Johnson v. State

Ellis, J.-

Neal Johnson and John Cherry were indicted for the murder on July 26th, 1923, of Mary Pierson, in Madison County. Johnson as principal in the first degree, and Cherry as being* present, aiding*, abetting and procuring the felony to be committed. A severance was granted upon the motion of the State Attorney and Johnson was placed upon trial in April, 1924. There was a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree with recommendation to mercy.

Mary Pierson, a negro woman about forty years old, the wife of Oliver Pierson, was found dead near her house. When the body was found it had a…