Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
JOHNSON CHARGED
WITH WIFE MURDER
Young Dentist Arrested at Will
son Following Her Sud-
den Death Here.
WILL WAIVE ExTRADITIoN
Secretly Married Here, and Said
to Be Engaged to Mid
dlesex Girl.
WILL WAIVE ExTRADITIoN

Instructions were sent from Police
Headquarters last night to the chief
of police at Wilson. y. c.. to arrest DR..
Lemuel j. Johnson as fugitive from
justice, and warrant was immcdi-
ately sworn out by Detective Sergeant
Gordon Smith charging that l.. j.
Johnson "unlawfully. feloniously and
of his own malice did murder one
Alice Johnson" The holding OF the
young doctor follows by exactly one
week the death OF his wife, resulting
from the taking of dose Of cyanide
Of potassium al the homo OF friend,
Mrs B. +. Stutz, sag North Twenty
seventh Street. when she begged to
be excused. stating that she wished to
take a quinine capsule. Mrs. Johnson
made her home at 1913 North Twenty
second Street.
Johnson, when the warrant was
served on him, would neither admit
nor deny his guilt. lie agreed to waive
extradition formalit3. AND Detective
Sergeant Willy, of Richmond. will leave
with him for Richmond to-day. John
son is still at a hospital in Wilson, but
has practically recovered from the cf-
feet of poison which he took Thurs
day in an attempt to end his life.
Miss Olive White Is the name OF the
young woman at Middlcscx to whom
he was said to be engaged to be mar
ried. Until announcement OF the we'd
ding here she wore handsome en-
gaSement ring.
IN RICHMOND ON MONDAY
PRECEDING WIFE'S DEATH
On the Monday previous to the death
OF his wife, DR.. johnson made trip
to Richmond and paid visit to the
Offices OF the Medical College Of Fir-
ginia from which he was graduated
in dentistry in 1917. While there he
stated to students whom he knew that
he had come to this city in order to
purchase dental instruments for use
in his practice at MiddIeseS, n. c.
whether the young husband is guilty
of having carried 1.-The fatal poison to
his wife at that timo and inserted 1t
In the box OF medicine which she had
been taking is one of the questions
which confront Detective Sergeants
John F. Willy and Gordon P. Smith.
who have the case under investiga-
tion. Although called into the case
long time after the death oc-
CURED. the investigators have uncoy-
cred many circumstances which
prompted the step which was taken
last night by the local police. Every
movement OF the young doctor has
been traced, and particularly what he
did during his visits TO this city. Ser
geant Smith has charge or this end
of the case. In Wilson, where Ser
Gcant willy went Friday night. there
seems to have been little knowledge
on the part OF the people that DR..
johnson was married.
LETTERS
TO DEAD GIRLS SISTER
In fact. the marriage was kept Il
secret. c1ccpt to tho closest friends
here. and letters which havo been
taken over by tho detectives, written
to tho doctors wife hy him. We're ad-
dressed TO Miss Grace knight. sister
sister consented to this in order TO
keep the marriage a secret. No rca-
son was assigned as TO why the mar
riasc should be kept 4 secret. and Mrs.
johnson requested the chief in, the
office where she was employed that she
bc called Miss Knight for the time
being.
1t was also learned at the college
yesterday that since tho marriage Of
Miss knight to the young student she
has not been absent from the Office
for a period of time exceeding a half
day. This contradicts the statement
which the young husband is said TO
have made since he attempted to take
MS no at Wilson, that his wifc had
undergone a criminal operation. Ger
tainiy had there been any such. tb.
examination made by the coroner fol-
lowing the mysterious death OF the
wife would have brought it to light.
Even when told of the action of tho
police in the case, and that her daueh
tors husband would be charged with
having given tho fatal poison, Mrs.
Knight could not believe that DR.. john
son would have taken such Il step. The
father Of the girl. George L. knight
has not trusted SO implicitly the acts
OF the young husband as has the
mother.
CYANIDE. OF POTASSIUM
CHEMICAL USED ny DENTISTS
Inquiry developed last night that
cyanide of potassium is a Chemical used
in the dental profession for cleaning
instruments. This theory was dis
cussed when the matter OF securing the
poison was mentioned. Visits made by
the dentist to Norfolk prior TO the
death of Mrs. Johnson will doubtless
lead to an investigation there, and in
this connection Richmond dealers in
dental supplies will be consulted in
order to verify or rofute the statement
made by tho husband that he had pur-
chased instruments during his visit
here.
When the warrant was served on him,
johnson would neither admit nor deny
his guilt. 'Trouble!' "Troublem was
all that he would say. and later acted
like a wild man. :. :.
: Mr.. Patterson. OF the drug firm. of
Patterson & Harrington. OF Wilson.
stated yesterday that two weeks ago
DR.. Johnson tried to purchase at his
store some cyanide OF potassium, but
that hc did not have tho drug. A.
clerk, In the Wilson drug store stated
INT n 49, =. -. q. =,