The Washington times., 1918-12-20
JOHNSON MAY HEAR
FATE BEFORE NIGHT
CONTINUED from First Pase.)

close beside him through the argu-
ments of the State.
Nearly CIashed.
Last night a verbal clash nearly de-
veloped when Major Thomas B. Hen
ry. commander of the Aberdeen prov
ing ground base hospital. took eX-
ception to remarks made by Attorney
Carver, of Johnson's counsel, in his
argument before the court. Major
Henry demanded an explanation, say
ing the remarks reflected on the Of
ficers OF the proving ground.
The interference of cooler heads
prevented what might have been the
beginning of serious trouble. Such a
clash has been looked forward to and
United States Secret Service agents
have been here for several days, ap-
parentIy to prevent any such disorder.
In argument, Johnson's lawyer at
tempted to show that the army officers
have imposed on the residents OF
Cecil and Hartford county and any re-
mark made by witness or an attor-
ney which reflected on the military
has been we'll received by the spec
tators who have jammed the court dur
ing the trial.
johnson Not Disturbed.
Meanwhile johnson does not seem
to be greatly disturbed. He is al
lowed great freedom by the authori-
ties here. and after last nights ses-
sion of the court he strolled up the
street with his wife, unaccompanied
by any officer of the law. and he and
his wife sat in a restaurant and ate
and chatted for some time.
The closing of the testimony was
marked by two Developments. one OF
which apparently tended toAstrength-
en- the defense; the other bearing.
perhaps, some weight with the jury
in behalf OF the prosecution. The
first of these was testimony by Mrs.
johnson and by DIR. r. B. Van Bibber,
an Aberdeen physician, to the effect
that johnson Is suffering from an
abrasion on his head and a strained
neck, which his wife declares he sus-
tained in a struggle with Major King
just before the fatal shot was fired.
Told of Temper.
The other development was the in
PRODUCTION of Capt. G. Harold Baker.
commander of the military police at
Aberdeen. who was called to the John
son home Immediately after the shoot
ing, and who testified that Mrs. john
son, explaining the affair, had said
to him:
Hal has. He said something to Major
King which the major resented. and
Hal shot him."
The fact that the captain is a prom
inent Aberdeen citizen, nephew of
former Congressman William B.
Baker. and is the only witness from
+, Aberdeen introduced by the prosecu-
ton, Is regarded here as a circum-
stance which will bear some weight
with the jury. Captain Baker stated
that he has known the johnson fam
| lily for a long while.
Pathetic Figure.
Perhaps the most pathetic figure in
the court room the last day OF the
| introduction of evidence was Miss
Linzee King. nineteen-year-old daugh-
ter OF the dead army officer. who
faced his slayer to vindicate the mo-
tives of her father in the pajama-
package and the needle-threading in
cidents of which the defense has made
much. Attired in black. a gold star
upon her left sleeve in memory of
her dead father, the young woman sat
in the court room and frequently
bowed her face in her hands as she
heard the name of her father banded
about in humiliating manner. The
testimony OF Henry Tarring, the
county undertaken and OF physicians
describing the operations in effort to
save her fathers life and the scenes
of the post-mortem was a nerve
racking ordeal for the young woman.
She had been introduced by the
prosecution for the purpose of idsn-
tifying picture OF Major King which
had been placed in evidence 10 chow
his size and general physique.
Identifies Picture.
YES" she said. in a voice IIivcr-
ing with emotion. that is Il picture
OF myself and my father" She low.
cred her voice and continued: at wal
made at our home in Brooklyn wher
my father was on leave last June.
Miss King also told OF her visit tc
the johnson home just prior TO the
shooting. but sh. was not allowed tC
testify as, to conditions in the John
son home or as to relations between
either herself and the Johnsons oil
her father and the Johnson family.
| Lieut.. Charles +. stiles. OF Wash.
ingtOn, and the proving officer at the
| Aberdeen proving ground last July
testified that Major King had request
! ed him to issue dance invitations tc
NJ. and Mrs. e. Haf Johnson and theiI
ward. Miss Esther Osborn, this testi'
mpny having been introduced to con
| tradict previous testimony to the ef'
feet that Major King had intention
ally slighted the Johnsons because o.
alleged hatred for Johnson. The tes'
, timOny OF Lieutenant stiles was ad'
nitted after heated argument be-
tween opposing counsel. Technica
points were bitterly fought through
| out the case.
After the introduction of somt
twenty character witnesses. Rollo Og'
den. editor OF the New York Evening
Post, and Gen. John ". Bubb. 4 re
tired army officer, OF Wilmington
were introduced. and they testified a!
to the size and appearance of the ma
Jor.
Doctor On stand.
DR.. Van Bibber. testifying as I,
Johnson's injuries, declared that h
was called to the BeIair jail on Sep
| tember by johnson. who was com
planning of an inflamed neck. EN
animation. he said. showed a deep
seated lump which in his opinion wa
the result OF an injury. This tended
TO corroborate the statement OF John
son that King had wrenched his necl
-, until 1t popped and blinded him wheI
he fired the shot.
The final arguments for the Stat