Newark post., 1918-12-25
Elkton Jury
Acquits Johnson
No Demonstration GreetsVerdict
Sensational Five Day Trial
Ends Friday

"A VeTQlcL OIL not guilty. was .r
rendered by the jury in the Circuit
Court for Cecil County on Friday I
night in the trial of Charles Hal
Wart Johnson, former bank cash
ier, charged with the murder of :
Major William B. King of Brook
lyn, N. Y, supervising engineer of (
the government proving grounds at
Aberdeen. The jury was out two
hours and fifteen minutes.
According to reports two balDots .
were taken. On the first ballot 10 .
jurors favored rendering a verdict |
of not guilty, one juror suggested a
verdict of guilty of manslaughter
and the other juror cast a blank
vote.
Johnson was brought into court
two minutes before the jurors re-
turned from the jury room. Judge
Adkins told bailiffs to stand at the
gate entrances to the space reserv-
ed for court officials and lawyers,
and Johnson was put in the pris-
oner's dock. The courtroom was
crowded and the judge ordered that
there be no demonstration of ap-
prevail or disapproval Of the ver-
dict, saying anyne who disobeyed
orders would be sent to Jail. After
the usual formalities the verdict
was announced and johnson dis
charged. Johnson thanked the
jurors and, followed by many
friends proceeded to the basement
corridor, where he received con-
gratulations
Council concluded argument yes
terday afternoon. While address
ing the juriors Attorney Robinson
Said nothing but acquittal would
satisfy the citizens of Cecil and
Hartford counties. Judge Adkins,
protested, saying the citizens of
Cecil county had no interest in the
case, but Mr.. Robinson contended
they had. Attorney Warburton, III
his address for the ce1ence, told
the jurors King had spied in the
bathroom of the johnson home, at
Aberdeen, in which house he lodg-
ed and was fatally wounded. Judge
Adkins said there was nothing in
the record to prove that King on
the night of the tragedy occupied
a position that commanded a view
of the bathroom, but Mr. Warbur-
ton differed.
King was chief of construction
at the Aberdeen Proving Ground
He was shot by Johnson July II
1918, and died the next day. Dur,
ing the trial, which continued five
days, the prosecution insinuated
King gained the enmity Of persons
prominent on the proving ground
by instituting various reforms
there. The defence pictured Kine
as a man who took the freedom ot
the Johnson house and was gain
ing the affection of Johnson!
ward. Mrs. Johnson and the ward
however, testified that King wa!
gentlemanly. Johnson told Kin!
to leave the house, but he refused
to go until his room lease expired
During a quarrel between johnson
and King over this refusal John
son used vile language, whicl
King resented. In the scuffie Kin.
grabbed Johnson and forced hin
lyrnn tn +b HNNy MN, lilo
this position Johnson, who said h
thought King would break hi
neck, drew a revolver and she
King. The prosecution charge
wilful murder, and the defens
cla1nied justifiable homicide.
With the rendering of the We,
dict was closed one of the most in
tensely dramatic trials that ha
occupied the attention of the pub
Lie in this vicinity for long timt
All of the principals in the cas-
We're well-known either in the civ
or military circles hereabouts.
The two factions have stood OF
prominently throughout the PR
ceedings on account of persister
rumors to the effect that beneat
the story of the tragedy itself la
current of strong animosity e:
isting between the civilian pop,
,lation and officers OF the Unite
States army. 1t even was said tn
the quarrel between the defendal
and the slain man was the outcon
of caste prejudices practiced |
army officers against civilians.
Although the trial covered b
five days it was replete with dr.
matte incidents and bitter clash
between attorneys for both side