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DAILY
FORTIETH TEAS.
JOHNSON ALIBI
OFFERED TODAY
WITNESSES SAY
HE WAS NOT IN
CITY AUGUST 17
TESTIMONY TO PROVE WARREN
JOHNSON WAS NOT IN AMERICUS
AT TIME WALTER WADE WAS
KILLED IS PRESENTED
The alibi of Warren I. Johnson, of
fered to prove his whereabouts on
August 17 and 18,1916, and to impeach
the testimony of Mrs. Yeartie Howell,
who places him in Americus on both
days, was rresented at this morning’s
session of the Sumter county superior
court, in his trial on the charge of
complicity in the murder of Walter
Wade.
The evidence adduced in Johnson’s
behalf locates him in Albany on the
17th until that night, then in Smithville
for a time, then on the train to Macon,
then back to Montezuma for the morn
ing of the 18th, and then back to Ma
con again.
It is claimed that Johnson left Al
bany on the night train, and went to
Smithville, where he registered. His
trainmaster asked him there to go on
tc Macon, so lie took the 10:30'train
and went to Macon, arriving about
one. He then took the three o’clock
train and rode back to Smithville so
as to get some sleep, and there board
ed the early morning train, doubling
back to Montezuma, where he stayed
during the morning and had dinner.
The hotel register at Montezuma shows
him registered there. Then he went
to Macon for the afternoon, and from
these sent in his official report.
This alibi is supported by more than
a score of witnesses, and by official
records and letters.
The state was unable to break down
any of the testimony.
Another striking feature of the
morning session was the appearance
on the stand of Miss Willie Bridges.
wh o absolutely contradicted the testi
mony of Mrs. Howell regarding the
latter’s story of the ride on the nigh*
of the 17th.
The testimony of Holli sHurley and
Claude Mauk, substantiating Miss
Bridges, also conflicts with Mrs. How
ell’s story.
It is the claim of the defense that
the alibi of Johnson is perfect, locat
ing him almost every half hour from
early in the day of the 17th to the
night of the 18th, and never having
him in Americus.
The testimony of Mr. Sam Brown,
of Albany, given at the trial of Dr.
Chapman, was read to the jury, be
cause Mr. Brown is unable to be
present at this term of court. He
tells about having had official busi
ness with Johnson in Albnay on the
afternoon of August 17th, and fixes
the time as late in the afternoon, be
cause he had attended to a funeral
earlier.
Conductor Johnson and Engineer
Stewart testified to having ridden
from Albany to Smithville with John
son on the night of th e 17th, regis
tering at the hotel at Smithville.
The hotel register was introduced
and it shows Johnson did register
thei e.
Trainmaster Frierson’s testimony ig
that he asked Johnson to go on to
Macon as he wanted to talk to him
about railroad business, and that
Johnson did not stay at the Smith
ville hotel, but took the 10:30 train
that night.
The testimony of Co*’-’ ctor Kim
brough was read. This is to the effect
that Johnson rode to Macon on his
train that night, and that he waked
him up in the station, and that John
son had his hat off and his shoes off
asleep in the smoker, and was the
last man to leave the train. Mr. Kim
brough's official report, made the next
day, shows that Johnson was a pas
senger, and Mr. Kimbrough’s note
book also shows Johnson’s name as
being a passenger.
Gatekeeper Lavender testified that
Johnson stopped and talked to him
and tied his shoes while there, later
sitting in th© chair and dozing.
Street Car Conductors Rogers and
Rail testified that they were handling
AMERICUS TIMES-RECORDER
"LIVEST LITTLE DAILY IN GEORGIA."
a late car in aMcon that night, and
that after the arrival of the Central
train, about one o’clock in th v morn
ing, they saw Johnson and talked with
him.
Conductor Al Johnson, who was re
turning from a vacation with his wife,
says he saw Warren Johnson and
Frierson on the train going to Macon
the night of the 17th.
Conductor Steed testified that John
son rode with him from Smithville to
Montezuma the morning of the 18th.
He exhibited his erport showing that
he had put down Johnson’s name at
the time.
The register of the hotel at Monte
zuma was identified. It shows that
Johnson registered there for dinner
on the 18th.
Track Foreman Darby, a state’s wit
ness, who was not put up by tire state
but by th* defense, testified that he
had written Johnson to come to Monte
zuma to investigate torpedoes being
placed on the track, and that John
son arrived on the morning of the
18th and stayed with him until about
noon.
A letter written by Johnson, giving
his official report of his activities for
the two preceding days and referring
to having seen Mr. Sam Brown in Al
bany on the afternoon of the 17th, wax
introduced, and the young man who
wrote it for Johnson on a typewriter,
named Fort Thomas., testified to hav
ing written it, and to Johnson being
in Macon on the afternoon of the 18th.
iLeut. L. S. Tuggle, formerly clerk
at the Rankin House in Columbus, tes
tified to Detective Foster and Mrs.
Yeartie Howell living together there
as man and wife, oosupying the sama
room. He also testified that the grand
jury indicted them for improper rela
tions, but said he did not know who
instituted the prosecution. The hotel
register was shown.
Miss Bridges’ Testimony.
Miss Willie Bridges testified that
she and Mrs. Howell and Charlie
Chapman, Jr., and John Etheridge
did go to rde once, but that it was
during the Eiks’ convention. She said
that on the night of August 17th, she,
Mrs. Howell, Claud Mauk and Hollis
Hurley went to ride, returning about
nine o’clock, and that Mrs. Howell did
not go out any more that night. She
said she did not go downtown with
Mrs. Howell the next day and did not
see Warren Johnson nor have any
conversation in hig presence.
Claud Mauk testified to the same ef
fect about the ride on the night of
August 17th.
The testimony of Hollis Hurley
along the same line was read.
The attorneys for the defense state
that they think one of the newest de
velopments of importance is the testi
mony of Darby, the Montezuma track
foreman who was summoned by the
state, and who says Johnson was in
Montezuma all of the morning of the
18th inst.
Attorneys for the state point out,
in connection with yesterday’s testi
mony of Mrs. Howell, first that she
did not ride over the road from An
dersonville to Americus after the kill
ing, and later that she did take such a
ride, that this has been explained by
the testimony of eputy Sheriff Tom
Summers, who says he brought Detec
tive Foster and Mrs. Howell from An
dersonville in a car, and that he
branched off into the road going by
the Arles plantation, and did not take
them past the Wheatley bottom.
It is believed that arguments in the
case will probably start early to
morrow. although there are a number
of witnesses' yet to be offered by both
the state and the defendant.
At Wednesday's late afternoon ses
ion, the state introduced only one wit
ness after the cross examination of
Mrs. Yeartie Howell had been con
cluded, the evidence given being im
material, and at 4 o'clock the defense
began the presentation of evidence
Attorney W. D. McNeill, having ex
hausted himself in the long duel of
wits with Mrs. Howell while the state’s
star witness was upon the stand, gave
over the examination of witnesses to
W. P. Wallis, who continued to put
interrogations during the remainder
of the session.
E. D. Moore, a conductor on the Cen
tral of Georgia railroad, was the firs*
defense witness, and he told of hav
ing hauled Warren I- Johnson from
(Continued on Page Bour.)
AMERICUS, GEORGIA, THURSDAY AFTERNOON. MARCH 7, 1918
WILLIAM J. TOLER
DEAD AT THE HOME
OF SISTER IN LEE
William J. Toler died Tuesday
morning at 6:45 o’clock at the resi
dence of his sister, Mrs. G. F. Adams.
Mr. Toler had been sick for one week
and was 40 years of age.
Mr. Toler wa s well know-n and well
thought of by all who knew him, and
for many years has been a valued em
ploye of the Americus Coca Cola Co.,
during recent years driving the city
delivery wagon.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs
M S. Toler, of Parrott; four sisters,
Mrs. J. F. C. Daniel, of Parrott; Mrs
W. S. Catt, of Ty Ty; Mrs. R. J. Lane.
c Parrott, and Mrs. G. F. Adams, of
Americus and one brother, G. C. To
lar. of Plains.
The funeral services were held
Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 from the
residence of his sister Mrs. J. F. C
Daniel, of Parrott. Rev. J. M. Sum
mers officiated at the services. He
was a member of the Methodist
church and also of the W. O. W. lodge
of Parrott. His reamins were laid to
rest in Parrott cemetery the W. O.
W. lodge concluding the ceremony.
The sympathies of all are extended
his relatives ’n their hour of bereave
ment.
SJYS SWIMS MIL
SIS BEEN MtIILITES
ATLANTA, Ga., March 7.—Speeches
delivered by the junior senator in the
Senate and distributed through the
mails under his senatorial frank are
attracting much attention in Atlanta.
Editor J. A. Hall, of the DeKalb New
Era, published in Decatur, near this
city devotes a seven-column display
editorial in his latest issue to an ex
posure of what he characterizes a.->
“Georgia's Shame and Disgrace." He
declares that “if anything were need
ed to complete the humiliation of pa
triotic Georgian’, it is the ignoble act
ot the junior senator in franking his
incendiary and seditious speeches
through the mails.”
Selling Pistols Quite Difficult Now,
ATLANTA, Ga., March 7 —Selling
pistols will be a great deal more diffi
cult in the future in Atlanta than it
has been in the past, under the drastic
terms of an ordinance just passed b?
the city council at the request of the
Fulton county grand jury, and intend
ed to curb the practice of pistol tot
ing, which has always been a fruitful
source of crime in this city. The or
dinance requires all dealers to file
written application with city council
for a license to sell pistols, to prove
a good character, to state the details
of any other business they- conduct,
and to pay a license of SIOO a year
in advance. It requires them to keep
a record of the name, address, occu
pation and description of every per
son to whom they sell pistols.
CHILDREN GREET AMERICAN MARINES IN FRANCE
■■ • - *
a iw J
Truckload of American marines on a road in France, greeted by the children with cheers and bouquets.
HUN UEUTffIT
TAKEN PRISONER
B! 0. U OIOIEL
ANOTHER GERMAN ATTACK ON
THE AMERICAN TRENCHES IN
LORRAINE IS REPULSED IN
SUCCESSFUL MANNER.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY, in
France, March 7.—During Wednesday
an American staff colonel, while with
a French raiding party before his
men took their positions in a enw
American sector in Lorraine captured
a Prussian lieutenant in the enemy
trenches and brought him back to the
American lines.
A German raid in this new sector
on Monday night was repulsed after i
sharp fight. Units which were among
the recent arrivals displayed the cus
tomary American fighting ability and
gave the enemy a much warmer re
ception than was expected.
WEEK OF PRAYER
WELL ATTENDED
The services of the Week of Prayer
for Home Missions, at the First Bap
tist church have been well attended,
and the ladies’ fee’ they are receiving
a. s- iritual blessing and much helpful
h formation.
A lecture on “Home Missions" will
be given by the pastor. Rev. A. D.
Kendrick, D. D., at the church tonight
at 7:30. The lecture will be illus
trated with stereopticon views. Spec
ial music and readings will be ren
dered. The public is cordially invited.
AMERICUS REAL
ESTATE GOING UP
That Americus real estate is worth
something is proven by the sale Tues
day at sheriff’s sale, when a vacant
lot 180 feet front on Taylor street
cwned by the A. B. Campbell estate
brought SII,OOO. The property was
purchased by D. R. Andrews who own
ed adjoining property. He paid s6l
t- front foot for his purchase, the
price being considered an excellent
one.
Embezzler Gets Light Sentence.
ATLANTA. Ga.. arch 7.—After plead
ing guilty to embezzling $12,500 from
lar Atlanta commission house for
which he was formely bookkeeper,
S; ede J. Bryan yesterday was let off
by Judge Hill a” Fulton Superior
court, with a fine of SSOO, his case be
ir.g treated as a misdemeanor. His
former employer stated that he had
paid back all of the money and the
solfticitor joined in the request for a
light sentence. ..
MISS LINGO LED
ALL STUDENTS IN
SALE OF STAMPS
The students of Americus schools
have been engaged in a spirited con
test, selling thrift stamps, since the
recent offer by District Chairman D.
C. Pickett, of Dawson, of a prize of
ten dollars to the student here who
dispose of the largest amount of these
securities in a given time. /
Grammar school pupils have worked
haid for the reward, but Miss Mary-
Alice Lingo, a pretty High school stu
dent, has succeeded in selling a greater
amount of the stamps today date than
any other student in either the High
or Grammar schools. She has sold
and bought from her own savings a to
tal of $999.44, or just fifty-six cents
less than one thousand dollars, in these
excelletn “baby bonds," and her many
friends are congratulating her upon
the successful effort. This is thought
to be the greatest total in thrift stamps
sold by any student in a Georgia city
of relative since tlie campaign began
several weeks ago, and reflects credit
alike on Miss Lingo, her school and
her friends, all of whom rallied to her
support and that of the government
in the undertaking.
LENTEN SERVICE AT
CALVARY CHURCH FRIDAY
At 12 o’clock, noon, the penitential
office will fate said and the subpect of
the mission study will be "Kyoto, Ja
pan.’’
Evening prayer will be said at half
past seven, when the lecture on the
Second Epistle of Clement of Rome to
the Corinthians will be given.
HOT DRINKS SERVED
ON THE FIRING LINE
WASHINGTON, March 7.—The War
council of the American Red Cross an-!
nounced today that arrangements have [
been completed to serve hot drinks
to American troops in the front line.
During the past six months the Red
Cross has served more than 1,000,00
French poilus in this manner.
A cablegram gave out today ex-i
plains the plans:
“Today the Red Cross has fifteen'
rolling canteens behind the lines. From j
these canteens are sent forward daily ■
often in the small hours of the nigh’J
fifty or more large receptacles con-'
taining hot drinks. Tliese are serv-1
c-J froee to the men going on or just J
coming off duty. The work has proved
itself to be of such value to the
French that the American army has
asked te Red Cross to have this ser-1
vice directly in touch with the medi-1
cal relief stations nearest teh front. |
The work is often done under heavy |
shell fire and requires men of great
bravery and sympathy. Eugene Hale,
brother of Senator Hale, finishing six
months without vacation with a rolling
canteen near Verdun, served thousands
of French troops, gained great com
mendation from French generals who
; r.s.ticed the chafacter of his work.
GTi
EDITION
VERDUN VETERAN
TO LECTURE HERE
LIBRARY TONIEHT
SERGEANT VERNE MARSHALL,
NOTED PATRIOTIC SPEAKER,
WILL GIVE FREE ADDRESS ON
HIS VAR EXPERIENCES.
Do you know what Prussian militar
ism is and what it stands for?
Do you know why this war is being
fought and why we must win it?
Do you know what the American
soldiers will have to go through as
they fight in the trenches in France,
and what they will expect you to do
to help them win this war?
Do you know the intimate details of
the great battle of Verdun?
These things and many others will
be explained at Carnegie Library to
night by Sergeant Verne Marshall, of
Cedar Rapids, Ta., formerly a private
in the army of France, and now speak
ing throughout thus country under
the auspices of the treasury depart
ment, which is sending him out to re
late his experiences in the French
army as a means of informing Amer
icans of actual conditions at the front.
In various cities where he has
spoken Sergeant Marshall has created
profound impressions and newspaper
' accounts of his narrative are unusually
enthusiastic in their commendations.
The purpose of the treasury depart
ment in sending Sergeant Marshall out
with his narrative is to acquaint the
people who remain at home and can
not go to France with the life the
zkmerican lads who do the fighting
must lead as they occupy the front
line trenches and to arouse them to 1
realization of their duties as well as
of those of the men who wear the
khaki.
No admission will be charged.
CURIOSITY EXPENSIVE
TO COPPER JILL WOMEN
ATLANTA, Ga., March 7. —Wives af
flicted with a curiosity concerning the
movements and conduct of their hus
bands away from home are warned
against the experience of a number
of women of the little Tennessee town
of Cooper Hill, just acrosis the Geor
gia line, and famous as the origin
of the sulphuric acid fumes which
have had the state of Georgia invilv
ed in an interstate lawsiut for many
years.
Whether the sulphuric nature of the
community had anything to do with
its selection by a couple otf gypsy lady
fakirs is not recorded, but at any rate
they found the wives of Cooper Hill
easy picking. They claimed to get in
touch with spirits who would tell them
what Cooper Hill husbands were do
ing away from home. The wife would
furnish $25 in greenbacks to be placed
between the mattresses of the gypsy
ladies’ bed and slept on several nights
The money was supposed to attract
the tell-tale spirits.
After obtaining a large roll of bills
from curious wives, the gypsy ladies
took a night train for Atlanta and
proceeded to enjoy themselves on the
I profits of their haul, putting up at *
I swell hotel where a couple of long
legged Tennessee deputy sheriffs
found them.
NETTLE FIBER THING
I THE PUCE OF COTTON
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, .March 6.
i —Nettle fibre, as a substitute for other
■ textile material seems to have come
to stay in Germany. The government
bureau entrusted with the “nettle ex
i ploitation’’ a circular eulogizes the
grammar school of Lansberg. the
I pupils of which collected a large
i amount of nettle stalks, and says “if
j every school in Germany did the same,
we should be easily able to dispense
' with the American cotton.’’ The bov
ernment circular at the same time
urges all towns and communes in Ger
many to plant nettles as “processes
have been perfected to such a degree
that the finished article not only re
places but excels cotton,”
NUMBER 57.