Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-17
JOHNSON MURDER
TRIAL RESUMED
Another Delay in the Starting of
the Case at Elkton
Today.
Special Dispatch From Every Evening s
STAFF CORE spondent.

Special Dispatch Prom Every Evenings
STAFF CORE spondent.
Elkton. Md, Dec 1.-THE G. Hal.
Johnson murder trial continued today
with no abatement IN public interest.
Major Kings widow and daughter,
accompanied by a brothor-in law were
present. The prisoner, with his wife
and her niece, entered the court room
at $50 O'Clock, the time fixed for the
reconvening Of court. They were fol-
lowed by the judges and the jury and
the case was taken mp promptly. Three
witness subpoenaed by the state, men
attached to the Army Proving Grounds
at Aberdeen, who returned there last
night, were called, but did not respond.
In their absence court proceedings Jagged,
the mll lasting more than an hour
Tardy witnesses not having arrived at
II O'Clock, attachments we're issued for
them, and Judge Adkins told counsel tn
notify witnesses not to leave Elkton az
night
When court machinery again got IN
motion the State called TO the witness
stand James II. Turner, Of Forestdale,
Long Island, who was a rooD0er at the
johnson home, he testified that nc went To
the army proving grounds, March ID
last, and remained there t1ll August ..
Turner. who is an architect. was employed
in the Office of King, chief OF design and
construction. HisAiuties included check
ing up on j contracting company, which
was doing construction work at the army
proving grounds. He stated there was
friction between King and the contracting
company last spring. The defense OBJ
lected 10 the State manner OF question
ing and the court suggested that the state
leave out Of examination IN chief All II
could and reserve part OF its testimony
for rebuttal- Taking another course,
the State showed Turner a drawing OF the
interior Of the johnson home and ques-
toned him concerning the position Of
stalrways, corridors and rooms and the
witness gave a minute description thereof.
Attorney Archer examined Turner re-
garding incidents IN the Johnson home
on the night Of July II, the date of the
tragedy Turner said after dining at the
usual place he and King returned 10 the
johnson home while the johnson family
were at dinner with Frank G. Horton, as
guest. Turner and King saluted Horton
and went to their rooms, where they wrote
! letters and read newspapers, later con-
versing from their rooms, which were
separated by hall. Fifteen or twenty
minutes after they went to their rooms,
Turner testified, Johnson came upstairs,
slammed Turner door and told King he
would have to get out of the house. There
was other conversation between Johnson
and King, but Turner could not dis
tinguish IT, Turner heard pistol report.
King said he had been shot and Turner
telephoned for an ambulance corps. When
/ Turner stepped into the hall, Turner
stated. johnson held 4 revolver IN his
right hand with the weapon pointed at
King. The wounded man had hold Of
.Tohnsons wrist and Mrs. Johnson seized
the pistol All the parties were standing
when the shot was fired. Mrs. Johnson
was half way up the stairs. Attorney
Williams objected 10 much Of Turner ;
testimony, saying 1t was sequences to
/ leading questions Judge Adkins ordered
stricken out testimony that was confusing.
After the shooting King went to bath
room in an adjoining house The State
wanted Turner 10 tell what King said
there. but the defense objected on the
ground of irreleavancy. Attorney Archer
handed Turner a revolver and Turner
identified it as the weapon Johnson used
when shooting King