Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-19
KEEP STATE FROM
PROVING MOTIVE
Defense in Johnson Trial Fights
to Bar Letters to Miss
White.
CALLED HER SWEETHEART"
Accused Dentist in Correspond
ence With School-Teacher at
Time of Wife's Death.

All of the tangible evidence which
the state has amassed against DR.. Lem
ucl j. Johnson. charged in the Iiust-
inGs Court with poisoning his bride,
Alice Knight Johnson, was ycster-
day placed in the hands of Attorney
Harry 81. Smith, Jr. Of counsel for
the defense. From this point in the
trial of the case. If the Commonv calth
has any new evidence 1t can be only
such as comes from the witnesses on
the stand.
Attorneys Smith and Woodard have
maintained ever since tho preliminary
hearing of the case in Police Court
that all letters. papers and effects
which were seized by officers Of the
law and turned over to the Common
wcalth's Attorney as evidence. were
legally OF such a nature as to be open
to examination and scrutiny by coun-
sci for the prisoner. This contertion
was enforced by Judge Richardson yes
terday afternoon. and at the adjourn
ment OF court At o:l5 o'clock Mr.. Smith
walked from the courtroom carrying
the little Eray-canvas suit cast con-
tanning the letters and other effects
procured by the State in he prepara-
tion OF the case against DR.. Johnson.
All Of yesterday afternoon and late
las; night. Attorney Smith read ard
prepared a synopsis OF tho letters. some
written. and some received. by the
prisoner, by which the STATE has homes
Of establishing the motive for the crime
with which Dr.. Johnson is charged.
WILL. TURN LETTERS OVER
TO JUDGE RICHARDSON TO-DAY
It was agreed early this morning z that
the letters and other effects should be
turned over TO Judge D. G. I;ichard-
son for r.rusal. in order that he might
be familiar with the evidence when
the questions arising as to the admis-
sibility Of the great mass Of letters
and other articles comes up tomorrow
morning.
The jury requested that $50 o'clock
be fixed as the hour for converting.
Just before adjournment, Judge liich-
ardson stated regret 10 the twelve men
at being unable to act favorably upon
request looking 60 their greater com
fort. Complaint had been registered
with him as to the confined quarters
which are now provided for the Sc
rucstration of the jurymen They had
no fault to find with the meals. Only
go per day is allowed by law for the
mon. and. although Judge Richardson
consulted State Auditor G. Lee Moore.
and he IN turn consulted Attorney
General John r. Saunders, no relief
could be had.
HOPE TO KEEP OUT LETTERS,
AND so BREAK STATES CASE
Counsel for the defense deemed the
securing OF the right to examine the
letters and other articles which the
State had to produce against the young
dentist a great victory. With the first
point gained. they hope ID raise ques-
tons to the legal proprety OF ad-
hitting many of the letters in evi-
dencc, and in this way break down
the hope of the state in establishing
as motive for the alleged crime the
contention that at the time OF Mrs.
Johnson's death. Dr. Johnson was in
innate with Miss Ollie White. a school
teacher. of Zehulon. N c.
Detective Sergeant John r.. willy
who, with Detective Sergeant Gordon
r. Smith secured the letters and other
evidence, was on the stand from the
opening of court at 9:30 o'clock until
adjournment yesterday f tie o n.
Package after package of letters was
opened. the detective Identifying each
one, telling where he got it, and then
handed to the court stenographer to
be marked for identification. Complete
examination of the little canvas suit
case, which was placed in the custody
Of the court and then turned over to
Mr.. Smith. was not made in tho court
room. In Police Court, Attorney Wise
produced from the same case a num-
her of letters. a handkerchief, marked
with tho name ollie White" This
with tho letters. was shown in court
yesterday, while the jury was with
drawn.
SHOWS RIRBON TIED ABOUT
FLOWERS on WIFE'S COFFIN
In fumbIing through tho mass Of
letters and articles in the case At
torney Smith drew out tho pink silk
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