The People v. Johnson

On the evening of January 23, 1931, at about seven o’clock, Hazel Johnson, a twenty-three year old negro, shot and killed William D. Keller. The deceased was a Wabash railway patrolman in its yards at Decatur and also a special deputy sheriff of Macon county. Shortly prior to the killing Keller had arrested Johnson and another negro, Golly Morgan, when he discovered them with a sack containing brass parts stolen by them from an engine in the yards. Keller ordered the two men to march ahead of him. They proceeded across numerous railroad tracks until they reached East Sangamon street, which…