Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-01-31
JOHNSON GIRL
ON PROBATION
Indicted, LenIenCy Urged on AC-
tion on Charges Against LiddIe
Bu stor Correspondent


NEW BRUNSWICK, Jan. 31-After
being Indicted yesterday by the grand
jury, on one count only. that of car
rying concealed weapons, Miss Fran
ces Johnson the twenty-five years old
Hartford Conn, school teacher, pIeu
non vult to the charge and was sem
fenced to probation for the full term
of three years.
The probation sentence imposed py
Judge DAILY being conditional, in that
the defendant is required to leave TINS
locality. AS stated by the court, she
may return to her home in Indiana,
to her school in Hartford, or any
place she chooses, providing she re-
mains away from this immediate vi
cinity, except that she may return for
any of her legal rights.
While the grand jury felt that the
facts Of the case warranted an lndlct-
ment for what they were bound by
oath to find true bill. they made
recommendation for extreme len
iency.
Walter c. Sedan, who became as
sociated with Franklin M. Ritchie as
counsel for the defendant, made the
plea to the indictment after which
he recited the events, as told by the
girl, leading up 10 her arrest.
Letters were produced by Mr..
Sedan from United states Senator
Harry S. New and Congressman
! Oscar r. Bland, both of Indiana, who
spoke in glowing terms of the high
esteem in which the girls family is
he'd, also a letter from Miss Hamil-
| ton, under whom the defendant stu
died while attending New York Uni
yersity, who offeced to testify to the
high character of the girl.
A letter was also received from
| Charles Houts former United States
| district attorney, who is an uncle OF
| Miss Johnson, asking that n delay IN
| the proceedings ne granted in order
| that he might produce complete
proof of the high repute of the girl.
Letters were received from mem
| bers of various school boards, under
| whom the girl had been employed,
| telling of the high esteem In which
| she had been held
Mr.. Sedan In presenting his plea
| for leniency said that Miss johnson
! had no thought of making an attack
| on Clarence X. Liddc, as alleged in
| the complaint, but had determined to
| take her own life if a reconciliation
| could not be obtained.
IF it had not been for the great
| ties of affection which had grown
stronger and deeper, and had the girl
! not been taken advantage of by Lid
| die, after repeated promises and
| plans of marriage and the wedding
constantly put off, this young lady
| would not now be here to answer to
this charge" said her attorney.
Judge DAILY in imposing sentence
| spoke of the duty performed by the
members of the grand jury, the high
| est representative body Of men IN
| the county, In returning an indict-
| ment, and that he believed them JUS
| titled in their recommendation.
Stating that with heart so sore
| and mind so oppressed, the enforced
| stay in the county jail had been such
a mental torture that it has been a
great lesson to her and feel she has
been punished enough" the court
| passed Judgment which bars the de-
| fendant from this locality for three
| years.
Judge DAILY stated from the bench
| chat as Liddle was not present when
| the defendant visited his place of
| employm ent, there could be no as
sault with intent as stated in the
complaint and there being no justi-
| fication a. true bill could not be
| found"
The counter charge made against
| Liddle charging seduction, is not
| thought to have been considered by
| the grand jury today as the papers
! in the case were not in the prosecu-
| tors office.
Miss johnson will probably return
| to Hartford Immediately, as the
| Board of Education at that place
have advised her that her position
| is still open.