Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-03-08
JURY LISTENS
To ARGUMENTS
THIS MORNING
MESSRS. FELTON,, BLALOCk AND
M'NEu HAVE SPOKEN AND
JUDGE HIXON IS MAKING THE
CONCLUDING ADDRESS.

The jury trying Warren l. Johnson
for alleged completely in the murder
Of Walter Wade will probably retire
to it's room to consider verdict be-
tween five and six o'clock this after
noon.
The arguments began this morning,
Attorney julie FELTON,, of Montezuma.
one of assistant counsel for the state,
making the opening address.
L. j. Blalock, of counsel for the de-
4 fense, was next to speak. Then VIII
liam D. Mcneil, leading lawyer for
the defendant, made his argument. He
spoke for over two hours.
Mr. Mcneil paid particular attention
to Mrs. Howell's testimony, handling
it sentence by sentence. He also went
after the testimony of otter states wilt
nesses, and treated them in a vigorous
manner.
Court adjourned for dinner at 1870
o'clock after Mr.. Mcneil had conclud-
ed. This afternoon, Judge Hixon be-
gan the closing argument for the state.
It is believed that the case will go
to the jury before six o'clock
After Mr. McNei1's wonderful ar
gument, there were many predictions
that there would be an acquittal. How
ever, the general feeling is that mis-
trial will result, although there are
quite a few who openly express the
belief that the defendant should be
convicted
Thursdays late afternoon session
was featured principally by the intro
duction of Frank Hall and Ed Skin
ner, two state witnesses who swore
they saw Warren Johnson in Americus
on the night of August 18th, 1916, in
the rebuttal of this evidence by wit
nesses introduced on behalf of the
defense, and a supplemental site
ment made by the defendant himself
which marked the close of the hear
ing.
r.. w. Moseley, formerly lieutenant of
nolice at Macon; Lieut.. Bob Griffin, Of
the Macon police department, Law
Rees, P. 0. Bradley, Roy Alexande,
and William Edge were witnesses who
testified for the state, and among those
sworn for the defense were Attorneys
Hollis Fort, w. P Wallis and L. j.
P1a1ock. who related certain coI1ver
sations they held with Policeman
Pouncey regarding the hour he first
saw the murder car at the Genital de-
pot.
Ed Skinner introduced new ele-
ment into the hearing, swearing he
saw and spoke to Warren Johnson,
who was then in company with John
Ftheridge, at Rylander's garage, in
Americus, on the night of the murder
He testified he had not previously
mentioned the incident, and that he
told if only when he had to-" eX-
planning he told Attorney Stephen
Pace of the incident some time age,be-
fore Pace became associated with the
prosecution. His testimony was posi-
tive. but Attorney Mcneil succeeded
ir, getting him to den" certain portions
Of his testimony given at previous
hearing when DR.. c. K. Chapman
was on trial
At the night session, Judge Thomas
insisted that the case be concluded be-
fore adjournment, and opposing coun-
sci agreed concerning the introduc-
t,on of certain portions of the tran
script evidence, subject to the ap-
r.roval of the court, the state offering
in evidence the full testimony of the
defendant, Warren Johnson, given al
previous hearings during the trials OF
DR.. Chapman, it being asserted each oil
tho statements was contradictory to
the other.
At $3.50 p. m, Solicitor General John
Allen Fort announced the states case
had been completed, the defendant
made a statement of not more than
three minutes duration and Judge
Thomas ruled that all the evidence was
:, Counsel then agreed upon three
boure and a half to a side for argu
ments, and court adjourned until S;la
this morning, VIXEN arguments com
raenced.