Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-10-29
Walter Johnson Held Foi'
Action of the Grand
Jury
TEN WITNESSES HEARD
Little Light Shed on Triple Shooting
Ferris Brothers, Two OF Victims,
In Critical Condition.

Following a preliminary invcstiga-
ton into the shooting of Charles and
Elmer Ferris, and William Johnson,
all colored, held at o'clock yestel-
day afternoon before Justice w. ).
Snow in the police court, Walter
Johnson, colored, charged by the po'
lice with the shooting, was held Tor
the action of the grand jury without
bail. Ten persons testified. lhey'
however, shed but little light on this
triple shooting. The prisoner did
not take the stand. Johnson is rep
resented by Attorneys Charles
Henry Smith and Carl Budwesky
and the state was represented by
Commonwealth's Attorney Howard
". Smith.
The six shooter revolver, a long
barreled affair, was exhibited, at the
hearing. The prisoner paid close at
tention to the testimony given.
Emma Williams, colored, was the
first witness called. Police Sergt.
+, Wilkinson said that he was endeaV'
oring to find out information from
a Ncolored man named Ephrlam
Brown, when the woman remarked
TO DFO"u W SiluI up 1.
Ephrian Brown, colored, OF
Springfield, Va, who was on a
wagon with a load Of wood at the
time, t old the court he was half q
square away at the time OF the
shooting. :,
According to Robert Smith, coi>
ored. ne carried William Johnson.
who was shot in the leg, to the hos
pital. :,
The testimony of n. 0. Fitzgerald
was that he was at Pitt and Wilkes
streets at the time and the prisoner
was the only man he saw VINO GlG
any shooting. Witness said he first
was attracted by two shots fired IN
rapid succession.
William Stokes, colored, told the
court that prior to the shooting nc
was on King street with William
Johnson, and that colored man
came up and Threatened to also beat
William johnson. a second man
came up. Witness told the court he
saw the man named William johns
son living in the grass after being
shot. Witness, however, said ne
did not see the shooting.
Margaret Reynolds, colored, toic
the court she did not know anything
about the shooting.
Rose Jackson, colored, said she
witnessed the shooting. She ran to
her front door upon hearing a Wo-
man remark, Don't shoot nm. be,
fore she reacher her door one snot
was fired and this was followed by
the firing Of two shots. Witness saw
no other pistol. Following tho
shooting she testified that Walter
Johnson ran through her yard. The
prisoner she testified looked like
the man who fired two times. Inc
men were engaged in a scutfle Wheh
she first saw them
Robert Shelton, colored, testitled
he saw the prisoner running away,
Chief of Police Goods said the
shooting started over a dog.
Jesse Ferris, brother Of two OF the
men shot, testified that on Ihursda!
the prisoner while at Pitt and GID,
hon streets pulled out pistol ana
drew it on him. \ dog belonging 10
witness and the prisoner S dog en-
Gagged in a fight and this was the
Starting of the trouble he declareG.
According to Haywood Ferris, coi>
ored, also brother Of two OF the
men shot, his brothers did not have
The condition Of Elmer and Chas;
Eerr;s was unchanged it was stated
~ tbe hospital this afternoon by
nr Ilewellvn Powell. Both men. are
N = critical condition, and little hope
= entertained for their recovery. The
condition of William Johnson,l VINO
was shot in the leg, is progressln1G; +;
Satisfactorily and his leg VIII
not have to be amputated' although
it is badly shattered.