The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-27
Exclusive Interview Tallies
With Story of Accused
Under Examination.
THE vIRGINIAN's SCOOP
Resumption of Grilling by At
torney Wise This Morn
ing-Prisoner Spends
Quiet Sabbath.

Inc Johnson uluIuet tf1ai wall va
ter upon its twelfth day this morning.
when the accused will resume the
stand. and when Commonwealth At
torney Wise will continue his cross
examination.
With the exception of the alleged
confession" introduced by A. c. Gil,
q Washington newspaper man, moth
Ing so far has been introduced into
the hearing not already exploited in
the papers.
DR.. Johnson's story on the stand
tallies largely with the exclusive stare
ment given Virginian representative
on the night he was brought back to
Richmond from Wilson, n G., by Ser
geant Wiley. In that statement. print
Cd in The Firginian on December -,
1917, DIR. Johnson said
Johnson's Original statement.
II most emphaticaliy deny having
had anything to do with the death
Of my wife. do not know where
she got the poison which she took, nor
did ever have any OF that poison In
my possession. In the early part OF
September bought some cyanide.
but it proved too weak for the pur--
pose for which wanted it. and |
threw II away. ! loved her. ana
could have done nothing TO injure
her. took the drug because /
was worried about my troubles
had always been nervous, and had
been overcome a number OF times
kept my marriage secret. be-
cause / wanted to surprise my friends.
] expected to surprise them soon after
Christmas,
II do not think I should say any
thing about another young lady with
whom ! kept company some time ago.
gave her a ring about two years ago.
and my wife knew about the ctrcum-
stances. The other young lady knew
was keeping company with Miss
knight before we were married. but
she did not know OF our marriage.
My lawyer has instructed me to
cay nothing about the case. BUT want
It understood particularly that the
statement that had said my wife had
undergone an operation Is entirely
wrong. have been In a very nervous
condition since / passed the examina-
ton before the state board. / went
into that examination weighing le5
pounds and came out Weighing less
than lao. The slightest thing un-
nerves me, and II was the death of
my wife that led me TO take the
aconite."
virginian Reporters Scoop.
This statement was made by DR..
johnson at police headquarters. and
waa secured exclusively by The Vir-
ginian reporter who had followed the
case from the beginning The young
doctor had tuet recovered from the
effects of a dose OF aconite, which he
had taken several days prior to the
night on which he made the state
ment. He was stili nervous. however,
and was wan and apparently weak
from the experience.
It was upon that night, also, that
The Virginian reporter read some OF
the letters presumed to have been
written by johnson, one to Miss Ollie
White. bearing affectionate words. and
several to friends directing that his
affairs be taken care of and his effects
preserved.
During the recital OF his story. DR.,
johnson has denied all knowledge OF
having written the letters in question
although he admits they are in his
handwriting.
III wrote them" ne said. at must
have been while was in a state OF
coma, suffering from the effects OF the
drug which ! had taken. I have q
haxy picture in my mind OF come Of
the incidents in connection with that
AFFAIR. But as to my actual dcings
am entirely at sea Some of the
sentiments contained In the letters
embrace feelings which possessed me
certain that the sentiments expressed
did not really lay upon my normal
mind At that time
Gains Sympathizers.
DR.. johnson has gained friends dur
Ing tho long days Of the trial. Some
ef them have gone over To his side
from sheer sympathy. while others. a.
the various witnesses have testified
have begun to feel that perhape after
al, q great mistake had ben >ada
The work Of the detectives In the case
has been most favorabiy commented
upon. It ID freely said by ali who
have followed the case that their
work, particularly that Of Sergean,
John wiley and Sergeant Gordon
smith, has been most thorough
The hearing on Saturday afternoon
was concluded earlier than had been
anticipated. because Of the fact that
wiefed to spend Sunday At his home
ana also because there was no reason
/, Is believe that further hearing Satur.
day would initiate in more speedy
An the conclusion Of the cross ex-
animation Of the accused, II IL believed
reOuttal evidence will BE- introduced
mainly to show that Dr.. johnson had
endeavored 10 get cyanide Of potas.
sum from other points than those
Already referred to In the evidence.
Or. Johnson spent = quiet day q
the city fail yesterday, He had M
callers. but was weli-suprlied with
reading matter, and according to the
deputies, appeared to be enjoying thu
utmost confidence In, ultimate acquit.
til.
London. May as+-After Juno -. thu
return Of unsold nswspapers. period.
\ calls. books and post cards will Be pro-
htbited. The measure 10 taken with 1
view 10 conserving the paper supply
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