Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-04-17
MRS. MRS JOHNSON
TRIAL NOW ON
Alma Woman Being Tried in the
Circuit Court Of Isabella
County.
JURY WAS SECURED SATURDAY
! irst Witnesses in Case We're Called
10 the stand for Testimony
on Monday.

Saturday aftel nearly eNhaustinc
FIVE panels Of venremen, jury was
secured early in the AFTERNOON 70
hear the evidence IL the trial Of Mrs.
lnez johnson Of this city, who is be
ing tried in thee lrcuit court of Isa-
bella county on a charge of having
had d part In the murder of Miss
Beatrice Epler of this city on the
night Of September 1, 1917
Following "a conference between the
attorneys and Judge Hart, it was de-
cided to allow the jurors 10 go 10
their homes for over Sunday. thus
giving them an opportunity to ar
range their affairs for a long trial
The court then adjourned until Mon
day morning.
The jurors with one exception are
farmers. They are Charles Maxon of
Bloomfield, K II Gardner of Sher-
man, +. +. Keller of Gilmore. George
Grooms Of Coe, Albert Favereau Of
C0ldwater Frank Foster of ROLAND,
Clayton Johnson Of Deerfeld. Charles
Craft OF Mt. Pleasant, William Win
er of ROLAND. Robert Gipin of Union,
Joseph Mayer Of Coldwater and Theo-
dore Sharp Of Wise
When court resumed Monday
morning the examination of the wit
nesses began.
Kelly S. Searl, who is assisting
Ora L. Smith, prosecutor. in the
opening statement said that the peo-
pie would prove that Mrs. Johnson
had inveigled Beatrice Epler to Join
"a party late in the evening of Sep
tember 4, 1917, went to the home of
Mrs. Anna Gibson. and that the Epler
girl was abused by one or more mem
bers Of the party, after refusing TO
concede TO improper proposals, that
she was carried out to an automobile.
alive and trying 10 scream, that Mrs.
Johnson was one Of those who as
sisted, and that it would be proven
that the girl had been choked TO
death by Mrs Johnson and a man
Attorney c. H. Goggin Of this city
made the opening statement for the
defense claiming that the testimony
Of the prosecution was unreliable.
that Mrs. Johnson was not at the
home Of Mrs ellison and that she
had nothing to do with such a party
If one did take place
Charles Hooper, who discovered
the body Of the girl on the morning
of September >, was the first witness
called to the stand. He was followed
| 10y Will h Ludwig, coroner. who
identified the clothing taken from the
girls body. DR.. T. j. Carney and Dr.
Z. b. Smith Of Alma were next called
and they told of the finger marks
found on the girls neck, and boti
stated that in their opinion the girl
had been choked to death.
On Tuesday Mrs. S H. Epler, the
mother Of the murdered girl was the
principal witness for the prosecution
She told how Beatrice had left the
house 10 20 down town about 400
in the afternoon, and had telephoned
home about two hours later, and
said that she would be home at once.
Up to midnight. she stated, Beatrice
had not returned.
Other witnesses furnished what
seemed TO be a strong connecting
link between Beatrice Epler and
Mrs Johnson. one of these being
Louis Losey, aged twelve years, who
told of having seen Mrs. Johnson and
Beatrice Epler talking together in
front of the johnson home on East
Superior street, and stated that he
heard Mrs. Johnson say to the girl.
"Come back and we will go to a
show or for a car ride" to which he
testified that Miss Epler said that
she would do so.
Mrs. Anna Gibson, star witness of
the prosecution in the first two of the
Epler murder trials, was the feature
witness Of Wednesday. She was on
the stand during the greater portion
Of the day. and told the story Of the
party which was held at her home on
the night Of the murder. She told Of
Albert Eichorn passing around liquor,
Of the girl being forced into a bed
room, of the giri being taken out
20 an autombile, and Of Mrs. Inez
Johnson aiding one Of the men hold
the girl in the automobile while the
other drove the car.
Albert Doty, on the stand early in
the day, corroborated statement
which he had given to David Beaudry
previous TO the Eichorn trial. but
which for the first time was intro
duced as evidence The statement fol
lows:
AT or about 6.3O O'Clock on the
fourth day of September. saw AL.
Eichorn step Off of Mrs. Johnsons
steps and Mrs Johnson held Eichorns
coat for him and he started west to-
ward town and about 20 minutes
later Beatrice Epler came and
stopped and talked with Mrs. John
son for ABOUT ten minutes.
"signed: Mrs. Albert Doty, Albert
Doty"