The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-08
SPEEDING MYSTERY
CAR MENTIONED IN
CHURCH FIRE CASE
WaIdron Minister May Not
Be Called in Own De-
,fenSe.
Bn Timea HnectnI

BH Times Special
SHELBYVILLE, Ind, Feb. Sat
noon today defense attorneys did not
know whether the Rev. Ulysses 8.
Johnson. being tried on charge of ar
son here would take the stand in his
own defense. It was expected he
would testify today.
Charges against the pastor are in
connection with an $500 fire at the
church on the night of May 10, 1923.
The case has been on trial since
Monday. thirty.seven witnesses testi-
tying for the State and a score for
the defense.
Developments In the case today were
slight. witnesses for the defense occu-
plying the stand. If Johnson is not
called the case will probably go to
jury Saturday morning.
Theodore Hurst. truck driver. told
Of hauling chairs from the church on
the day OF the fire and said h a he
noticed M material piled around as in
preparation for a fire.
Heard Men Talking
That he heard two men talking near
the church a few minutes before the
FIRE was the testimony Of Albert Du-
gan, living in Waldron on the north
side OF the church. He said the voices
sounded like those OF young men. In
a few minutes the fire was discovered,
he said.
Alpha Jones. Weldron. testified Of
coming to Shelbyvills with the pastor
on a Saturday following the FIRE and
heard a remark made - Johnson by
John Mikiss OF ~Shelbyv.lle. saying, II
believe the Catholics dii It," referring
TO the church fire.
Testimony Of Earl McNeely. wal
dron road contractor, was considered
one Of the big points in the defense
Thursday. McNeely said while ne and
his wife were at homo on the night Of
the fire, they heard an automobile be-
ing driven past their home. He said
he stepped TO the front door and saw
the machine. an open car. carrying
four passengers.
Car Stopped at Church
He said he did not recognize any Of
the men. but he noticed one OF the
men In the rear seat who wore a
short stubby beard. He said the car
stopped within 500 feet Of the church.
A few minutes later. he said. the car
war driven away
George Clayton. who lives with Mo
Nicely. told the same story and added
that all the passengers were men,
none OF whom he recognized. On
cross-examination he said he did not
see the car leave the church and ad-
mitted he learned this from McNeely.
j. o.. Brison, Waldron merchant,
and George Raymond testified that
on the morning after the fire they
discovered TRACKS. resembling those OF
a man. in a field east Of the church.
The tracks. they said, pointed to the
church. Raymond said they conduct
ed their examination only on the East
side Of the building and they did not
search for tracks on the north, south
or west.
Must Uphold Minister
Brison, on cross.eNamination, de-
MED that. in January. this year he
said, in a conversation with other
Waldron residents, at doesn't make
any difference whether Brother John
son is guilty or not. he Is our minis.
ter and we must uphold him"
Principal points brought out by the
State include testimony that Johnson
had echemed for a new church build
Ing before the fire ard that q can
Ct oil and some charred canvas
found in the church were believed to
he articles belonging to him.
Witnesses also testified that the
walls OF the church were found
sprinkled with gasoline and that
Johnson had made no effort to help
fight the blaze. warning volunteers to
stay out of the church. that lit was
dannpr0Nq"