Evening journal., 1918-12-18
SAYS HE KILLED
in SELF-DEFENSE
c. H. Johnson Tells Elkton
Jury Major King Attacked
Him
HAD BEEN ORDERED
TO VACATE ROOM
.neclal 10 The Evening Iournal

in the case Of Charles II. johnson. who
Is on trial here for The murder OF
Major William r. King, designing en6i-
neer Of the Aberdeen, Md. proving
grounds, scored a point at the session
OF the Circuit Court last night, when
the ante-mortem statement OF Major
King was ruled out Of evidence. Coun-
sci for Johnson cQntended that VI had
not been shown thet the language used
In the statement was that OF the de-
ceased officer. This concluded the
state side OF the case and the defense
opened its side when court convened
this morning.
Il developed at the hearing today
that Mrs. Johnson. at the time OF the
shooting was employed as a clerk In
trust company in Wilmington. Del, and
that she was endeavoring to secure a
position at the proving grounds.
Johnson, In his own defense, swore at
the time Major King was shot. he was
employed by the Contractors Dredging
Company at the proving grounds at a
salary OF sis3 a month and that after
King had rented room at the Johnson
home he, the officer. became Ofllcious
and his conduct was displeasing, especi-
ally towards the women In the house.
in fact Johnson said the army officers
conduct became so noticeable that he
had requested Mrs johnson to tell the
officer that he would have TO vacate the
room he occupied. but Mrs. Johnson de-
layed because a daughter Of the officer
was planning to visit him.
On the night Of July 18th, Johnson
said he was walking along the hall
way 10 the bathroom when he found
the doors OF Major Kings room and
that Of John r. Turner, Of Long Is
land, a close friend Of Major King, both
opened.
johnson testified that he said to
them, You fellows must be bathroom
SPIES" and at the same time he closed
tire doors and continued on 10 the bath
room.
Il returned later and entered Major
Kings room 10 tell him 10 vacate his
room. He refused, saying he would
not leave for two weeks. An argument
ensued and l cursed him and left, clos
ing the door as / went out.
king followed me saying. TIL TX
you At the same time he grabbed me
by the neck and tried TO hold me. |
tried to reach my pocket knife and
then when he forced me down on the
floor on one knee, I thought Of his
threat and / pulled my pistol from my
pocket and fired. When my wife came
10 me King still had hold Of me-"
Wrangling between counsel was a
feature OF yesterdays sessions Of the
court. The defense endeavOred to pre-
vent most % the questions asked by
the prosecution from being answered.
Witnesses during the day were James
r. Turner, an engineer: Frank G. Hor-
ton, field officer OF the War Department
construction division; Mrs. Cassie Har-
kins, an Aberdeen neighbor OF the John
sons: Dr. c. II. Kriete. an Aberdeen
physician, and ajor Frank s. Taintor.
Mr.. Turner said he was an architect.
and entered the government service Oc-
t0ber i3, 1917. when his Office was taken
over. He explained HIS office by saying
the men, MFR. White and Mr.. killlan,
with whom he was associated. were
called upon TO prepare plans and spec
ilcatlons for the permanent work at
the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Wit
ness said he came 10 Aberdeen March
IS. and detailed returning TO the john
sons. He and Major King went upstairs
and both wrote letters TO their wives.
senator Robinson. for the defense.
strenuously objected to the mode Of
Senator Archer's questions, and there
were repeated tits. Allowed to con-
fInue. witness said: "We were read
ing the evening papers when Johnson
came TO my door and exclaimed rather
excitedly. why don't you fellows keep
the doors closedT
II next heard Johnson exclaim, you'll
have TO get out OF, this house Then
the sound OF their voices grew fainter,
and then I heard Johnson shout, you
-' then followed the sound OF a
door slamming, then the report OF a
shot, and Major Kings voice, "Tur-
ner. Johnson has shot me, call the post
hospital and get a doctor
''Then Mr.. Turner demonstrated, aid
cd by Attorney Clayton, the scene that
followed the shooting with Major King,
wounded. holding Johnson's wrist and
arm as Mrs. Johnson came running up
the steps"
Witness then went into details, say
ing Johnson failed 10 speak to either
him or Major King when they met.
These incidents were admitted after
much argument Witness also testified
that on occasions when he and Major
King would be sitting on the porch,
Johnson would enter and leave the
house by the rear entrance, and avoid
ed speaking to them. The only ques-
tlon asked by the defense Of Mr.. Tur-
ner was by Mr.. Carver: Were you
an eye witness to the shooting OF Major
King?" Mr.. Turner replied he was not,
and he was excused
Mr.. Horton was next called. His alb
sence In the morning caused waste
OF more than an hour and a half but
70 was due to the train being late. lie
explained that he had taken supper az
the johnson home, by invitation, ana
replied 10 a question Of counsel thst
he preferred TO have It said that he had
taken supper and moi dinner He was
not allowed TO testify as TO any OF
IOhnson's acts on the night OF the
shooting. previous TO the firing OF the
shot. The defense did not cross-ex-
anime him.
Mrs. Hawkins said she lived across
from the Johnsons. She went to the
Johnson home after hearing the shot
fred and saw Major King go out Of the
house. She said she found Johnson
sitting on the porch and that Johnson
told her he ordered Major King to leave
the house, he refused to go, and ne
shot him. She said she Immediately
went back home.
Mr.. Robinson. for the defense. put the
woman through a severe cross-exam- |
ination and for the flrst time during
the case both the prisoner and his wife
conversed with counsel and prompted
the defense attorney throughout the