Insanity To Be Defense In Murder Case

Insanity To Be Defense In Murder Case

Harold Johnson Begins Trial In Fatal Shooting
Of Year-Old Daughter

A notice of defense of insanity was filed today for Harold A.
Johnson, whose murder trial was started this morning with the
drawing of a circuit court jury to hear the case.

Johnson, 38-year-old father who stood mute to charges of killing
his 35-year-old wife, Margery, and two infant daughters on Jan.
9 in their home, is standing trial for the murder of the younger
daughter, one-year-old Margaret.

A not guilty plea to the first degree murder charge was entered by the court
for Johnson at his arraignment Jan. 17. He could stand trial for the other two
deaths.

His other daughter was three-year-old Barbara Johnson. All
three victims were found shot to death in the Johnson home at
1435 Westfield Ave.

Johnson was found slumped over a partial partition and was
rushed to University Hospital to have his stomach pumped of a
dose of Seconal he had taken.

The unemployed television repairman who claimed to be a
physicist connected with the National Research Council and
doctor at various times in the past sat calmly at the defense table
with his attorney, Ralph C. Keyes, in court this morning.

Johnson has been held in the County Jail without bond since
his release from the hospital shortly after the murders.

County Prosecutor Edmond F. DeVine is handling the prosecution's
case in the trial.

Judge James R. Breakey, Jr. started today's proceedings by
questioning prospective jurors as to their, knowledge of the case.
All said they had either read of it in the newspapers or heard
about it on the radio or by word of mouth.