Evening journal., 1918-09-23
BACK TO TRIALS OF
DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Elsie Johnson Pleads Guilty
to Second Charge of
Heroin Selling
PARKER DENIES
MURDER GUILT

Having already won the first skir-
mish in their fight through having
achieved a preliminary conviction on
Friday afternoon, the State, represented
by Attorney-General Reinhardt, Deputy
AtiOrney-General Green and the Police
Department through Sergeant Green's
narcotic squad" and the patrolmen.
today resumed their warfare upon the
heroin traffic, taking up the trial OF
those against whom indictments have
been found before Judges Conrad and
ileisel in General Sessions.
But before this was done. the charge
OF manslaughter against Herman Por-
ter alias Bunny" Porter. colored. in
giving John Rose, a soldier, fatal dose
OF heroin, on June 1, came up in the
Court OF Oyer and Terminer. with Judge
Rice sitting as the associate OF Judges
Conrad and Helsel, Porter being ar
raigned 10 plead TO the bill OF jndlct-
mont against him. He entered pea 0f
not guilty. The court assigned William
C. Jones to defend the prisoner Trial
date was set for 30 o'clock next Monday
morning.
In Court No. 4, Elsie Johnson who
was the defendant convicted on Friday.
through her counsel, James salisbury,
entered a plea Of guilty 10 one Of the
other four indictments aginst her. on
motion Of Attorney-Genernl Roinhardt
sentence was deferred temporarily.
Benjamin Callahan, Negro, charged
with murder and John Newman, also a
Negro, charged with manslaughtcr, were
arraignod and their trials SET for next
Monday. Callahan is alleged TO have
shot and killed William parsOn, a
Negro, whom the defendant claims was
prOwling about his house several |
months ago and who was forcing his |
way up the stairs OF his homo. he |
pleaded not guilty. Julian W. Walker !
represented the defendant. Newman is |
charged with manslaughter, IL being al |
legged that he was driving an automo- !
bile which struck and caused the death I
Of David a. Brown, on September .. |
lie entered a plea Of not guilty. lie is |
by James Salisbury.
Helen Laws, a Negress, Of No. 2ii |
Tatnall street, was charged before /
Judge Heisel I'm the Court Of General /
Sessions today with selling horoin.
Walter Francis, a young white man,
testified that he knew Of the deadly cf-
fects Of heroln on its users and that he
had volunteered his services TO the
local detective bureau TO help break up
the traffic in Wilmington. lie said that
he went 10 the Laws wOman's home on
June 20 and bought some Of the drug
and hypodermic needles.
Detectives Fairchild and Riley told
the court that they arrested the defen-
dant and that she confessed 10 selling
heroin but that she said she was act
ing only as an agent for another wO-
man Of the house.
Deputy States Attorney Green prose-
cuted the case.
In charging the jury, Judge Heisel re-
marked upon the importance Of break
ing up the heroin traffic.
The defendant was found guilty. The
jury rendering a verdict without leav-
Ing the fury box. She was fined $500
and sentenced TO serve one years i'm
prisonment in the New Castle County
As the prisoner was leaving the
court room In charge Of an officer she
snapped her fingers, Judge
Helsel then called her back before him,
and stated that In lieu Of payment OF
the $500 fine she Will serve six addl-
Iional months at the expiration OF the
lne years sentence.
Samuel Green, a Negro, charged with
selling heorin, pleaded not guilty.
Sally Clark and Alice White.
vegresses, testified that they bought
some Of the drug from the defendant
1T Third and Tatnall streets.
Judge Helsel told the jury Of the
1ifflculty the police officers expert
nee in getting evidence against drug
rsfflckers. and said It is sometimes
70 use those addicted TO the
labit against the trafflckers.
Green was found guilty.
Lizzie Parker, Negress, OF No. Plum
treet, was charged with selling heorin
IN Sunday June &c.
Walter Francis testified that he pur-
hased three decks" OF the drug on
he above date, paying her $3.50. He
aid he used two Of the decks" Sun (
lay and the other one on Monday. sf-
or which he told the members OF the {
Detective Bureau where and from 4
whom no had purchased the heroin. a
Detective Fairchiid testified that he 7
nd other members Of the Detective ! q