The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-28
FATE Of JOHNSON
WILL Be BEFORE
JURYMEN TODAY
On Stand, He Shows Up
Well Before Quizzing
by Attorneys.
- ;
ACTS CAVALIER
ACTS CAVALIER
Letter to Reporter Intro
duced, in Which Gill
Admitted He was
Making News.

Ali evidence In the Johnson case IL
now before the jury, and at 10 CLOCK
this morning Judge Richardson VIII
present the instructions of the court
and the last step so far as the case in
the hustings court is concerned, VIII
be taken.
Lawyer Harry NJ. Smith. at re con-
clusion of the hearing of evidence yes
terday afternoon. stated that he stood
ready TO submit the case without arga-
ment, but this remark was not taken
seriously. for arrangements were at
once entered into for the program Tor
today.
The opening will be delivered by
Associate Hopkins, for the state; Law
yer saith and Lawyer Woodward VIII
follow In order. and the closing arRu-
nlnnt will be delivered by Common
weath's Attorney Wise. This. IL is
believed. will carry the case along to-
. ward late afternoon. and II ~ quite
pscba Bile that the jury will have the
case before night
No sensational developments mar
red the progress of the hearing yes
te-day. DIR. Johnson resumed the stand
on the opening, and was further crossa
examined. He maintained the stand
he has consistently taken. and was
ready with plausible reasons and ex-
cuses for his movements and his writ
inEs during the period between his
marriage and the night OF his attempt
~ suicide
Acts the Cavalier.
When asked IL he questioned the
truth OF statement made by Mrs.
knight. Mrs Stultz or any OF the other
state witnesses, he acted the cavalier.
and said that ne had no reason TO
doubt the word of any one. unless he
was absolutely certain that the state
ments made were wrong.
He reiterated his denial. and at one
point said;
Mr. Wise. let me emphasize tina: I
am innocent Of this crime. No man
. can say that ! have not been. in a
certain sense. An honor to my family.
never disappointed them in school
or college"
At another time he said Il do not
think would have attempted suicide
NJ had not been greatly worried and
physically weak
In explaining why he bought cyanide
60 clean instruments with before he
opened his once, he stated thar he
wanted II to clean the instruments he
used at college.
He again emphasized his denial cs
having made a confession to A. C.
Gill. q Washington newspaper men.
He admitted that Mr.. GIN had called
upon him repeatedly. and that he did
not order him away, because he APP
peared to be 80 sympathetic. john
son had wondered how Gin had learn
I'd 30 much about his case, and did not
know until he found that he had read
the letters which had been taken from
his rooms. and had followed the case
from police headquarters. as all the
!, Richmond newspapermen had done.
In reference to alleged statements
made to 9Th concerning life insur.
ance amounting to $4,000. which Or.
Johnson denied. It turned out that the
accused IL n member Of the Junior
Order American Mechanics, Patriotic
Sons OF America and the Odd Fellows.
IN all Of which he. carried insurance.
With a show of indignation John
ron denied that ahe had ever enter
tanned . thought OF throwing aside
Alice knight. after paying close at
tention to her as long as he desired.
II respected her and loved her" no
said.
DR.. r. A. Wood. called for the de-
Tense, said that while he had never
used cyanide of potassium for clean
irx hts dental instruments. he did
use 1t for cleaning stains from his
hands and from the furniture in his
ONCE. He declared that 1t was one
Z 81 the best things obtainable for such
purposes. and that II was used extern
siyely by photographers and jewelers..
He exhibited some Of the liquid. which
ne said he had been using for ten
wears In his practice.
II can see nc reason why 1t should
not be used in cleaning dental instru-
Il unents." concluded DR. Wood.
Wiley Makes Denial.
Sergeant Wiley denied that he had
attempted to get a confession from
johnson while on the train coming
from Wilson, N. c.. on Decen. Der IS.
but admitted that he did say that pub
i'd sentiment both In North Carolina
ard in Richmond was strong against
him He also admitted that wfat
johnson had said regarding his state
rnent that the police would fnd out
where he bought the cyanide was
Norrect.
Ma. Knight was recalled to correct
atAfexnents In the conversation boz
tween herself and johnson after the
7 funeral, IN which the accused had In
tisnated that she had made derOga-
fory remarks about Miss Taylor. She
aould not recall having said anything
4 ~ anst the young friend " her dau3h-
fxlSnAaan - N lnnA0aA pnan Ss