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Johnson Mute In Murder Case

Johnson Mute In Murder Case image
Parent Issue
Day
31
Month
January
Year
1956
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

Johnson Mute In Murder Case

Trial Scheduled To Open Feb. 23

Harold A. Johnson, 38, stood mute today in circuit court on
three charges of murdering wife and two small daughters in
their home earlier this month. Judge James R. Breakey, Jr.,
entered pleas of not guilty for Johnson in the three cases and
ordered him to stand trial on Feb. 23 for the slaying of his
younger daughter, one-year-old Margaret.

It is possible that, after the initial trial, Johnson may be tried
for the murder of his wife, 35-year-old Margery, and other
daughter, 3-year-old Barbara.

All three were found dead by police on Jan. 9 in the Johnson
home at 1435 Westfield Ave. Johnson himself was found
slumped over a partition between the kitchen and living room.

Ralph C. Keyes, Johnson's attorney, today objected to all three
cases being placed on the term docket of the court. He explained later he wanted to
protect his client in case of appeal, from being tried for all three
crimes by the same jury.

Judge Breakey overruled the objection and entered the not
guilty plea for Johnson. Dates of the other two trials were not
set this morning.