The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-20
RESUME HEARING IN
JOHNSON CASE TODAY
Sergeant Wiley to Continue N"rratiVe
of Story Leading Up to Hand of
Suspicion.
QUESTION or LETTERS
Judge Richardson 40 Decide Upon
Steps Along Which Both Sides MAY
60 in Introduction of Notes as
Evidence.

The fourth day OF the Johnson
murder trial will begin a 9:30 o clock
this morning. After a rest of day,
during which they attended services
at the churches and took trips ATOMS
the trolley lines. the jury Will be on
hand bright and early feeling in con
ition to resume the hearing in the
case which is just beginning 10 reach
the interesting point
,ludee Richardson will probably
make clear statement concerning
the admission OF letters as evidence.
upon which point the defense has
made such strenuous objection. The
letters in the case have hten examin
ed bv the defense. and Judge Rich
ardson has had a look a them
Three days hearing in the case
Of Or Lemuel j. Johnson, on trial
for the murder of his wife on Deem
her II, 1917, has resulted in the in
PRODUCTION of no evidence that had
not already known TO the public,
Miss Mildred Taylor close friend
aud companion of the dead woman.
told Of the death of Mrs. Johnson
a short while after she had announced
that she had taken a capsule, pre-
scribed by someone. and which she
had been directed to Ike every NTH
might.
Coroner Whitfield has described the
autopsy. ga the finding Of large
quantities Of cyanide of potassium and
prussic acid in the stomach. and he
has told Of the nervous, eager in
sistance Of Or. Johnson. that every
thing be done to find the one guilty
of the crime.
And now Detective Sergeant WILEY
is relating the circum stances which
led up to the arrest Of DIR. Johnson
and the bringing of the charge of
wife murder against him.
Sergeant Wiley occupied the wit
ness chair all Of Saturday. He told
of the appearance of DIR. Johnson al
police headquarters several days af-
ter the death of Mrs, Johnson. who
sought police assistance in ferretiny
out the mystery of the poisoning He
told of the circumstancial incidents
which led up to the arrest of the
young dentist In Wilson. n. c.. after
he had attempted to commit suicide
by taking poison. And he told OF the
finding OF certain letters written pre-
sumably bv Or. johnson. which clear
~. in his mind. establishes at least
reasonable doubt as to his inno-
cense.
Detective Wiley will resume his
story this morning. and IT is
believed he will he followed by De
tective Sergeant Gordon Smith. who
il is inferred will corroborate the
statements made by Detective Wilev.
having been associated with him in
working IN the case.
Objection to Letters.
AS had been anticipated. counsel
for the defense offered strenuous OBJ
Jections to the Introduction of the let
ters secured by the detectives and Of
Tered evidence Thu
maintained that the letters form con
Meeting links which Que by one form
a chain leading to the dentist as the
guilty person. and that being ma
teftaE fragments OF the whole, they
are admissible and necessary in the
building up of the case, They form
substantial parts of the foundation
OF the structure. the commonwealth
attorney contends
The defense denied this. declaring
that the letters In themselves form
no part of circumstantiaI net in
this case, and that they do not in
the slightest degree indicate that there
is a connection between the dentist
and the criminal. IL there was one
These letters are not dated. Some
or them were written and never sent.
and may mean nothing. Or they may
indicate the hazy imaginations of
drug infused mind declared the
counsel for Johnson
Much argument was INDUCED in be-
tween counsel for both sides. while
the jury swung its heels from the
desks and tables in the outer ONCE.
Judge Richardson patiently heard
the pros and cons. He asked ques-
tons and then decided that each let
ter would be taken up on its own
bottom, and If the prosecution could
connect II with anything tangible.
within reason. and within the atmos-
phere OF this particular case. then the
letter would be admitted az evidence.