Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-31
JOHNSON WILL Be
TRIED At TOWSON
State Believes Sentiment Of Har-
ford County. Md. Favors Man
Accused of Murder.

Belair, Md. October 3l,-Charles
Halwart Johnson, of Aberdeen, under
Indictment by the Hartford county grand
jury for the murder of Major John r.
King supervising engineer at the
Aberdeen Proving Ground. will be tired
at Towson. Judge Harlan granted the
States motion for change OF venue
The case will likely be called Tor tral
on November is.
The removal was brought about ac-
cording to the usual legal phrase OF
petition hi,af fair and impartial tTial
could not ne had in Hartford county But
back of that legal phrasing 1t was readily
seen that the state had acted because
the atmosphere of the entire county was
permcatcd with the idea that Johnson
had become hero through the firing
of the shot that killed Major King be-
cause he did So in self-defense after
struggle that grew out in what the PRISON
cr'S friends claim nothing short OF a
protection of his own fircside.
Court Crer James announced AT
10 o'clock Yesterday morning that the
court was in session. Judge Harlan ordere cd
the clerk to proceed with the reading of
the Jury panel This was begun before the
defense counsel Attorneys ;. A.. vii
hams. Harry : Carver and Thomas
II. Robinson. had reached their place
nor was states Attorney Walter X.
NcCom and Special Prosecuting Officer
James J Archer at the trial table, MIR.
Robinson was the first to reach his place
and was followed closely by Mcssrs.
Carver and Williams Johnson came IN
with his wife and Miss Esther Osborn.
the ward Of the Johnsons, and his two
brothers otto NJ and William Johnson.
The reading Of the panel beng com
pl eted. there was a lull, and ABOUT -
minutcs later Mir McCoInas asked Judge
Harlan Tor a private conference The
court. Mr. McComas and MIR Archer
conferred for a few minutes The attorneys
left the room and IT lo.3S MIR. MeComas
appcared IL The trial table.
lie >ignitled that he was ready 70
proceed and then arosc, asking that
Nir. Archer be entered aS associate
counsel for the state Then he announced
very calmly that the state had prepared
/ petition for removal The atmosphere
changed in the courtroom and every
body looked dumfounded Even the
counsel for the defense plainly showed
their surprise The court suggested that
the defense be gwen the petition, and
then the prisoner three attorneys
gathered i number OF law books
II assume said the court that
there ~ no objection because the Con
Stitution gives the right for the change
We merely want a few minutes for
conference. said Mir Williams
The defense finally nodded 10 the court
and Judge Harlan said: There is nc
discretion in tho matter. since the state
has elected to have the case removed
All witnesses in the ease will report their
appearance before leaving the room.
The decision to have the trial In Ralti-
more county met with favor from both
the state and defense.
Mrs MARY Hing, widow of the victim
her daughter Miss linzee King. and
l. ! hing. Of Orange \. J., cousin Of
the victim were III conference with the
state officers for long time Many army
officers were on hand and they, too.
favored the removal of the ease.
Il is the hope Of All persons connecte ed
with the ease that il hc placed on the
calendar al an early date states At
torncv George Hartman of Baltimore
county. will aid the prosecution. and
il i very likely that The defense viii
also obtain one ot the Baltimore county
leading criminal barristers 70 aid in the
defense.