Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-02-13
CHANGE Of VENUE
FOR MRS. JOHNSON
Trial of Alma Woman Held for
Murder Will Go Outside Of
County is Decision.
ISABELLA COUNTY THE PLACE
Case Will be Brought up in Circuit
Court at County Seat. Mt.
Pleasant.

Mrs. Inez Johnson of this city held
in the county Jail on a charge of
murder for completely in the death Of
Miss Beatrice Epler on the night Of
September 4, 1917, at the home of
Mrs. Hiram Gibson, will be tried in
Isabella county, as a result of the
decision of Circuit Judge +. j. Moin-
ct, following the arguments this week
for a change Of venue for the woman.
The petition for the change Of ven
ue was filed about two weeks ago by
Attorney Charles Ii. Goggin of this
city. representing che defendent, af-
ter which numerous afiidavits were
sought by the prosecutors office 10
the effect that Mrs Johnson could
receive a fair and impartial trial in
the county. A large number Of these
were introduced when the motion was
argued Monday.
1t was set forth in the motion for
the change Of venue that Mrs John
son could not get a fair and impartial
trial in Gratiot county, because Of
the public sentiment existing in
Gratiot county regarding the crime,
! probably greater since the conviction
of Albert Eichorn last spring in con-
nection with the same crime on a
charge of murder in the first degree.
1t was also set forth that the cost
Of bringing the case to trial in this
county would be prohibitive because
Of the difficulty that would be ex-
perienced in securing a jury to hear
the case.
Without a question the great
I trouble experienced i'm securing a
jury for the Albert Eichorn case in
this county, and the comparative ease
with which a jury for the Bremen
case was secured in Clinton county.
played an important part in decid-
ing Judge +. J. Monet to grant the
change Of venue.
The arguments for the change Of
venue were made before Judge Moin-
ct on Monday afternoon, but his de-
cision was withheld until Tuesday,
pending the filing of some exhibits
After these were filed on Tuesday, he
gl antod the change and gave the at
torneys until Wednesday morning TO
decide the place of trial, Ionia. Mont
calm or Isabella counties being rec
ommented Ora L. Smith, prosecut-
or, and c. II. Goggn, attorney for
Mrs. Johnson, speedily thrashed the
matter out, and shortly after Judge
Monet was Informed that they had
reached an agreement 20 have the
case tried in Isabella county Mt
Pleasant, the county seat Of that
county, was set by the court az the
place of the trial.
Mrs Johnson was arrested at her
home in Alma about the middle of
December, 1917, at the same time
that Albert Eichorn and John r
Bremen were arrested, all being
charged with completely in the
crime She was taken to the county
Jail of Clinton county at st. Johns,
pending the hearing. At the hear
ings of the three held in Ithaca they
were all bound over to circuit court
for trial on a charge Of first degree
murder. Bail was not allowed
Last spring the trial of Albert
Eichorn was held in Ithaca, after
petition for change of venue had
been denied. After trial lasting
over month Eichorn was convicted
and sentenced to Marquette prison
for life.
Following his conviction petition
for a change of venue for John F.
Bremen was filed in the court, which
was granted and the case was taken
to Clinton county for trial. At the
trial, held early in the winter in ST.
Johns, Bremen was found not guilty
by a jury, and became a free man
again, just before the new year was
lushered into being.