The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-07
TEN DOLLAR FINE
. FOR JOHNSON IN
HOLD UP CASE
At That the Evidence Was
Not Strong Enough to
Hold Him.
TWO FIGHTS SUNDAY
And Tales Told By Dusky
Witnesses Do Not Hold
Together.
TWO FIGHTS SUNDAY

The plct thickens in the BENEFIT
street holp-up of Sunday last in
which John Maffo an Italian claims
to have been held up by seven neg.
roes at the point of three revolvers
and after being struck in the back
Of the head his clothing slashed
with a razor. The case came up for
the second time this morning before
Mayor Bowen at which time Chat
Johnson who was arrested in Clarks-
burg Wednesday evening as an &C.
complice in the case was accused.
The city was represented at the trial
this morning by Attorney H.H. Rose
while ethe defendant was represent
ed by Attorney L. c. Musgraye,
A number Of witnesses were exam
.iped among them being Lee Trimble,
Willie Bailey, John Maffo and OF.
ficers Digman, Eeern and Holt The
Ievidence adduced was 10 the effect
that Johnson had by his own admis-
sion struck some one with q brick on
Sunday night but whether it was
Maffo or another white man in an
affray which occurred earlier in the
same evening could not be determin-
ed. Mayor Bowen fined Johnson ten
dollars but the evidence was not SUI.
ficient to incriminate the negro on
the charge preferred against him Of
holding up the Italian John Matfo.
The prisoner and the witnesses
were cross examined considerably
by the prosecutors and enough evi-
dence was secured to make it GER
tain that the affray occurred but the
guilt was not fastened on the parties
under arrest.
Alfonso Christian, another negro,
who works for the Chilson garage
was arrested yesterday in connec-
ton with the case and he was also
used as a witness, but owing to the
fact that his attorney failed to ap-
pear for the trial his case was con-
tinued over until tomorrow morning
when the case will again come up
for a hearing.
The story told by Christian was
conflicting with that related by
Johnson, Johnson told the court that
he and Christian were together on
Pennsylvania avenue just after dark
and participated in a fight between a
bunch Of negroes and three Amer.
iean white men and this was when
Johnson is supposed to have struck
a man with a brick. Christian who
was taken out of the court room in
the beginning Of trial was brought
in later an dtestified to the effect
that he had known Of no trouble at
all that evening. ~
MafFo, the Italian Who was held up,
told a story to the effect that he was
returning to his home in the vicinity
Of Maple avenue and that as he pass
ed a gang Of negroes seven of them
acosted him with the words, "hold up
your hands!" This he refused to do,
when one of them struck him in the
chad with a brick and slashed his
shirt with razor. He claims to nave
put up stiff fight, which resulted in
the negroes leaving him running to
shelter. He was not robbed Of any
money.
The officers believe there are a
number Of the negroes who frequent
Pennsylvania avenue who are impli-
Gated in the hold UP and will endeav-
OF to secure information which will
bring the culprits to justice.
The court room was crowded this
morning with onlookers, most Of
whom were negroes, though several
white men were also present.
John Maffo is a returned soldier,
having been discharged from service
December 6.