Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-28
EVIDENCE CLOSES
IN JOHNSON CASE
instructions and Argument in
Murder Trial Will Begin
To-Day.
SMITH CONTRAOICTS GILL
Says Washington Newspaper
Man Never Told Him Client
Had Made Confession.
SMITH CONTRADICTs GILL

That IS the case of the Common.
J wealth" announced Commonwealth g
! Attorney George L. Wise at 4:25 o'clock
yesterday afternoon. at the trial OF
! DIR. Lemucl ]. Johnson. charged i'm the
/ Hustings Court with having admins.
tered capsule containing cyanide OF
potassium to Alice knight Johnson. his
bride of three months. A. Cioyd Gill
Washington newspaper man. had ius,
related from the stand that he had
not been in Richmond from December
81 to February 3. 1t had been dr.-
ing that time. william j. Courtney
/ for the defense. testified that Gill
stated to him that DR. johnson con
fesse6 TO the alleged crir1c, and the
newspaper man was called in sure
buttal. This testimony required only
few minutes. when it was announced
by the defense that circumstances
made it essential. but regretted tsat
/ II. vi. Smith. Jr. of counsel for the
! prisoner. would have TO take the stand.
Gill had testified during crass-cx-
animation that he himself had told the
attorney in his Office that Dr.. John
| son had confessed to him. ard It vas
/ for the purpose of contradicting ttis
statement by Gill that counsel for ;hc
accused was obliged to become a wit.
ness. He would not testify absolutely
that the newspaper man had not told
I him that DR.. Johnson had confessed
MY whole course OF conduct in this
/ ease is inconsistent with him having
/ tod ms THAI lie got = confcssirr' 6
said the lawyer At 4:47 Mr.. Smith re-
Ut
Mr.. Woodard. and after 4 brief con
ference. AIr. Smith said. I'VE are
through"
/ WITNESSES WILL NE
REQUIRED TO RETURN TO-DAY
The evidence is all in. but. notvith-
standing this. witnesses were ordered
10 he on hard 1T 20 o'clock tkis morn
ing. Whnu Mr.. Wise commented 10
the court that the evidence was closed
as the witnesses were being directed
10 come this morning. Judge Richa I'd
son rejected, We'll. have you ever been
! in case where one side or the othor
| did not want TO call just one mere
witness?" 1t was shortly after Mr..
Smith left the witness stand that Mr..
Woodland arose and rather dran,atical-
y stated to the court that the defense
was willing - submit the case with
out argument. Later II was decided
however. that court should adjourn. in
order that Judge Richardson migE,
have IN opportunity 10 read over The
instructions on points of law.
The prosecuting attorney stated dur
ing this discussion: II propose 10 argue
this case fully" Instructions will DC
submitted this morning. and If too
much time is not consumed in arguing
points of law. the closing arguments
/ in the case will be made br counse, 20
day. a. II. Hopkins. associated with
Mr. Wise, for the State will open. Nr.
Smith viii! opeE for the defense. ard
Mr. Woodard will follow him IN sum
ming up TO the idry the case of tho
accused dentist. The closing argument
and summing up against The pr;so:cr
will be made by CommonwealtEs At
torney Wise.
RAILROAD RECORDS
CoRROBoEATE JOHNSON
Things looked brighter 10 the pris-
oner as court adjourned. He laugh
cd yesterday when 4. A. Mckay, chic.
train dispatcher of the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad. called by Attorney Wise
10 discredt testimony given by the
prisoner as to the time he left Rich
mond on the night of December 10.
told the jury that the second section
Of train No So left at 11:05 that night
1T was this train shat the prisoner said
he had taken. The State ATTEMPTED TO
show that he remained here until 12:45
O'Clock. Mr.. Mckay carried with him
the dispatch record. a volume of i'm
mense proportions and managed on tho
witness stand with some difficulty. a
smile of distinct radiance hit the
young prisoner and the little grour
which was gathered around his chair
throughout the trial when the dis
patcher corroboratcd him TO the very
minute. Again. when court adjourned
ana Sergeant Satterfeld was leading
the young dentist out Of the court
room on his way 10 the City Jail. n
half-6ozen men and twice as many wo-
men pushed through the crowd that
fingered in the courtroom. Doctor.
nope they will clear YOU" and You
have some friends" were consoling
wishes. which were dropped TO TIE
young man as his hand was grasrel
when passing along the rail which,
fronts the. courtroom.
WOODY TRIAL IS
FIXED FOR JUNE IL
Shortly after court convened the
throns which had gathered to hear the
evidence in the Johnson trial. caught
sight OF William Woody, who was i'm
court to hear Judge Richardson set
the date for his trial on the charge Of
shooting Mrs. Mary Johnson Nanny.
Her death occurred at 312 Veg: Clay
Street, late on the night of March
25. The trial of Woody was post
Doned until June IL. It was set for
yesterday but The present trial in
terfered. When Judge Richardson an
nonnced the date of the trial. Woody
said: Yes, SIR"
Tho State called as a witness yes
terday afternoon DR.. j. NJ. whitfield.
as an expert In the matter of the ef-
feet OF potassium cyanide on nickel.
He said 1t would take tho oickel off
dental instruments IL used en- them.
The theory OF the defense Is that what