Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1925-04-09
OFFICER BARNA
BOUND OVER TO
GRAND JURY
Killed Johnson in Self Defense Claim
ed By Officers, Family Charge
Policeman With Murder

A warrant was taken out for Police
man l. B. Barna, who shot and killed
FELTON, Johnson Sunday evening in the
attempt to place him under arrest, on
complaint of his wife, from whom he
had been separated for some time. A
call for police from Mrs. Johnson $50
Sunday evening brought Officers Bar
ma and Reddock to the scene of the
alleged disturbance on east SuWanee
street when they found Johnson in
front of the home of Mrs. Mccall, OPP
posite the residence of his wife. Off
Ger Barna it is alleged accosted John
son sat;ng that he was drunk and to
consider himself under arrest The Of
ficers took hold of him at the same
time Officer Barna it is said, began
striking the man on the head with his
club and pistol. Johnson jerked him
self loose from the grasp of the pol
&c and proceeded to get away, when
it is alleged that officer Barna fired
his pistol, two balls entering Johnson
in the back Johnson is said to have
turned then and attacked Barna with
a knife, when the officer fired three
more shots, two of them entering his
stomach, then Johnson fell to the
ground.
Officer ReddocI ran to a neighbors
house to phone for assistance and re-
turned to the scene, found Barna bleed
ing from wound in his head and on
his hand. Barna was taken to the
hospital and the still living Johnson
was taken to his mothers home near
by, by neighbors, Physicians on arriv-
al pronounced the wounds fatal and
gave temporary relief to the unfortun-
ate man, who retained full conscious
ness till the end, which came during
the early hours of Monday morning.
Johnson sent for Col. A. J. MELON
aid and in the presence of a number
of witnesses, gave his version OF the
unfortunate affair. Officer Barna was
placed under arrest Wednesday after
| noon but was allowed to remain at his
home, under guard, on the request of
his physician.
The case is being tried before Judge
Powers this afternoon, Coils. A. ]. &
| J. {. Mcdonald representing the pros
ecution and Col Chas. Russell being
engaged by the defendant.
The Evidence Before Judge Powers
Geo. Morris, first witness put up by
the prosecution, stated that he carried
FELTON, Johnson to the home of Mrs
Mccall on Sunday about E o'clock,
sober so far as he could tell, stating
that he wanted to visit sick neighbor.
| Mrs. Mccall at whose house FELTON,
| Johnson was visiting at the time of the
difficulty, was the next witness put up
by the prosecution. Mrs. Mccall stat
ed Johnson was not drinking, did not
smell whiskey on him, that his wife
came to the house after Johnson had
left to visit a neighbor and when he
returned found his wife at the house.
Mrs Johnson told FELTON, that she
would call for the police to which he
replied that he would wait for them,
and took a seat on the porch with his
feet resting on the ground. Saw Barna
and Reddock driving past the house,
who also saw Johnson sitting on the
porch. The officers stopped their car
short distance west of the home and
called Johnson to the car. johnson
approached the car and Barna stepped
out as did also Reddock Barna took
hold of Johnson and johnson leaned
back as if resisting. Couldn't hear the
conversation, if any. Saw Reddock also
take hold of Johnson the latter tear
ing loose from the officers and run
ming west along Suwanee Street. Saw
Barna raise his gun and heard Reddock
three times say "don't shoot, don't
shoot, don't shoot" Witness stated
when she saw the gun levelled as if
to shoot she turned and went inside
the house, hearing two shots as she
reached her door and several shortly
after. Saw Johnson again as he was
lying on the ground about hundred
feet from where he started to run.
Mrs. Weaver of 80 E. SuWanee ST.,
testified that she was visiting a neigh
Dor and saw Barna hit Johnson heavy
blow in the breast and saw Johnson
running from the officers and saw
Barna shoot after him twice, after
which Mrs. Dunbar tainted and she
saw no more of the difficulty but she
/ heard several more shots. Witness saw
Johnson lying in the street.
G. r. Putnam, living at 800 N. Sher-
idan ST., testified that he saw the Of
ficers drive up Suwanee street and
stop near the Johnson house. Saw John
son and Barna scuffle about 100 feet
from where the car stopped. Heard
two shots in rapid succession before
he saw the two men come together.
Saw Johnson strike Barna over the
fired, when Johnson crouched down
but found Johnson's mother and 9TH
ers near the fallen man.
Officre Barna's Statement
Officer Barna in his statemtn to the
court stated that with Officer Reddock