Johns v. State

Royal Johns was indicted for the crime of murder. He presented a petition to the judge of the superior court of the circuit which embraces the county where the alleged crime was committed. This petition contained two grounds: (1) that the petitioner could not obtain a fair and impartial jury in Charlton county; and (2) that there was a probability or danger of lynching, or other violence. After hearing the evidence, the judge refused to grant the change of venue. To this judgment the defendant excepted.

Mrs. Royal Johns, the wife of the defendant, testified in part that on the day on which the…