Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-18
WOMEN ATTENDING
JOHNSON TRIAL IN
LARGE NUMBERS
They Throngcd the Court Room at
Elkton When the Case Was
Resumed Today.
JOHNSON TELLS HIS STORY
Special Dispatch From Every Evening.
Star CORES pondeut.

Eikton. Md, Dec ls.--Women mani
fest increasing interest In the Johnson
murder trial and rs the case progresses
more women are seen in the courtroom
throngs
The prosecution rested, to-day, after
refusal by the court To admit as evidence
document alleged to be Major Kings
Diving statement The State also was
not permitted to introduce testimony
concerning Kings checking up of nc
counts IN the postmaster department of
the Alb erdeen Proving Ground IN which
department the defendant was m crn-
ploye.
INCIDENT EXCITED COMMENT.
Despite objections made bv the State,
Johnson related stories Of King going To
Mrs Johnson's bedroom and asking her
and Esther 10 thread needle. At sup
per Esther, commenting on the incident,
remarked: Wasn't it awfnlI King
might have found ue women undrcssedt
Mrs. johnson hIIehcd Esther.
johnson exhibited disapprovai Of King
conduct by ceaslng 70 speak to him,
thinking King would take ignoring az
hint that his presence in the johnson
home was not desired, but King renamed.
Among other objectionable acts Of
King mentioned by Johnson was King
habit of leaving his bedroom door open
and sitting IN a position that commanded
view into the bathroom, which habit
was embarrassing 70 the women
Once while Esther was sitting on the
porch settec, johnson said, King seated
himself beside her and clasped her hand.
which familiarity. Johnson declared, was
an annoyance 10 Esther and caused her
To crv
Tho defenoe's presentation Of the case
began today, when Attorney Carver
called the defendant 10 the witness stand.
Johnson was Intercepted at great length,
and his replies were impressive. Through
out the morning Attorney Archer inter
posed many objections 10 the line Of inter
rogation, but was generally overruied.
johnson testified that he was in the
paymaster's department Of the Aberdeen
Proving Grounds and was paid sI25 per
month when he took the position, and
was receiving 1886 per month when he
quit HIS clerical duties required hirn 10
come in contact with 400 men of various
nationalities, and being employed fre-
ullentIv at night he carried a revolver on
! insisteuce of the payn1aster. Johnson sald
the revolver admitted In evidence y an ex-
hibit belonged 70 him
In October, 1917, King obtained lodg-
fucs in the Johnson home while Johnson
was at work. and johnson testified that he
first met King on going home. johnson
said King took the freedom Of the home
and King treatment Of Johnson was
gruff and overbearIng. Johnson dis
approved of King liberty IN the house.
One morning. while the Johnson family
were 81 breakfast, King walked through
the diningroom and, going 70 the Kitchen,
n ffsfrF
son stated When johnson protested hing
exhibited anger, and later King fingered in
| the alev until johnson appeared therein,
but said nothing when Johnson passed
him
johnson described objectionable occur
rences on the porch Of the johnson home.
Once Esther Osborne, Of whom Johnson
was guardian, went 10 the porch, accord
ing 10 johnson, and handing 70 King ,
! package containing paiamas which we're
TO be mailed to former lodgeman, asked
hing to direct It: which he did. also put
ting on package the words Sent by
Esther Osborne hing laughed and
| remarked the inscription would excite the
jealousy OF the wife OF the man receiving
the pajaInas johnson erased Esther s
name from the package and substituted
his own He also lectured the girl. The
.lecturing" angercd her, but appreciation
replaced indignation when assured john
son was taking precautions for the pro
lection of the home and acting for her
benefit.
King asked why Johnson wanted him
TO go, johnson said he wanted King 5
room. King replied, You her' John
son 5 comment was. If you don't GO,
| you arc low-lived - - ----.
THIS Was a prelude to the tragedy, Of
which johnson gave a graphic description.
Johnson left Kings room, closing the
door. and started towards the bathroom,
King, white with rage, opened the door
! and ran after Johnson. King WAS } feet
10 inches ~ height and weighed 225
pounds johnson is shorter and weighs
+ less King was So to 80 wears old, and
johnson is so Remarking, I'm FIX
! you" King threw his arms around John
sons neck and brought him TO the floor,
johnson resting ON one knee. Johnson,
! fearing King would break his neck, drew
4 revolver and shot King, who died the
next day, July Is 1918 For month
thereafter a physician treated johnson
for neck injury resulting from the attack
by King
lbhnson Admitted calling King and
another lodgcr Bathroom Spies. While
making tins remark he closed the doors
ri the dodgers bedrooms Returning "a
hlng 5 room and entering he told King
i nc would have 70 give up the room or
leave the house lie did not remember the
exact words King said he would not.
YES YOU will, johnson retorted.
King declared he would moi leave before
the first Of the year 1919, the time for the
expiration of his lease. Johnson told King
he did not have mulch self-respeot King
refused to leave, saying Johnson would
have to put hun out
The state called Frank G. Horton, q
War Department field officer who is
| employed on construction work at the
| proving ground Horton said he knew
| Charles II. Johnson, charged with murder
ing King, and stated Johnson was an
empioye In the payroll department of a
| contracting company that did work at
the proving ground The State started
To inteIrogate Horton about King check
ing up o. the payroll department but
desisted when told its questions were not
| in legal form Horton was q supper
| guest at the johnson home the light
King WAS shot, and the State asked him
what Johnson said and did during supper
but the defence objected, saying the
questions were improper and leading
Attorney Robinson said the State was
fishing around for something hat would
not bc evidence when found
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