking the witness stand
In his own defense. He did not desire
to be sworn and testify under oath,
but he said he could not understand
how he could be knocked down and
cut and while in HAT condition take
out q knife and stab a man.
The case against johnson, charged
with violent assault upon Joseph
WEIGH. was then called.
Joseph Welch, age 10, of Perth AM
boy, ". j., testified he was employed
as porter in the Cook & Wilson circus
He was in the freight yard on the
night OF the circus and a gang was
there singing and shouting and Jack
son and Johnson were In the party. He
received knife cuts across the left
cheek and in the back, but he took
no part in the fight. Witness met
Johnson on the way to the scene of
the fight and without the slightest
warning slasned him across the face
and In the back. Witness then re-
turned to the car and was attended
by DR.. Johnson. Witness was positive
that Johnson cut him and he has been
In hospital In New London ever since.
He identified his cap and vest and coat
where slashed with Johnson's knife
Johnson had no counsel and asked
the witness: Are you sure / did it?r
WEIGH replied that he was positive.
Jack Lehman. advertising agent Of
the Cook & Wilson circus, testified
that he was in the car and when he
reached the car steps he saw some
circue men going after a gang OF men
who had been creating a disturbance.
He saw Johnson on the ground and
when he got up told him to raise his