Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-16
JOHN JOHNSON NOT To
CD BACK To WEST
VIRGINIA

Boston. Mass, March 2, 191S.-The
great victory Of Attorney VIM. H
Lewis, senior counsel and the Nat
ional Equal Rights League, which
began and fathered the whole fight
and oOf all the rest on Thursday of
this week was permanently cronciled
Friday morning by the Boston Post
Of March 1st, 191S as follows:
john Johrson will not be surren.
dered to the federal authorities OF
West virginia.
'"The Negro, whom Governor Nc
Call last November refused TO extra
dite on the demand of Governor
Cornwall yesterday afternoon won q
second victory. In crowded court
room at the Federal building United
States Commissioner Hayes declared
that probable cause" to believe that
Johnson had violated the Mann, white
slave act had not been shown and he
was Forthwith ordered released. This
Fwas. later modified. and pending the
appeal by tho government to the Dis
tricc Court On 'one ruling of Commits
siOner Hayes during the hearing,
Johnson will remain on his present
bail OF $4,000. But Fedora officials
case is ended" VIM. II. Lewis. Esq,
was Johnson's attorney, assisted by
b. r. Wilson, Esq, Of the N. A. A.
G. p. J. w. Schenck, Esq, c. l.. Ray
sor, Esq of the Equal Rights League
with ex-U. S. Commissioner II. w.
Hale, volunteer in charge. The Nat
ional Equal Rights League Instituted
the. fight. st 4sts3 81. i. d
COMMISSIONER HAYES DECISION
In announcing his decision Commits
sioner Hayes said: 81 have examined
the evidence. I have examined the
law. This decision is responsibility
placed upon me by law, and the ques
ton is whether or not by this evil
dence I find the defendant guilty.
-'Therc has been introduced into
this case testimony as. to what took
place in Charleston Immediately pri
or to the Indictment. That does not
affect me; and. upon the evidence I
do, not find that the defendant is
guilty. The defendant is discharged"
Just at the point when the com
missinoer was making the decision.
and had called on Johnson to stand
up, the courtroom filled with co ored
people, broke into loud applause,
which was suppressed by the court
officer and the commissioner.
The first to shake Johnson's hand
was Editor Trotter, who sat on one
side of him, the second Miss Lathon
Clayton Jewett who sat Oh the other
side Of him.
Following the final decision of the
case there was a general handshnk-
ing and congratulations were show
cred On Johnson and his wife, who
has been constant attendant at the
long drawn out hearings.
After the hearing Mr.. Lewis stat
cd that Johnson will move TO this city
bring his family with him and re-
main hero, as II position will be sc
cured for him.
Johnson is still held in the bail
that was fixed at the time OF his ar
rest.
Johnson was arrested in restau-
ran. in October, 1917, on complaint Of
the police of Charleston, w. Va
that he was a fugitive from justice.
The most prominent witness in be
half of Johnson was o. A. Petty, scr
geaEt ~ arms of the West Virginia
Senate and a former mayor of Charlie
ston, who testified to the defendant
having been confined to his bed at
the time in November, 1916 when the
offense charged was alleged to have
, been committed.