Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-20
JUDGE TO RULE TO-DAY
ON ADMIT TING LETTERS
State Expects to Prove by Them
DR.. Jollnsun's Relations With
Miss Ollie White.
FASTER PROGRESS EXPECTED
Jail Physician Freeman TO Testify OF
Account Given Him by DR.. john
son of His Effort To Take His Own
Life i'll Wilson Hotel.

With the decision to-day by Judge
Richardson as TO whether or not let
lers secured by the Commonw ealth as
evidence against Or. Lemuel J. John
son, who is charged in the Hastings
Knight Johnson. are admissible 20
show the relations Of the accused with
Miss Ollie White. OF Hebulon ~ c.,
the trial of the young dentist is ex
pected 10 proceed more rapidly than
last week
All of Saturday morning was con-
sumed in argument by counsel about
the letters. but during the recess OF
sunday both counsel Tor the defense
and Judge Richardson have carefully
read the letters, and as the state now
makes it's effort to have them placed
in eveidenCc the fact that counsel and
court are familiar with the contents
will expedite argument and rulings
as 10 their admissibility. The letters,
which the defense did not deny are
in the handwriting of the accused, arc
very illegihlc, and the reading of them
took up much time when attempts were
made TO decipher them in court.
Much depends upon whether or not
the court believes letters written by
the prisoner to Miss White and others
received from her within a short time
OF the sudden death OF the accused's
wife, can be legally used by the state
TO build up their theory that the al
legged crime was committed because OF
infatuation with another girl.
JAIL. PHYSICIAN WILL
HE CALLED ny STATE
The consideration Of the letters and
other articles found in the room at
Wilson. where tho young dentist at
tempted suicide with Detective Ser
geant j. +. Wig on tho stand to ex-
plain whore each was obtained. Will
likely consume the better part OF to-
day. y long list of witnesses still re-
mains on the roster of the State. and
IL VIII be at least Saturday before the
jury finally arrives at its verdict. .
Dr. j. II. Freeman. physician at the
city Jail. who had a meeting with the
prisoner when he was brought here
from Wilson. \. c., will he a witness
Tor the state, il has been learned 4
theory of defense which has been init
mated thus far in the trial was that the
letters which Or. Johnson wrote in Will
son and his actions a; the time of his
wife's funeral were those of an ire
sponSible person DR.. Freeman talked
10 DR.. johnson on December 81, just n
week after his arrest AT Wilson, and
when he was still i'll from tho effects Of
aconiiin. which he is alleged TO have
taken and it is believed that he viii
TESTIFY that on that date the dentist re-
iated IN the minutest detail just how the
attempt at suicide in the Wilson hotel
was made. 1t is said that DR. Johnson
FeIated 10 Dr. Freeman how he felt as
The effect Of the drug which he had
taken gradually deadened each mem
oe! and At last he fell off into uncon-
seriousness.
rive months ago, on December 90
1917. Or. Johnson was arrested in a
"9Sp:tsl a. Wilson. y c. Since De
ce:Ebe- -, until brought ,,,o yIvs,inos
Court last Wednesday,. he was confned
IN tho City Jail