Evening journal., 1921-10-13
MURDER result
OF CRAP GAME
State Only Presses for Sec
ond Degree in Case of
Johnson, Negro
DEFENDANT DENIES
USING KNUCKLES

on a charge OF second degree
murder. Richard Johnson. Negro.
was placed on trial before Chief Jus
tice Pennewill and Judges Heisel
and Richards and a jury in Court OF
oyer and Terminer this morning. He
is alleged to have caused the death
Of Solomon McGili, Negro. by strik-
ing him with pair Of steel
knuckles during an alteration st
April II
While Johnson was indicted by the
grand jury on a charge OF first de-
gree murder, Deputy Attorney Cen
eral Southerland announced to the
court before the starting Of the trial
that the State would not press that
charge. but would seek a conviction
on the secoyd degree murder charge.
Deputy Attorneys-G General Finger
and Switzerland are prosecuting
the case. and Harry =. JOslyn is
counsel for the defendant
Outlining the case to the jury,
Mr.. Switzerland said that Johnson
lived at SIT Locust street and that
/ McGm. his daughter, Eulah Cal
houn and her husband lived in an
adjoining house. Eulah, on sun
day, April II. heard her husbands
voice in Johnson's home and when
she entered that house, she found
him and Johnson engaged in an
argument over 81 in a crap game.
j INT
own home. the Deputy Attorney
General said the State would show
and johnson and several friends
followed them. resuming the argu-
ment.
Later. the argument was carried
to the street in front Of the houses
during which Johnson struck Nc
Gill. who was standing In his door
with his hands in his pockets. Mr.
southerland said the State would
prove The defendant used stee
knuckles. Mr.. Switzerland said II
would be shown. knocking the Negro
to the sidewalk. Whether il was the
blow or the fall resulting from the
blow that caused a fracture OF SOLO
mons skull Is difficult TO determine
stated the attorney -
Eulah Calhoon, the first witness
called by the State, told OF the as
% sault on her father and Of the incl
, dents preceding it. substantially a.
e Mr.. Southerland has outlined TO the
jury. When johnson came into hel
q home after she had taken her hus
band from the crap game, he caugh
% her husband by the coat and threat
I ened him with a knife, demanding
:. 81, she testified.
e Eulah said that she and Ethe
- johnson were exchanging words II
q front OF their homes when her fathe
remarked. Fight II out and I'll pa.
8 your fines In court tomorrow" a
n that point. she said, Richard rushel
o from his house and struck her faith
y er in the head with a pair OF stee
i knuckles. The blow threw her faith
D.; er down. she said. causing him
n strike his head on a cement step. II
n lost consciousness and died a FEY
10 hours later. she said.
n Under ross-examination. Eulal
said that her father had been drink
e ing that day but that he was no
drunk or staggering.
Detectives Mahoney and Nirder
who had charge OF the case. testihel
10 their investigation of the circum
y stances Of the death Of McGill. Tn
] State then rested.
The defense was that johnson
used no steel knuckles on McGnl
but that ne struck him on the jaw
l. with his bare fist after the eide
II Negro had attempted to cut him wit
m knife.
Pr In his address TO the jury. Nj
Ia Joslyn said that Johnson and Rich
10 ard Calhoon had settled their dii
b., ferences over the crap game an
D. that when the defendant attempte
IN to go in the McGiu home with Ca
of hoon. McGnl met him at the do,
r and. seizing him by his clothes. al
~ tempted to cut his throat with
h. butcher knife. There was scum
NJ and Ethel Johnson. sister OF the dl
y fendant. was cut on the hand. n
n attorney said.
n When he learned OF his sister
n. injuries. Johnson went to the froi
OF the house and demanded to kno
who cut his sister. according 10 NJ
Joslyn, whereupon McGili. who !
claimed was intoxicated. slashed
johnson with knife. cuttii
R through "a part Of his clothing. Z
IL defend himself from injury. the a
torney told the jury, Johnson stru,
.s McGnl in the jaw Johnson d
81 not have on steel knuckles. but d
Ia have a ring on his finger. he said.
90 The day after the trouble. Joh
,is son surrendered to the police. N
Joslyn said.
a The argument to the jury al
n charging of the jury will in all pro
o. ability take place this afternoon.
mt n- 49,,