Typed and spelled as written: Kay Cunningham

The Marlin Democrat
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, February 11, 1904

FINED $1.00 FOR KILLING A MAN
~~~~~

     A jury in the district court of Falls county has returned a verdict in which the penalty for one negro killing another was placed at $1.00 and the costs -- the same punishment that usually prevails in cased of affray, disturbing the peace or riding on the side walk.
     The verdict may seem extraordinary to some but it is strictly within statutory provisions.
     The defendant in the case was Will Johnson and he was charged with murder, the killing having taken place near Stranger.
     After hearing all the evidence in the case, arguments of counsel and charge of the court, the jury retired to form its verdict.  It is understood that the jury was ten for acquittal and two for a penal sentence.  They finally got together on a verdict of negligent homicide and fined the defendant $1.00 and costs.
     The theory of the defense was that the killing was accidental but the state's attorneys combatted this theory very vigorously.
     There will probably be no appeal form the result of the trial.


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