Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-23
WROTE SWEETHEART
DAY OF MARRIAGE.
State Produces Letters in Effort
to Prove Motive for
Alleged Crime.
JOHNSON MAY TAKE STAND
Accused Expected to Be Called
When Prosecution Rests
Case This Afternoon.
JOHNSON MAY TAKE STAND

At :3o o'clock on the morning of
September IS 1917. DR.. Lemuel j.
Johnson was writing a love-letter to
Ollie White. of Zebulon, " c. and at
about o'clock that night. he had mar
ried Alice knight. daughter OF Mrs.
George r.. knight. of 1913 North Twen-
ty-second Street, with whose murder
he now stands charged In the Hastings
Court. These facts were put in evil
dence at the trial yesterday afternoon.
The letter which was introduced by
the State TO prove its theory that the
alleged crime was committed because
the young dentist had become involved
with Miss knight. and at the same
time loved the North Carolina school
teacher, was read by the jury by Com
monwealths Attorney Wise.
Mrs George l.. knight testified to the
proposal of the accused. who was at
the time a dental student. that he
would like to make a Tarheel of
Alice" and later told how he came into
the kitchen of the knight home on the
evening Of September is, and showed
her the certificate OF their marriage.
Mrs. knight admitted 10 H NJ. Smith.
counsel for the defense, that the time
or the marriage was very unexpected.
At the adjournment OF court at s
o'clock. Mr.. Wise stated that the prose-
cution had two three witnesses
whose testimony would require con-
siderable time, and that there were a
few others who could be heard in "A
few minutes. 1t had been expected
that the State would rest yesterday
but the tedious reading of letters CON
sumed much time. Counsel for both
sides stated at the close Of the pro-
ceedings yesterday that the case of the
defense would doubtiessly be opened
to-day. DR.. Johnson will take the
stand in his own behalf. Attorney John
L. woodard stated.
LARGEST THRoNG OF TRIAL
PACKS SMALL COURTROOM
throng larger than on any day
since the case began last Wednesday
crowded into the small Hastings Court
chamber yesterday. Spectators lined
the walls, crammed the doorways. and
number sat on the steps of the bench
occupied by Judge Richardson and
lined the wall behind the upraised
landing on which the judge was seated
The best of order marked the proceed
. ings. While one line of testimony
bearing upon the physical condi,
Of Mrs. Johnson from July to Novem-
Der, of 1917, was being pursued, two
young girls. who fronted the crowd
which filled the aisle. were asked 10
leave the courtroom.
Deep interest was manifested at the
afternoon session. when many letters
the love letters OF the young bride,
who is dead. and the young dentist
who was just beginning practice In
MiudleseX. were read During this time
the mother whose nineteen -year-oll
daughter is alleged to have been pol
soned sat on the witness stand. She
was deeply veiled in black, and identi.
fed the handwriting OF the letters
which her daughter had written to the
dentist. those expressing worry abou,
her condition. those which the dentist
had written from Middlesex to the
daughter in terms OF strong devotion
and those which he had also penne1
to some one me loved more than tongue
can tell" addressed to Ollie White
were recognized by the mother to be
the handwriting of the accused.
MANY LETTERS ARE READ
BY ATTORNEYS IN COURT
The letter which DR.. Johnson wrote
as HE waited for the train to bear him
TO Richmond on the day of his marriage
began:
IF not with you. I can write you.
The train is late, and I will spend the
time writing to some one I love more
than tongue can tell" Continuing.
he told that he had been i'll, and then
resumed: How will I feel after 4,
long night ride? If were home, ]
would not go to Richmond Dearest
have never been mad at you, only
when you take me to be a bad boy.
would give anything to see you just
now. think it is the greatest thing
on earth to possess Il friend like you.
All I can do just now is love you
with all my heart. Some day we will
be a S happy as can be. Dear. just
have a long dream about me Tonight,
and tell me all about it when ! come
home. I will not sleep at all tonight,
but that will not hurt me. I will be
homo Wednesday at 10 ~ NJ Meet
me at the depot and I will have a
large box OF candy and go home and
help you eat it. Be a good girl and
don't forget Lemuel."
Four other letters written to Miss
White after September II. one October
IL. another on November 80 and one
undated and the last on December
were read. The letter Of December
was as follows:
Dearest: Have just received my
call TO report again for duty, Decem.
ber TO- I Will como tomorrow nigh.
If get through. l have many things
to tell you. Our time together Is
short, so let's be together as much as
possible. Your devoted friend. Lem
uel." Writing November 80. Thanks
giving Day. he lamented that ne had
not seen her hut two hours that day.
and wrote: What can Thanksgiving
Day mean without you?''
MOTHER DECLARES WIF'E's
CONDITION NOT AS ALLEGED
Letters from her daughter to Dr.
Johnson and the accused's letters to
the daughter were read by Attorney
Smith during the cross examination OF
Mrs. Knight for the purpose of basing
! upon them a question as TO tho moth.
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