Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-28
|DUAL Staying LAID
TO SELF-DEFENSE
Try to Show That Life OF
Robinson, Ex-Dry Agent,
Was Threatened.
Y a staff Corresnondent of The Star.

By a Stan Correspondent of The Star.
FRONT ROYAL, Va. July 28.--Put-
ting star witness on the stand early
this morning the defense In the case
of Henry G. Robinson, former prohibit
ton agent and aerial photographer, on
trial here for the killing of John M
Johnson and his son Middleton, pre-
sented evidence that Middleton John
son threaten to kill Robinson.
The defense is attempting to show
that Robinson shot the two men to
protect his own life after a uuarre
on June over minor automobile acci.
dent several days before.
Claims to Have Heard Threats.
The witness, Hugh r. Miller. cashier
of the Front Royal National Bank
testified he overheard a conversation
between the two JohnSons on the day
OF the shooting in which the son sale
to the father, Il am going to kill be-
fore l go home"
Mr.. Miller said he left the bank
crossed the street for a moment anc
overheard this conversation on his re.
turn.
He said Robinson had visited hi,
bank three times that day and said he
had been told by three different people
that he would be beaten or killed be.
fore night" Mr. Miller said he advised
him to 60 to the commemorative at
torney for protection. Robinson re.
piled. he said, that he complained Il
the town authorities. but had received
no assistance from them.
Taking up the croSs-examination al
this point. George d. Horning, former
assistant United States district at.
torney of Washington, who was asked
to aid the prosecution here, asket
Miller II he took the threat seriously
Miller replied that he had not LOOKED
for trouble and thought 1t was all talk.
Falls TO Shake Testimony.
Efforts of the prosecution to shake
Miller's testimony failed when he as
serted he was positive young johnson
had used the word kill"
The first witness called by the de.
Tense today was George W. Duncan
10 years old, the playmate of Middleton
johnson, jr., son of one of the slair
men. In response to questions by thu
defense attorney, Aubrey Weaver, the
boy said he saw the elder. johnson at.
tempt to strike Robinson with mon.
key wrench after the automobile acct
dent. Robinson, he said. procured {
pistol from his own machine. and with
the assistance Of Middleton, johnson
subdued his assailant.
Under the cross examination by Com
monwealth Attorney John H. Downing
the boy said he had been chased home
by Middleton johnson for starting {
fire 34fdnr ff1a 1atfarsc FsC,1t t1arnI. ear
eral days prior to the shooting.
w. e. Jones. manager of the Warner
County Farmers Cooperative Union
testified he heard the elder Johnson sa,
that he would get Robinson, or thai
his son would"
The defense this afternoon is ex.
pected to call several other witnesses
including DIR. W. w. Sonner From
Royal druggist. and Mrs. Frank For
sythe, also of Front Royal. who arr
alleged to have overheard threats made
by johnson and his son against Robin.
son.
Their interest apparently dulled b.
Robinson's admission on the witnes;
stand yesterday that he shot the two
JohnSons In a moment of fright, the
crowd which had surrounded the court.
house on preceding days of the trial
had dwindled to few dozen onlookers
today.
Robinson appeared In court thi.
morning accompanied by his wife ant
4-year-old daughter, Doris. While
Robinson held the child in his lap
members of the johnson family. with
Middleton Johnson, l0-year-old son oil
one of the victims, walked into court
and took seat few feet to one side
OF the defendant. The two children
who had been playmates. smiled al
each other, in marked contrast to the
apparent hostility between the adult
members of the two families.
Crowd Startled.
Robinson appeared yesterday as the
first defense witness, and the feature oil
his testimony startled spectators In the
courtroom and the crowd which
thronged the spaces around the little
court building.
After testifying that he shot the two
Johnsons because he was afraid oi
them Robinson denied all statements
by prosecution witness. which had In
Dictated that he shot Middleton john
son without provocation and the1,
turned his gun ON the father while the
latter was trying TO get away The
elder Johnson was shot through the
back the autopsy showed.
Witnesses testified that the father
struck Robinson just before the shoot.
ing They said, however. that the sor
struck no blows and did not threaten
the defendants.
1t was denied by Robinson. however
who said the elder johnson after strik-
ing him in the face seized his arms and
refused to release him. The son, In
the meantime, he said. was in crouch.
ing position about 8 feet away from
them with his hand drawn in threat
entng gesture.
Rev. Nolan b. Harmon. pastor of the
Methodist Church. in front of which
the shooting occurred. was called to the
witness stand by the defense and testi.
fled that Robinson handed him his re-
volyer the minute after the shooting
AT that time. he said. Robinson was
hfaAAipy from thn rxANssib anA AMMAN