The Washington times., 1918-05-23
ON STAND
IN MURDER TRIAL
AS OWN WITNESS

RICHMOND. Va. MAY 2S-Dr.
Lemuel }. johnson. the young Middle
sex, N. C.. dentist. probably will take
the stand late today as his own star
witness in his defense against the
charge Of wife murder
Early today Johnson's counsel an
nounced that the. defendant himself
would be the first witness. His main
contention will be that he did not
confess his crime TO A. Floyd Gill.
The Washington Times Correspond
ent-
Mrs. George z. knight. the dead
secret brides mother, was recalled
by the commonwealth today to iden-
tify the small pasteboard box. two
inches square, in which Alice Knight
johnson received a IS gold piece on
Christmas, 1915. from the faculty OF
the Medical College OF Virginia.
where she was employed as a stenOE-
rapher and Johnson was a student
Worried BY POIson Label.
Alice was worried because the box
contained the word poison on it and
the words use as needed the wit
ness said For some reason the box
was never destroyed.
After Alice's death DR.. johnson
took the box out OF the house and
carried it to the coroner Before do
ing so, however. he put two qulnins
tablets in it that he got from Alice's
dresser"
By the manner in which the de-
witness IL was indicated that the ef-
fort was to show that this was a pos
sible basis for Mrs. johnson having
been accidentally poioned. Mrs.
knight denies that the box ever con
tanned medicine OF any kind until DR..
Johnson himself placed the quinine
tablets in it.
DR.. J. d. Freeman testified that he
talked with Johnson on another-occa,
sion at the jail On December 81 he
said to the accused:
johnson, am sorry to see you n
this nx."
DR.. Freeman says johnson an
swered:
That's all right; they can't prove
anything on me"
Johnson had later asked him:
Freeman, old boy, do you think I
married that girl because loved
herr"
II was evident today that the de-
fense Is planning to place on the
stand witnesses other than johnson
himself. DR.. J. NJ Whitfield. the
coroner. will give expert testimony,
and it is believed generally that an
altenist will be called to give testf
mony on which may be based a plea Of
mental irresponsibility or INSANITY.
The defense may claim that while
johnson could be sane at this time. he
could have been mentally irrespou
sible during the days preceding and
following his brides death on Decem-
Der Is. last
A private detective who visited
Johnson at the Jail in Richmond last
Christmas appeared in court today
and after conference with counsel
for Johnson retired to the defense wit
ness room. There is considerable
speculation over whether he will 20
on the stand to produce evidence IA
vorable TO the young defendant
Several prominent citizens OF Mid
dlesex. n. G, Johnson's home. are ex-
pected to be used as character wit
nesses.
When Mrs. George f. knight, moth
er OF the dead girl, appeared in court
today she was still suffering from the
strain OF yesterday. when she spent
several hours on the witness stand
During past week the mother has
been unable to eat or sleep, and the
ordeal has been such as to tax her
strength.
Attired in deep mourning, she took
me stand Yesterday and bravely told
the story OF how Johnson had first
come into her home in February OF
last year. He became a regular visi-
tor. and some time later. Mrs. Knight
said, "he told me they loved each
other. and wanted TO know il I mad
any objection to his making a TarheeI
out OF Alice. I talked the matter
over with him. saying would not OBJ
ject II they felt their happiness de-
pended on it,
In a clear ringing voice the mother
said:
''Dr. Johnson always talked about
his home in MiddleseX. He said his
father owned several farms, a drug
store. cotton gin and a saw mill.
He told me he was making plenty
of money as a dentist in Middlesex
The mother declared that Johnson
told her his father owned a large
and department store and
hat he could certainly show Alice a
good time when she got down there
"Dr. Johnson told me that his
'ather practically owned MiddleseX."
he mother said. He said he had a 4
5ix-roOm bungalow and was having /
{ repaired and painted before taking I
Alice 10 North Carolina"
According to L. Bailey. chief Of 1
police Of Middlesex. who is here to /
estity as to the truth Of these state |
nents Of johnson, no bungalow such |
IL johnson described is TO be found |
n MiddleseN. and Johnson's father is /
,nly in moderate circumstances.
The Commonwealth succeeded in /
yettinE into the evidence a letter /
written by johnson to P. c. White, |
ather OF Miss Ollie White. the Middle |
Iex girl TO whom he is said to have 4
,een engaged even after his marriage /
o the Richmond girl.
Mrs. Knight positively identified the /
etter as having been written by
Johnson.
Among other things Johnson told 4
,Ir White that he knew he was an I
guest at the White home /
md apologiZed for having caused 1
rouble. He told the father he loved !
lis daughter and held her in the
highest esteem. having always Ac-
orded her great respect and love"
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