The Manslaughter of Bill Pike

Bill Pike was killed on Bell Island on 7 December 1956. Below are several newspaper reports about his death and the trial that followed.

If you came to this page directly, then you might want to know that I have additional information about the Pike families of Newfoundland on my website.


On Page 3 of the Daily News, Monday, 10 December 1956:
Manslaughter Charge for Bell Island Man
Arrested After Discovery Body William Pike

Frank Johnson, 31-year-old resident of Bell Island, was officially charged with manslaughter before Magistrate Brian White on Bell Island Saturday. The charge was laid against Johnson following his arrest in connection with the death of William Pike.

Johnson's arrest followed swiftly the discovery of the 47-year-old businessman's body.

Pike was found dead near his store late Friday night. He had been badly beaten and there was distinct evidence of a fight.

Sergeant Clarke and Corporal MacMillan began an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. They arrested Johnson early Saturday morning.

The vicitim's body was taken aboard the Bell Island ambulance to St. John's Saturday morning. An immediate autopsy was performed, but details of its findings have not been revealed.

Pike is reported to have suffered severe head injuries, but this has not been confirmed.

Inspector Eric Porter, chief of the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Newfoundland Division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, told the Daily News last night that investigations proved there had been a fight before Pike's death.

The Inspector did not reveal any further details. He said he could make no further comment on the matter.

Police did not reveal any of the information with which they associated Johnson with the killing.

Pike is reported to have been residing on Bell Island for just a few weeks. He was preparing his premises to enter business there. The store, a snack bar, was to have opened before Christmas.

The body is first reported to have been discovered lying in the rear of the building which housed Pike's new business. A group of boys apparently found it and called Bell Island ambulance driver and undertaker Bert Rideout.

Rideout came to the scene and found the body. He called the police.

Funeral services for the victim are to be held in St. John's today from his brother's residence at 36 Hamilton Avenue.

and on page 16 of the same issue (10 December 1956) of the Daily News:
PIKE - Died suddenly December 10, William J. Pike, son of Catherine and the late Arthur Pike; leaving to mourn mother, two brothers, George of St. John's and Arthur of Montreal, one sister, Ann (Mrs. R. Deeb) also of Montral. Funeral takes place from his brother's residence, 36 Hamilton Avenue on Monday at 2.30 p.m., to St. Patrick's Church.
["December 10" above is clearly wrong; the correct date would be December 7]


On page 1 of the Evening Telegram, Monday, 10 December 1956:
MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE: Dead Man is Badly Beaten; One Held
By RON PUMPHREY
Telegram Island Bureau
BELL ISLAND (Staff)--A 47-year-old St. John's man met death by violence here 10 p.m. Friday. Death came just after he answered his back door after somone broke his kitchen window and when he heard footsteps on the gallery.

William Pike, 47, will be buried in the city at 2 p.m. today. Bell Islander Frank Johnson, 31, is in jail in connection with the incident, and the RCMP has charged him with manslaughter.

The death of the tall, delicate Pike behind a shop and residence which his father built here about 1930, was a bloody one--his face was severely beaten, and his throat was badly torn.

According to witnesses he appeared to have been knocked unconscious before he was severely beaten, for he made no sound and no effort to help himself after tumbling down the high steps leading from his 11-foot high verandah.

The last man to have talked with Pike was former St. John's resident Gus Murphy.

Murphy, 41, said last night: "Myself and Frank Johnson, who has been arrested, were at Jim Reardon's house watching wresting on TV, when I decided I'd go across the street to Bill Pike's store.

The store was closed, so I went behind it and up the steps of the high gallery. Bill let me in, and we sat down.

We heard footsteps on the gallery, and I got up to go out front in the building, for a pair of old shoes I'd left there a few days before.

Then the window over the verandah--the kitchen window--was broken in, and Bill got angry and tore open the door.

All I know is, when I came back to the kitchen, with my shoes, the door was open. I looked down from the gallery, and there was Bill at the bottom of the steps, on his back, bleeding from the face and throat.

I ran down and held up his head and I said "you poor fellow, I'll get a doctor'.

Poor Bill, he was a harmless fellow, you know. He was going to open a snack bar business in the store part of the building, before Christmas, and I did the tinsmith work for him."

Jim Reardon told The Telegram that after Murphy's appearance, two young men--Kev Power and Jim Laurie--rushed in to say "there's a dead man down there in the alleyway."

When ambulance man Bert Rideout arrived, he and Reardon went behind the building to the victim, and Reardon felt his heart, Rideout his pulse.

They placed a blanket over the body, and while Reardon held a searchlight, Rideout and Harold Kitchener placed the victim in the ambulance.

A light from a nearby house lit up the area, and an Evening Telegram newscarrier and his brother, Dominic and Kevin Slade, were watching from their three storey verandah, two houses away.

The Slades said yesterday they saw Pike being beaten.

Mrs. Dominic Slade told me: "My boys called me, and I saw the man lying there. And I told them to telephone the police. I couldn't sleep that night, thinking about the incident. And I haven't had a chance to sleep since."

Frank Johnson, who was arrested, was unemployed. He is a short, blocky young man who has lived in various homes here during the past few years.

It is understood that his parents left Bell Island some years ago, and are living somewhere on the local mainland.

Pike was born in St. John's; was the son of Arthur Pike, former owner of the Union Aerated Water Company.

The victim, on the island frequently during the past month, was getting things ready for the opening of a snack bar, on Theatre Avenue, The Green. The snack bar adjoined his temporary residence, behind which his body was found.

He worked steadily at the snack bar. It is painted pink and white insite, has a new sink and a cabinet for dishes, a counter, seats, and a stove.

Underneath--the store-and-residence is a bottling plant, installed by his father in 1930-31 after Pierre Coxworthy and Bill Pike ran this branch business.

Bill Pike did the clerical work, and Pierre Coxworthy the bottling and general running of the plant.

In fact, Pierre Coxworthy--who is now Bell Island's town manager and who was born in St. Pierre--and Bill Pike brought one of the first trucks to Bell Island. They did a booming business, bottling and distributing from 150 to 175 dozen soft drinks a day. This was done on a hand-operated bottling machine.

In 1931 Coxworthy and Pike split up, with Mr. Coxworthy forming his own soft drink bottling company. Pike's business folded up in 1932.

He returned to the city where for years he was employed at various jobs, and at one time was with the Newfoundland Railway.

His trips to Bell Island during the years from 1932 to 1956, were frequent but short.

This year he saw an opportunity in running a snack bar business on 'The Green.'.

He was going to settle down here.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Tuesday, 11 December 1956:
Investigate Death Case
BELL ISLAND--(Staff) -- Expert police investigators are continuing their probe here in the William Pike manslaughter case.

Charged with manslaughter is Frank Johnson, 31, of Bell Island, who is being held in jail here.

Yesterday Sgt. Gordon Clarke and Constable George Laidlaw were here to get photographs and fingerprints. The officers checked the scene where William Pike, 47, died Friday night at the rear of his store and residence.

The funeral was held in St. John's yesterday.

No date for a magisterial inquiry into the death has been decided, an RCMP source told The Telegram.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Wednesday, 12 December 1956:
Johnson Faces Manslaughter Charge
Frank Johnson, a 31 year old Bell Island resident, has been remanded eight days on a charge of manslaughter as the result of the weekend death of William Pike formerly of St. John's.

Magistrate Brian White remanded Johnson when he appeared in court on Bell Island yesterday. He will appear again on December 18th.

Johnson still has not secured the services of legal counsel. He was reported to be seeking a lawyer yesterday, but was not represented when he appeared in court.

RCMP officers, meanwhile, are continuing their investigations into the case.

William Pike died Friday night in or near the building in which he planned to open a snack bar. Police say a fight took place before Pike's death.

An autopsy has been performed on the victim's body. He is reported to have suffered a severe beating.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Wednesday, 12 December 1956:
Remand Johnson For Eight Days
BELL ISLAND (Staff) -- Frank Johnson, charged with manslaughter in the death of Bill pike here last Friday night, was remanded for eight days when he appeared in court yesterday.

He has not yet retained the services of a lawyer.

Reports circulating here last night were that Johnson, 31, had been transferred to the penitentiary in St. John's. These reports were not true, however.

It is understood that Johnson was taken to the Dominion Wabana Ore Company surgery Monday to have an infested finger attended to.

Pike lost his life Friday night when he went to his back door to investigate a broken window and footsteps in the high gallery.

The 47 year old St. John's man was badly beaten.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Friday, 14 December 1956:
Bail is $10,000, Johnson Released
BELL ISLAND -- (Staff) -- The man charged with manslaughter in the death of Bill Pike, 47, has been released on bail of $10,000.

Frank Johnson, 31, requested bail from Magistrate Brian White before whom he appeared yesterday, and with $5,000 he himself put up, and $5,000 from his father and a brother, the prisoner was released.

He will appear in court here again Dec. 18, where for the second time in a court the manslaughter charge will be read out to him. He is expected to have legal representation for this appearance.

Johnson spoke of "getting a lawyer" when he appeared before Magistrate White, requesting bail.

Meanwhile he is believed to be still on Bell Island, though he is free to move off the island.

The native Bell Islander used to live in Jack Brazil's home here. His parents are residing in a Conception Bay town.

Bill Pike, a city resident who was to set up a snack bar business here before Christmas, died a week ago tonight, behind a Theatre Avenue premises his father, Art Pike, built in 1930.

St. John's detachment of the RCMP this morning received the official autopsy report on the body of William Pike. Pathological findings established the victim's death was caused by asphyxia.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Tuesday, 18 December 1956:
Johnson Appears in Court Today
Frank Johnson, 31, of Bell Island appears in Court on the Island again today to face charges of manslaughter. Its expected, however, that he'll get a further eight day remand.

The Manslaughter charge was laid against Johnson following the death a week ago last Friday of William Pike, 47, near the Snack-Bar which he had planned to open on the Green.

Pike, badly beaten in a fight, died of asphyxiation.

Johnson has been released on $10,000 bail.


On page 13 of the Evening Telegram, Tuesday, 18 December 1956:
Johnson To Appear Again
BELL ISLAND (Staff)--Scheduled to appear in Magistrate's Court today was Frank Johnson, 31, charged with manslaughter in the death of Bill Pike, 47, of St. John's.

Last week Johnson, short and described as being "very strong" was remanded for eight days, on bail of $10,000, $5,000 of which was put up by his father and brother.

The late Mr. Pike wsa found behind his business premises, more than a week ago. He had been badly beaten.

Pike, who was buried in St. John's, was to open a snack bar on Theatre Avenue, The Green, before Christmas.


On page 4 of the Daily News, Wednesday, 19 December 1956:
Johnson Again Remanded
A 31 year old Bell Island resident has received his second remand on a manslaughter charge. Frank Johnson appeared before Magistrate Brian White on Bell Island again yesterday. He was remanded for another eight day period.

Johnson, released on $10,000 bail, has been charged in connection with the death of William Pike 47 year old St. John's resident who had planned to open a business on the Island.

Pike's body was found behind his Bell Island store.

Johnson was not represented by a lawyer when he appeared in Court yesterday. It is reported that he has not yet secured the services of legal counsel.


On page 32 of the Evening Telegram, Wednesday, 19 December 1956:
Johnson May Get Higgins
BELL ISLAND (Staff) -- The man charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Bill Pike, 47, intimated in court here yesterday that he is trying to acquire the services of lawyer James D. Higgins.

Frank Johnson, 31, was not asked to plead when he was haled before Magistrate Brian White. He intimated he was attempting to get in touch with Mr. Higgins of St. John's.

Johnson was remanded until Monday. He is out on bail of $10,000.

Bill Pike died behind his Theatre Ave., The Green, store almost two weeks ago.

He had been severely beaten.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Saturday, 29 December 1956:
Johnson Is Jailed; Murder Charge Laid
Frank Johnson of Bell Island has been returned to custody following the start of a preliminary enquiry into the death of middle-aged William Pike, formerly of St. John's. Johnson was returned to custody as the result of the laying of a new charge against him. It was a charge of murder.

The 34-year-old workman, originally charged with manslaughter on the Saturday morning four weeks ago after the discovery of Pike's body, had been released on $10,000 bail. Bail was yesterday revoked, however, as the result of the laying of the charge of murder against him.

The Canadian Criminal Code says that if he should be committed for trial on the murder charge he cannot again apply for bail until after he has been committed.

A legal source told the Daily News bail is permited in cases of murder. However, cases where bail has been granted on a charge of such a serious nature are infrequent.

SECURES LAWYER

Johnson was yesterday represented for the first time by legal counsel. Well known Criminal Lawyer James D. Higgins appeared for him at the start of the prelimininary enquiry before Magistrate B. White on Bell Island yesterday. Mr. Higgins has acted as Defense Counsel in numerous other cases of a similar nature in the past. Harry Carter of the Justice Department appeared for the Prosecution at the preliminary enquiry.

CONTINUES TO-DAY

The enquiry is expected to continue to-day. An official source told the News, as well, last night that the enquiry appears to be lengthy enough to continue into next week.

None of the evidence taken at an enquiry of this nature is ever made public. The decision of the Magistrate whether or not to commit the accused for hearing by the Grand Jury is the only information which is made public.

A FIGHT

RCMP Inspector Eric Porter told the News the police have evidence that a fight took place before Pike's death. His body was found lying on the snow-covered ground behind the building in which he had planned to open a Snack Bar on The Green, Bell Island.

Cause of Pike's death has been officially announced as asphyzia. Details of the autopsy performed on his body, however, have not been revealed.

LAST CASE

The last case of murder in Newfoundland which was brought to trial involved a resident of Chamberlains who killed another man in a fight. He had the charge reduced to manslaughter and is currently serving a ten-year sentence at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's.

GRAND JURY

Should Magistrate White ocmmit Johnson to the Grand Jury his case would probably be heard at its next sitting which is scheduled for mid-January. Should the Grand Jury commit him for trial the case would probably be heard in February.


On page 1 of the Evening Telegram, Saturday, 29 December 1956:
MURDER CHARGE IS LAID AGAINST BELL ISLANDER
BELL ISLAND (Staff)--Frank Johnson, 31, showed no sign of emotion yesterday when he ws formally charged with murder.

Magistrate Brian White told the short, stocky resident of The Green, that the charge had been amended from the manslaughter charge preferred against him some weeks ago. Johnson had been arrested in connection with the death of Bill Pike 47, who had been brutally beaten Dec. 7.

The man was let out on bail of $10,000--$5,000 put up by his father and brother, the remainder put up by himself--but now must remain in jail as long as the murder charge is held.

A preliminary enquiry into the case was begun yesterday in local court, and nine 'witnesses' were heard. It is likely that the enquiry will conclude today.

Figuring prominently in the case is an Evening Telegram newscarrier, Domonic Slade, and his brother. They reported having seen Pike being beaten about 10 p.m., on the date in question, and a man running away from the death-scene.

Pike, a quiet unassuming man with a pencil-thin mustache and scant, greying hair, had gone angrily to his back door when someone knocked in the kitchen window and after he had heard footsteps on the high gallery platform. He had stepped out into the crisp winter night when he was sent tumbling down the steps.

A figure, said to have been "cursing violently," was alleged by the Domonics to have "roughed up" Pike who apparently was unconscious for he made no effort to help himself and made no outcry.

When Gus Murphy came to the back door, from another part of the Pike building built by the dead man's father in the early '30's, he saw Pike sprawled in the snow, bleeding.

"Oh you poor fellow," Mr. Murphy said, bolding up the head which had been severely beaten, and which had a torn throat. Murphy ran to nearby Jim Reardon's for help, and Reardon telephoned the RCMP and ambulance man Bert Rideout.

Not long after this, Johnson was arrested.

Earlier that night, up until minutes before the slaying, he had been with Gus Murphy at Reardon's, watching television. When a wrestling show had come on, Gus Murphy had left and was seated with Pike in his kitchen. When the window broke out of Pike's house, Murphy retired to a back room of the premises to fetch a pair of old shoes.

He had left them there earlier, when he had been working on tinsmithing in the adjoining store front, where Pike had intended opening a restaurant or hot dog stand before Dec. 24.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Monday, 31 December 1956:
More Witnesses in Johnson Case
Three more witnesses are to be called in the Preliminary Enquiry into a charge of murder laid against Frank Johnson of Bell Island.

Johnson, 31, was charged with murder last week before the opening of the enquiry. He had been originally charged with Manslaughter on the morning following the discovery of the body of 47 year old William Pike, near the building in which he had planned to open a Snack Bar on the Green, Bell Island.

Two doctors and "one Bell Island witness" will take the stand before the close of the enquiry, a reliable source informed the Daily News.

A decision has been reached to hear the last three witnesses in St. John's. Magistrate B. White, who is conducting the enquiry, will hear its final stage in St. John's next Saturday.

Johnson has been returned to custody folowing the revocation of boil. Bail of $10,000 has been permitted after the mansluaghter charge was lalid against him. It was revoked, however, after the laying of the murder charge.

Well known Criminal lawyer James D. Higgins is appearing for Johnson and the Director of Public Prosecutors Harry Carter, Q.C., is conducting the case for the Crown.

The Magisterial Enquiry will determine whether the case should be sent to the Grand Jury.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Monday, 31 December 1956:
Bring Johnson To "Pen" Here
Frank Johnson, 31-year-old resident of Bell Island who was formally charged with murder Friday, is being transferred today from Bell Island to H. M. Penitentiary.

The preliminary enquiry into the murder trial which began in local court Dec. 28, will be continued Jan. 3 when testimony of doctors who held post mortem will be given.

The charge against Johnson had been amended from the manslaughter charge preferred against him some weeks ago. He had been arrested in connection with the death of Bill Pike 47( who had been beaten Dec. 7.

The man was let out on bail of $10,000, 5,000 put up by his father and brother, and the remainder put up by himself--but now must remain in jail as long as the murder charge is held.

If committed on the murer charge, the matter will likely go before the Grand Jury in January.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Wednesday, 2 January 1957:
Murder Charge Hearing To Conclude in Capital
BELL ISLAND (Staff)--Frank Johnson, 31, will appear in a St. John's court Saturday morning where the preliminary hearing in-space murder charge against him will conclude. Johnson, arrested following the Dec. 7 death of Bill Pike, 47, is in Her Majesty's penitentiary, St. John's.

He was transferred from a Bell Island jail last Monday. Prior to last week Johnson was under a manslaughter charge and was out on bail of $10,000--$5,000 put up him and the balance by his father and brother.

Magistrate Brian White of the Iron Isle heard "16 or 17" witnesses during the preliminary hearing held on the Iron Isle. Two witnesses were the sons of Dominic Slade of The Green.

It was decided to conclude the hearing in the city, following the coincidence that the remaining witnesses reside in the city and that Johnson himself was to be committed to the pen there.

Witnesses to be heard include an RCMP officer who took fingerprints and snapshots, and one or two pathologists, it is understood.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Saturday, 5 January 1957:
Murder Hearing Ends In St. John's Today
BELL ISLAND (Staff)--Today Frank Johnson, 31, appears in Magistrates Court where will conclude a preliminary enquiry into a charge of murder preferred against him.

The short stocky native Bell Islander who 10 years ago was reputed to be one of the Iron Isle's stongest men, was arrested following the Dec. 7 death of Bill Pike, 47, of St. John's.

The charge as laid against Johnson by Magistrate Brian White of Bell Island and RCMP Corporal Fred McMullen of Bell Island, reads: Fred McCullen, complainant, vs. Frank Johnson, defendant. "You stand charged for that you Frank Johnson at Bell Island, in the Electoral District of Bell Island, Nfld., on the 7th day of December, 1956, A.D., did murder William Pike, contrary to Section 206 of the Criminal Code."

Johnson to date has not been asked to plea.

Meanwhile a restaurant which Bill Pike was to open before Dec. 24, in the front sector of a building constructed by his father in the early `30's, has been barred and boarded up.

Pike had practically finished an interior paint job on the neat, roomy snackbar when he met death behind the building about 10 o'clock on the night of Dec. 7.

Sixteen or 17 witnesses gave testimony on Bell Island, in a preliminary enquiry before Magistrate Brian White. Pathologists and probably others connected with the case after the body was shipped to St. John's, will be heard in a city court today.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Monday, 7 January 1957:
Johnson To Apear Before Grand Jury
Following a preliminary enquiry conducted by Magistrate Brian White into the charge of murder preferred against Frank Johnson of Bell Island, the accused man has been ordered to go before the Grand Jury. He is expected to appear before the Grand Jury some time this month.

Johnson, 31-year-old resident of Bell Island, has been charged with the murder of William Pike, a former resident of St. John's.

The preliminary enquiry was begun in Bell Island and was later continued in the Capital where medical witnesses were heard.

Johnson was ordered Saturday morning in the Magistrate's Court in St. John's and was removed to the Penitentiary to await his appearance before the Grand Jury. He had been freed on bail shortly after his arrest but bail was cancelled when the charg was raised from manslaughter to murder.

Johnson is represented by James D. Higgins, Q.C., and Harry P. Carter, Q.C., appeared for the Crown.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Monday, 7 January 1957:
Order Johnson To Grand Jury
Frank Johnson, 31, of Bell island, has been ordered to go before the Grand Jury following a preliminary enquiry into a charge of murder preferred againsted him. The preliminary enquiry was conducted by Magistrate Brian White. It began on Bell Island and concluded last week in St. John's where medical witnesses gave evidence.

Johnson has been charged with the murder of William Pike, a former resident of St. John's. The Grand Jury will begin sittings tomorrow.

Johnson is now at the penitentary awaiting his appearance before the Grand Jury. His bail was cancelled when the charge of manslaughter was changed to murder. He is represented by James D. Higgins, Q.C. The Crown prosecutor is Harry P. Carter, Q.C.


On page 5 of the Evening Telegram, Wednesday, 9 January 1957:
ALLOWED VISITORS ... RELATIVES OR COUNSEL
BELL ISLAND (Staff) -- The man charged with murder and has been committed to trial in the Supreme Court, is permitted visitors at the Penitentiary-- "but", according to prison superintendent Bill Case, "they must be relatives or legal counsel only."

Frank Johnson, 31, is permitted to receive mail--but it will be censored. He is not permitted to write and post a letter.

"Any reply to a letter, which Johnson wants to make, must come through his immediate relatives," Mr. Case said.

Johnson is charged with the Dec. 7 slaying of William Pike, 47, of St. John's.


On page 1 of the Daily News, Friday, 18 January 1957:
Grand Jury Considers The Johnson Case
The Grand Jury met in the Supreme Court before the Chief Justice, Sir Albert Walsh yesterday morning at 10.30 to consider evidence in the indictment of Frank Johnson of Bell Island who is charged with murder in the death of William Pike on December 7th, 1956.

Because of the storm yesterday morning some of the witnesses were unable to attend the session and His Lordship, the Chief Justice, asked the jurors if they wished to wait or to go on with the hearing. They chose to carry on and His Lordship addressed the jury, who retired at 11.15 a.m. to hear the witnesses.

The hearings were adjourned at 1 p.m. and will resume this morning at 10.30.

Mr. H. Carter, Q.C. director of Public Prosecutions, and Mr. Vincent McCarthy represent the Justice Department, and Mr. James D. Higgins, Q.C. is consel for the defendant.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Friday, 18 January 1957:
Murder Hearing Being Continued
The Grand Jury resumed sittings this morning to hear evidence in the charge of murder preferred against Frank Johnson of Bell Island, arising out of the death of William Pike Dec. 7, 1956.

The jury was addressed by Chief Justice Sir Albert Walsh, Thursday morning and retired at 11:15 to hear the evidence of 17 or 18 prosecution witnesses. The hearings were adjourned yesterday at 1 p.m.

Prosecuting for the crown are H. P. Carter, Q.C., director of Public Prosecutions, and Vincent McCarthy. Defense counsel is James D. Higgins, Q.C.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Saturday, 19 January 1957:
Jury Returns True Bill In Johnson Case
The Grand Jury returned a true bill yesterday afternoon in the case of Frank Johnson charged with murder in the death of William Pike on December 7th at Bell Island.

The accused was arraigned in the Supreme Court before His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Albert Walsh, and the trial date was set for 10 a.m. January 28th. A double panel of jurors will be called for the trial.

Mr. H. Carter, Q.C. and Mr. Vincent McCarthy of the Justice Department represent the Crown and Mr. James D. Higgins, Q.C. is cousel for the accused.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Saturday, 19 January 1957:
JOHNSON MURDER TRIAL HERE JAN. 28
Frank Johnson of Bell Island will stand trial in Supreme Court Jan. 28 on a charge of murder. The stocky 31-year-old man is charged with murdering William Pike on Bell Island Dec. 7, 1956.

The trial date was set by Chief Justice Sir Albert Walsh yesterday aftenroon after the grand Jury had finished hearing the evidence of about 25 witnesses and had brought in a true bill.

Johnson was then arraigned and the charge was read to him by the court clerk. He pleaded not guilty. H. P. Carter, director of Public Prosecutions then asked that a jury and an extra panel be summoned. From these 96 men, a 12-man jury will be picked to hear the trial. James D. Higgins is appearing for the accused.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Monday, 28 January 1957:
Murder Trial
The first murder trial to be heard in the Newfoundland Supreme Court for several years will open this morning before His Lordship, the Chief Justice, Sir Albert Walsh when Frank Johnson of Bell Island will be charged with the murder of William Pike at Bell Island on December 7th.

When Johnson was first arrested by the R.C.M.P. he was charged with manslaughter, but after the preliminary hearing he was charged with murder.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Monday, 28 January 1957:
Murder Trial Opens Today
Newfoundland's first murder trial in five years opened this morning when Frank Johnson, 31, of Bell Island went before a Supreme Court jury charged with killing William Pike, 47.

Picke's body was found last Dec. 7 beside a building he intended to open as a restaurant on Bell Island at nearby Conception Bay.


On page 1 of the Daily News, Tuesday, 29 January 1957:
Murder Trial Of Bell Island Resident Opened Yesterday
The trial of Frank Johnson of Bell Island, charged with the murder of William Pike at Bell Island on the evening of December 7th, opened in the Supreme Court before His Lordship the Chief Justice, Sir Albert Walsh yesterday morning.

Two full panels of jurors were called and when the court opened [all?] were present. Fifteen of the jurors were not served with notice and one was excused. Six were challenged by the defence and [two?] were told to stand aside by the Crown before the twelve jury men were picked. They are: Fran[cis?] Oliver, Alfred Maher, Austin [le?] Croix, Maxwell Webber, James [O?]Connell, Peter J. Breen, John [---n ?], Hubert Gulliver, John Wil[---] Chesley Barnes, Francis Mor[---] Michael Tobin. These men will remain together during the trial, and arrangements have been made for the their lodgings until the trial is over. The Chief Justice told the jury that in the even of a murder [trial?] these regulations were necessary.

Mr. Vincent McCarthy, for the Crown outlined the facts of the case to the jury, and the Criminal [Code?] governing homicide.

Culpable homicide is murder, the code says ,if a man causes the death of another or does bodily harm which causes death regardless of the consequences.

William Pike lived in a house [at?] The Green, Bell Island, and [he?] and Mrs. Harold Hann lived [in?] another part of the house separated from Mr. Pike's home. Entrance to Pike's home at the back [was?] by way of steps to a platform. There were two windows at the back of the house, both in the kitchen of Pike's home.

Frank Johnson also lived on Bell island and left home at 1 p.m. on the day of December 7th and drank with three other companions taking two bottles of tonic wine, another bottle with two companions and part of a third bottle with [them?].

FIGHT
The men were at the home of James Reardon and at 9.30 Johnson went to the back entrance of Mr. Pike's home and knocked, and when Pike came out they got into a fight.

Three lads who watched the fight between Johnson and Pike [saw?] Johnson lying on the ground after Pike left and told a man, who suggested they call the police. [the surnames in this paragraph are clearly backwards - DAP]

The ambulance driver was called and when he arrived on the scene he could not get Pike's pulse or heart beat.

Johnson returned to the home of James Reardon shortly before [?] p.m. and his right hand was covered with blood. He told them [--ere] that he "did nothing only [--fled] Bill Pike."

These facts of the case were outlined by McCarthy and the first witness, Sgt. George Laidlaw cheif identification officer with the R.C.M.P., St. John's, identified pictures he took on Bell Island on the early morning of December 8th, at the scene.

James Laurie of Bell Island said in his evidence that he was told about the fight and found Pike's body down the lane near his home and went to Mr. Reardon's home and called the undertaker, who also takes care of the ambulance. He did not know at the time, he said, that Pike was dead. He was not talking to the accused that evening excepting when he went to the kitchen of Reardon's home and Johnson said to him, "Jim, boy, I had to do it, he hit me."

Mr. Bert Rideout, the undertaker, said that he was called by telephone and was asked to take his ambulance to the scene where a man was lying on the ground. He saw Pike lying face up on the ground, examined him and could get no pulse or hear beat. He noticed quite a lot of blood around his face and called the police, and rang the surgery for a doctor. He conveyed the body to the RCMP office, and the next day to the General Hospital, St. John's.

INJURIES
Dr. John Young, the next witness, said that he went to the police station to examine the body of a man who had been brought there, whom he later identified as William Pike. Injuries consisted of lacerations to the corner of the left eye; lacerations to the right side of the nose; a one inch laceration at the left side of the mouth; oozing from both eyes and hemorrhages in both eyes; brusing on both cheeks, and around the upper lip; small bones in nose broken in fragments; fracture to the left and right cheek bones with the left one fragmented; fracture to the upper jaw inside the mouth and the upper front jaw pushed back; the right lower jaw fractured, and multiple fractures to the left lower jaw. There were no marks or bruises on the neck or body, and Doctor Young said he found no evidence of injury to these. There were recent superficial abrasions on the man's right hand.

The man had been dead about an hour and a half when he examined him at shortly after 11 p.m. The injuries were consistent with blows by a fist, if the head had been resting on a firm surface.

DROWNED IN OWN BLOOD
Cross examining the witness Mr. Higgins asked Dr. Young if one would normally expect death from these injuries to the face. The doctor said in reply that one would not expect the injuries Pike had to cause immediate death, not in themselves, but he thought there could be complications from hemorrhages from these injuries, which were severe. He added that no treatment on the spot could have been possible to prevent death, and only in a hospital or surgey could something probably have been done.

Mr. H. Carter, Q.C., asked, "The man drowned in his own blood?" Dr. Young replied, "Yes."

Constable D. Henry of the R.C.M.P. gave evidence of going to the residence of William Pike and seeing the body of Pike.

Mrs. Genevieve Hann, who heard Johnson come to the home of Pike on the evening of December 7th, told how she heard the accused come to the back door and knock loudly and asked to come in. She recognized Johnson's voice, she said. Pike told him to "go away, I'm going to bed." Mrs. Hann said Pike was cursing and swearing, then she heard a glass break and heard Johnson say, "You cut me." She heard nothing further, she said, as she had gone to the bedroom when she heard Johnson knock and could hear well through the thin partition, but had to return to the kitchen because her child was crying and she could not hear out there.

Mrs. Hann said she had been in the house for five years and during that time Pike had been there most of the time in his home, and he had many visitors, most of whom came at night. They drank often, she said.

The only thing else she heard was a report from some children who said that "Bill Pike is down in the land and is 'all bet up'."

Kevin Slade, a 10 year old boy in Grade 4, took the stand but was not sworn. He told how he was going home on Friday night and going up over the back steps to his home he saw two men near Pike's home, one at the top of the steps and one at the bottom. The man at the top went to the bottom and took the man waiting there (Pike) and threw him on the ground and struck him with his fists in the mouth. The boy, Kevin Slade, then went into his home and called his brother, Dominie, and cousin, David, and they went out to match. The man on top (Johnson) was. still hitting the man on the ground, then the man on top started to curse, the boy said, and gave Pike a few more cracks in the mouth and face, then went up through a lane at the side of the house. They told a man what they saw and tried to call the police when the police car went by, then a man in a van arrived and they showed him where the man was lying. When they heard the man was dead, they went and told their mother, Kevin said.

The court was adjourned at the end of this evidence, at 5.15 p.m., and will meet again this morning at 10 o'clock.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Tuesday, 29 January 1957:
Crown Witnesses Describe Scene
JOHNSON CASE IN SECOND DAY
Frank Johnson looked unconcerned as he sat in the prisoner's box in Supreme Court Monday morning while a special 12-man jury was being picked to hear the first muder trial in St. John's in five years.

The short, stout 31-year-old Bell Islander is on trial for the murder of William Pike, 47, another Bell Island resident, who died Dec. 7, 1956. Johnson, bald at the temples, was wearing a brown suit when he appeared in court yesterday.

He is being represented by James D. Higgins, Q.C. H. P. Carter, Q.C., assisted by Vincent McCarthy, is prosecuting for the crown. The trial is being presided over by Chief Justice Sir Albert Walsh.

The jurors are: Francis Oliver, John Wilson, John Flynn, Alfred Maher, Austin St. Croix, Maxwell Webber, James O'Connell, Michael Tobin, Chesley Barnes, Peter J. Breen, Hubert Gulliver and Francis Moores.

Mr. McCarthy said the crown proposes to call 23 witnesses.

The first of seven withnesses to be called yesterday was RCMP Constable George Laidlaw who idenified a dozen photographs which he took following the killing. These included the kitchen of the Pike premises, showing a table, some tumblers, three empty rum bottles and a part bottle of tonic wine.

Cross examined by Mr. Higgins, the witness said that the steps were steep and a person falling over them would be violently shaken up.

Bell Island resident James Laurie testified that he was on his way to a card tournament when he was told by a young fellow that a man had been beaten up behind Pike's place. He went there and saw a man face up on the ground with his face covered with what appeared to be blood. He said he became scared and went and got a boy to go for the RCMP.

Going back again, he lit a match and saw that the man appeared to be be beaten up, but did not know if he was dead or alive. He went to the home of Jim Reardon. Johnson was there and his shirt had spots on it near the collar which the witness took to be blood. Johnson said to him: "Jim boy, I had to do it; he hit me."

Bert Rideout, Bell Island ambulance driver and undertaken, said he received a telephone call at 10 o'clock that night from James Reardon who told him there was a man on the ground and that he was bleeding. Arriving at the rear of the house owned by Pike, he found Pike sprawled on his back on the ground. He could find no heart beat and no pulse beat, so he "figured the man was dead." He later took the body in the ambulance to the RCMP detachment and next day brought it to the General Hospital morgue.

In reply to questioning from Higgins, the witness said he did not think it would be possible to see a person 40 feet away without a light. It was quite dark that night, he said.

Dr. Young, who has been practicing on Bell Island for three years gave a description of the injuries to Pike's body as disclosed by his examination. There were lacerations over the left eye, the right side of the nose and the left side of the mouth. Both eyes were bruised as well as his cheeks and upper lip. The small bones in the nose were "fragmented"; his left lower jaw was fractured and dislocated and his face was covered in blood.

Cross examined, he said he found no marks to indicate injury to the throat, abdomen or chest. He also said that the injuries were not in themselves fatal, but that ensuing complications could be. The injuries could have been caused by a fist if the head had been resting against a firm surface such as the ground, he stated.

RCMP Constable Dale Henry testified that at 11.30 p.m. when he arrived on the scene the spot where Pike's body had been lying was illuminated by lights from a nearby house, but could not say if those lights were on when the fight took place.

Mrs. Harold Hann, a housewife of The Green, Bell Island, described some of the events before the fight. She said that she lived in a section of the house owned by Pike and was in the kitchen that night when she heard a "loud knocking" on Pike's door. She went into the bedroom to listen and heard a voice, which she identified as Pike's, asked who was there. She heard a voice, identified as that of Johnson, reply: "Johnson, let me in," and Pike then said: "Go away, I'm going to bed." She then heard a glass break and heard Pike rushing to the door and the storm door swung open.

Johnson shouted: "You cut me, come down," and Pike replied: "No, you come up." She then went back to the kitchen and heard nothing more.

Last witness to take the stand yesterday was 10-year-old Kevin Slade, a Bell Island schoolboy. His evidence was taken unsworn. He saw a fight between two men as he was coming home that night. One man was standing at the bottom of Pike's steps shouting to a man at the top of the steps to come down, the other threw him to the ground and began hitting him in the mouth.

Slade then went into his house, situated in that vicinity, and told his brother Dominic and his cousin David to come out. When they came out one of the men was still hitting the man beneath him. The man who was inflicting the blows was crouched over the other but was not on his knees. Slade said he heard him cursing before he left the victim and walked "down the lane and out of sight." He did not see the man beneath hit at the other.

The court adjourned before Higgins began his cross examination. It resumed again at 10 this morning.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Wednesday, 30 January 1957:
Murder Trial Continues With Many Witnesses Being Heard
The trial of Frank Johnson of Bell Island, charged with the murder of William Pike on the evening of December 7th at Bell Island, resumed before His Lordship the Chief Justice, Sir Albert Walsh, yesterday morning at 10 o'clock.

Mr. James D. Higgins, Q.C., counsel for the defense, questioned 10-year-old Kevin Slade, who gave evidence on Monday afternoon.

The little boy, whose head came just above the top of the witness stand, calmly examined pictures of the scene and answered questions about what he had seen. When he was in doubt he answered "I can't remember" or "I'm not sure".

He retold how he saw the man at the foot of the steps, later identified as Johnson, throw the man on the top of the steps, (the victim, Pike) on the ground and bend over him and strike him in the face with his fists. The two men were strangers to him, he said.

TELLS OF FIGHT
Dominic Slade, age 12 years, in Grade 6, was sworn in as a witness and told how he watched the fight from the steps of his parents home with his brother Kevin and his cousin David. The man on the gorund was on his back and was not moving, he said. He saw two or three blows after he went out and heard cursing from the man who was striking the blows.

He told how a man came over the Mine's Hill about five minutes after the accused had left and had looked at the victim, and gone on his way. He did not know the man, he said. Then he saw James Laurie from the window of his home and showed him where the man was.

Questioned by Mr. Higgins, the boy said that the man on the top was "coopid down on one knee and was striking the man on the ground".

David Slade, the ninth witness for the Crown, told how he watched the end of the fight with the other two boys.

ANALYSIS OF BOTTLES
Mr. John F. Newman, analyst at the Government Laboratory, gave the alcoholic content of the tonic wine. One bottle was 16.4% and the other was 16.5%, the difference of .1% was due to exposure, he said. The alcoholic content of "Screech" is about 40.8% so that approximately 2½ bottles of tonic wine equals one bottle of screech. Some medications are added to the tonic wine, Mr. Newman said, but too much wine might give an overdose of medication too.

Mrs. Martha Reardon, who arrived at her son's home (James Reardon) at 4.30 on Friday afternoon, December 7, for the weekend, said that she saw no glasses or bottles when she arrived at the house, and Johnson stayed there until 9.30 watching television.

Asked again if she saw any bottles or glasses, she replied "Never seen any, never seen a stopper."

Johnson left at 9.30 p.m. and returned at 9.45 and when he came in at the back door he had blood on his hands. Mrs. Reardon said in her evidence: "I says, Frank, what did you do? And what glass did you break out? And he said, "Mrs. Reardon, I done nothing but killed Bill Pike."

She told him to wash his hands, to see how much they were cut, and said when she looked at his hands, "Frank, your hand is not cut," and he replied, "I'm telling ya, I done nothing only kill Bill Pike." Johnson told her, she said that "Bill Pike hit the glass out in his face," and she noticed a scratch on Johnson's right cheek.

Mr. Owen Fitzpatrick, the 12th witness for the Crown, told how the accused went to his home on the night in question and arrived there about 10.10 p.m. Mr. Fitzpatrick said he was busy and was working behind the stove in the kitchen and in the basement. When the accused told him he was in trouble and had his hand hurt, he asked him, "What trouble," and when the accused said he couldn't tell him, he said he told him that if he was in any trouble and had any idea of the police coming around, he hoped he would leave the premises. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, their daughter and Doug Johnson, brother of the accused, were in the home at the time.

The accused looked like a man half drunk, Mr. Fitzpatrick said.

Mrs. Margaret Fitzpatrick said in her evidence that Johnson went to her home shortly after 10 p.m. and told her, "I just had like to be killed, Mag. Bill Pike broke the window in my face, kicked me in the chest and knocked me over a high gallery." After a while Johnson told her, she said, that he was going to go over and give himself up at the police station to see if he could find out how much Bill Pike was hurt. "I know I got him hurt badly," Johnson told her. His right little finger was cut and his right hand was swollen, she reported. He looked like he'd had a few drinks, and told her "two of us got into a fight."

WOULD NOT LOOK AT PIKE
Bernard Hynes, the next witness, said that he went to the home of James Reardon shortly after 1.30 p.m. on December 7. He saw no evidence of drink when he arrived but from that time to when he left at 4.30 p.m. he helped to drink two bottles of tonic wine with three other men. He was at home when the telephone rang at 9.40 p.m. and he was told he was wanted at Reardon's, so he went there. He noticed blood on Johnson's face, and was told by the accused that he had a fight with Bill Pike, who was down in the back on the ground. He asked Hynes to go down and help, but the witness said he did not go because he did not wish to get mixed up with a fight. On the way out, Johnson followed him and they met Jack Brazil. Johnson told him the story of the fight and then Hynes and Brazil left Johnson standing alone.

James Reardon, the fifteenth Crown witness, told in his evidence how he left home at 10.15 a.m., returned for a short while at 3.15 p.m. and left again after washing his hands in the kitchen, and went to pay some bills. He returned home again, he said, between 6 and 7 p.m. He left again at 7.30, he did not see Murphy or Johnson, and he saw no kind of liquor at the house. He returned home at 9.45 to be there to watch wresting on television at 10 p.m.

Frank Johnson went in just afterwards, he said, and had blood on both hands and blood on his face, and while Reardon washed it off for Johnson, asked, "Frank, what happened?" "I done it in self defence," was the reply, and before he could ask anything else two young fellows rushed in the house and asked to telephone for the police. He got no answer from the Mounties, he said, so he rang Bert Rideout.

When he left to go down with Rideout Johnson was in the house and when he returned Johnson was gone. He saw Pike, he said, and didn't stay long. "Bert told me the man's dead, so we hove a sheet over him."

Johnson didn't ask him to help, and Gus Murphy asked him to give a hand to pick up Bill Pike, but he said he would not have helped.

When Mr. Higgins was cross examining, the witness stressed several times that he was not going to say what he didn't see. When Mr. Higgins asked him, "Did you ask him what he had done?" he replied, "I never asked him no questions, it never struck in me mind that he'd do such a thing or anybody would do such a thing."

John Brazil, the next witness, told in his evidence of going to James Reardon's home at 1.30 p.m. and stayed until 3.10 p.m. Frank Johnson, Gus Murphy and the witness were together. A couple of times during that time they went to the home of William Pike and could not get in, he said, and Murphy went out a couple of times to go to work. They had nothing to drink up to 3.30 p.m. Around 4 o'clock they got a bottle of tonic wine, and the four men, Jim Reardon, Hynes, Johnson and Brazil, drank it. He told of having five bottles of tonic wine at the Reardon home from 3.30 to 6 p.m., and how Murphy went out to do some work and returned with a half bottle of the same kind of wine.

They sat and talked until 8 p.m. when Gus Murphy left and said he was going down to Pike's, and only Brazil, Johnson and Mrs. Reardon, Sr., were left. When he left, Johnson was sitting at the table with his head resting on his arm. He did not know if the accused was asleep.

He want up the street and returned half an hour later, and after 9.30 p.m. he met Hynes and Johnson and Johnson told him that "he and Bill Pike had a fight."

Both Brazil and Hynes refused to go down to see Pike, so the witness said he went into Reardon's and nobody was there but Mrs. Martha Reardon and Mrs. James Reardon. Jim Reardon and Frank Johnson went into the house just behind him, and they got into an argument. Jim said he didn't want any rows in his home and Frank said, "I had to defend myself."

It cooled down after a while and Reardon took Johnson over to the sink to wash his hands. Johnson had a few drinks, but was not staggering.

Gus Murphy went into the house just before the witness left and said, "poor b----- who's after doing him up." He left then, he said, and went home and didn't go near Pike because he didn't like trouble.

The Court will meet again this morning to continue hearing the witnesses for the Prosecution.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Wednesday, 30 January 1957:
Testifies Murder Defendant Said: "I Killed Bill Pike"
"Frank Johnson's right hand was covered with blood when he came into Jim's house about 9.45 that night," a 52-year-old Bell Island widow said in Supreme Court yesterday.

Mrs. Martha Reardon was testifying during the second day of the trial of Johnson on a charge of murder arising out of the death of William Pike Dec. 7 of last year.

She said she had been at her son's home all the afternoon and evening. Johnson was there, too, until about 9.30 when he left the house and was gone 15 minutes. When she saw the blood on Johnson's hand she said: "Frank, what did you do; what glass did you break?"

She said Johnson told her: "I done nothing, only kill Bill Pike." After the accused had washed his hand she observed that his hand was not cut. "No, I'm telling you," Johnson insisted, "I done nothing only kill Bill Pike."

He then phoned Bernard Hynes and asked him to come over. He told Hynes that "Bill Pike is down there bleeding to death" and asked him to go down with him and bring him up. Hynes refused and then left. Before leaving, Johnson told Mrs. Reardon that Pike had "hit a glass out in his face." She said she saw no evidence of liquor at her son's house that afternoon or evening. Besides Johnson, two other men, Jack Brazil and Gus Murphy were at the house during the evening.

Her 35-year-old son, James, said he was standing in the kitchen of his house at 9.45 when Gus Murphy came in and asked him to come down to the back and help him pick up Pike. He said he wouldn't pick up anybody that had been hit "by a car or anyone else." That was a job for qualified first aid men.

Shortly after this, Johnson came in. Noticing the blood on his face and hand, Reardon asked him what happened. Johnson said, "I did it in self defense, he broke a window in my face." Two people, whom he took to be boys then rushed in and said to phone for the police. Without looking to see who said it, he phoned the police station, received no answer and then phoned Bert Rideout, the ambulance driver. He went to the scene with Rideout and when he came back Johnson had gone.

Both defence counsel Higgins and Sir Albert Walsh on two occasions became annoyed with the maner in which Reardon was testifying. The Chief Justice had to remind him that it was his obligation to tell all he saw and knew about the matter.

Mrs. Owen Fitzpatrick, 34, of Bell Island testified that Johnson came into her house and said, "I just had a like to be killed, Mag. Bill Pike broke out a window in my face and kicked me in the chest with his feet and knocked me over a gallery." Later on he added that he was going over to the police station "to give myself up and see can I find out how much Bill Pike is hurt. I know I got him hurt badly.

She noticed his right hand was swollen, there were scatches on his cheek and he appeared to have "a few drinks in."

Her husband said that Johnson came to his home at 10.10 in the night and told him he was in trouble, but couldn't say any more. Witness said he told him to leave if he was in any kind of trouble with the police. He did not hear Johnson mention the fight to his brother, Doug, who lives with Fitzpatrick. When reminded by Higgins that he had stated at the preliminary enquiry that he had heard Johnson speak of the fight to his brother, he said he couldn't remember the incident now.

Bernard Hynes, a 38-year-old bachelor, said that Johnson, Gus Murphy and he drank two bottles of wine at Reardon's house during the afternoon and they were later joined by Jack Brazil. Shortly after Reardon came he went home. About 9.40 he was called over to Reardon's where Johnson told him he had a fight with Pike who was "down in the back on the ground," and Johnson asked Hynes to assist him in bringing Pike up to his house. The witness said he refused because he didn't want to get mixed up in anything. When he left the house, Johnson followed him outside where they met Brazil who also refused to go to the assistance of Pike.

Brazil said that several bottles of wine were consumed in Reardon's house during the afternoon and night. Hynes paid for three and Murphy for two. He left Reardon's at 9 o'clock and at 9.30 met Hynes and Johnson. Johnson told him he had a fight with Pike, but he refused to go and help bring Pike up to his house. They all went into Reardon's where Frank Johnson and James Reardon had an argument, and Reardon told the accused that he "Wanted no rowdies in his house." Johnson insisted that he had to do it to defend himself. Then Murphy entered and remarked that "someone is after doing up poor Bill Pike."

Two other witnesses heard yesterday were Dominic Slade, 12, and David Slade, 13, who had witnessed part of the fight from the steps of their house. Both said that they saw one man crouched on one knee hitting another man beneath him in the face with his fist.

Dominic said he saw an unidentified man arrive on the scene shortly after the fight He stopped over the body and picked up one of his arms and then left again. David said he did not see this man.

John F. Newman, chief analyst at the government laboratory, stated that a bottle of screech contained two and one half times more alcohol than a bottle of tonic wine.

The trial resumed at 10 o'clock this monring with eight crown witnesses still to be heard. It is not expected that the trial will conclude today.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Thursday, 31 January 1957:
Crown Evidence In Murder Trial Completed Yesterday
The third day of the trial of Frank Johnson of Bell Island charged with the murder of William Pike at Bell Island on December 7 continued in the Supreme Court yesterday before His Lordship the Chief Justice, Sir Albert Walsh, before a crowded courtroom.

The first witness for the morning was John Brazil, the 16th witness for the procescution, who gave his evidence on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. James D. Higgins, Q.C., Counsel for the accused, cross examined the witness.

Brazil said that he did not want to get mixed up in the fight, and he had no idea that anything serious had taken place when he refused to go and help get Pike off the ground. "What kind of trouble," Mr. Higgins asked, "and was there said or did you see anything to put the idea of court action into your head." "No sir," the witness said.

Mrs. Reardon told her son, James Reardon: "Frank had a racket and came in with his hands full of blood," the witness said, and told how James Reardon started to call Johnson down and Johnson said "Pike broke a window out in my face."

"When Johnson told Reardon he had to defend himself, Reardon took Johnson to the sink and washed him, and Gus Murphy came in shortly after, and James Laurie came in after Murphy," the witness said.

Laurie reported that a man was down in the lane bleeding to death so Reardon rang for the ambulance. "Mrs. Reardon, Sr., was in the kitchen crying and Johnson was sot on the bench in the kitchen," the witness said.

Asked if he had any discussion with Johnson about what happened, he replied, "No sir." He knew Pike as a close friend, Brazil said, and some times Pike drank more than was good for him. People were used to going to Pike's by way of the back steps to get a drink. Johnson used to go there and Murphy went there often.

Gus Murphy was then called to the stand. He lived with Brazil and Johnson and went with them to Reardon's on December 7 at 1.30 p.m. He went over to Pike's, he said, to see how he was, because he was with him the night before and they had a couple of bottles of screech. It was late in the night when he left, he said, and there was about ¾ of a bottle left. They drank most of it, and gave a drink to two friends who called during the evening.

He went down and tapped on Pike's window, he said, and Pike got out of bed and looked out to see who it was at the door and then went back to bed again. "A tap on the window was a code between us." He went back to Reardon's when he left Pike's at 1.30 p.m.

He told of drinking wine with Hynes, Brazil and Johnson at Reardon's, and then leaving. Altogether they had five bottles of tonic wine, and opened the sixth.

Murphy said he took the sixth bottle with him when he left to do some work and while he was gone he also had five bottles of beer, and brought one back with him for Reardon, at 7 o'clock.

He looked at television for a while at Reardon's and then went down to see Pike, around 8 o'clock. "Bill let me in this time. He told me to sit down. I sat down. He asked me to have a drink on him and I said no, and he said, whas the good of ya anyway."

Murphy said he had nothing to drink at Pike's and did not see Pike drink anything. He admitted that he may have fallen asleep because he blacked out for quite a while from the time he spent there.

"Bill and I were having a conversation, and presumed Bill thought he heard footsteps on the steps. I was sitting opposite him on the chair. Bill Pike was opposite me, between me and the window. Bill turned towards the window, then I heard the crash of glass. Bill swore and went out through the door."

Murphy said he heard no knocking. He didn't see anyone because he went to the front of the shop to get a pair of shoes and see if his tools were there.

"I heard the glass break in the kitchen and thought Bill broke it himself, to tell the truth." He waited for Bill to come back, he said, and must have blacked out. He left, when Bill did not come back, and went out by way of the back steps.

He noticed Pike lying on the ground and took him by the head and told him, "They done a good job on you, somebody done you up." He was battered up, Murphy said.

He went to Reardon's and asked "What about coming down and giving me a hand to bring Bill Pike in, somebody is after doing him up."

He noticed, he said, that Johnson had a little scar on his right cheek and looked a little fresh looking, like he had a wash.

When Pike had a few drinks he got sarcastic. Otherwise, Murphy said, "He was a gentleman." Asked if Pike was quarrelsome, Murphy said no. "He ordered me out a couple of times--under me own power."

Mr. Higgins, cross examining Murphy, asked if he heard a voice say, "Come down, you cut me." because Mrs. Hann said that she heard it. "Mrs. Hann wasn't under the weather," Murphy said.

Constable D. Reeves of the RCMP was the 18th witness and he identified clothing worn by Johnson and Pike on the day of the fight. He told how Johnson went to the police station around midnight and gave himself up, and how the police took a statement from Johnson, then took another from him around noon because Johnson was not quite normal the night before; he had been drinking.

He identified the statement made by Johnson at the police station.

The statement was put in evidence. Johnson said in his statement that he went to Pike's around the back and looked in the window, and called out and asked "is there either drink around." He told how Pike broke the window in his face then called him to wait and went out on the steps and pushed and kicked him. "I had to crack him as the man was after me." "Gus Murphy was lying on the floor when I looked in the window."

There was no search for Johnson before he appeared at the police station and said he wanted to tell what happened at Pike's.

Corporal McMullan of the RCMP told the story of going and finding Pike's body and getting it to the police station. There was evidence of a drinking party at Pike's, he said, but no evidence of a fight in the house.

He took Johnson's first statement without telling him that Pike was dead. Johnson seemed shocked when he was told that Pike was dead, Corporal McMullan said. "To me, he didn't seem to believe it."

Dr. Charles Hutton, resident pathologist at the General Hospital, Mr. Jack Sidel, senior technician at the General Hospital laboratory, and Dr. T. Anderson gave evidence about the autoposy performed at the General Hospital.

The cause of death was given as asphyxiation by blood in the lungs from multiple injuries caused by violence.

The doctors described the condition of the victim and the laboratory test revealed that the alcoholic content of the blood was 0.380 and of the urine 0.450. The accepted level for intoxication is 0.16.

Dr. Anderson said in his evidence that "The injuries apeared to me to be sufficient to cause unconsciousness in an ordinary man."

Dr. Josephson, Government Pathologist gave evidence on the content of alcohol in the blood and urine and its possible effect.

This concluded the Crown's witnesses.

The case for the defence will continue this morning.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Thursday, 31 January 1957:

TRIAL MAY END TODAY
Defendant's Statement Describes Fight With Pike

RCMP Constable Dean Reeve testified in Supreme Court Wednesday afternoon that he was sitting alone in the police station on Bell Island around midnight, Dec. 7, when Frank Johnon came to the station and told him he wanted to tell about his fight with Bill Pike.

Reeve was one of the last five witnesses to testify for the crown as the trial of Frank Johnson on a charge of murder went into its third day.

The 27-year-old constable had just finished removing the clothes from the body of William Pike, who was found dead about two hours earlier in a darkened alleyway, when he heard a knock at the door. When he opened the door Johnson, eyes red and with blood still staining his fingernails, told him he wanted to tell him about a fight he'd had with Bill Pike.

Reeve was about to warn him and take a statement when Corporal McMullen arrived. After being cautioned, Johnson told the two police officers that he went to Pike's around 9 o'clock that night to get a drink. Going up the steps of Pike's house he knocked on the door. Pike came to the window and Johnson said, "Got a drink for me, Bill?" Then Pike smashed a window in his face. As Johnson was about to leave, Pike called to him to wait a minute. Pike came out to the door and kicked Johnson in the chest, sending him over the steps.

"Bill began running down the steps," Johnson's statement continued, "and I ran towards him, grabbed him and threw him over my head. Pike was standing on the third step from the ground when I grabbed him. Then I held him on the ground and said, `What are you trying to do, Bill, do me?' And he said, yes. So I said, `If that's the case, I'll do you first.' I then punched him in the face five or six times and walked away."

This evidence was corroborated by Corporal McMullen who said that he took a second statement from Johnson next day, "just in case he was not normal as a result of liquor" when he made his first statement. The last statement was similar to the first, with a few additions. He told McMullen in his second statement that he was "three parts drunk" when he went to Pike's and when he looked through the window he saw Pike staggering around. Another man, Gus Murphy, was asleep on the floor. He also stated that he was a good friend of Pike's.

Both officers said that Johnson appeared to be shocked when they told him, as they were locking him up Friday night, that Pike was dead. "Poor fellow," he muttered, and asked several times afterwards if Pike was really dead, "as if he could not believe it."

Reeve said he found no mark on Johnson's chest to indicate that he had been kicked, but on cross examination said he did not think that a push or shove with a foot would leave a bruise since Johnson was wearing heavy clothing at the time. It was also disclosed that Pike was wearing one slipper and one shoe, both for the right foot, when he was found in the lane.

Gus Murphy, 41, said he was at Pike's house having a chat with the victim when he heard a crash of glass breaking.

He thought that Pike must have heard the sound of someone coming up the steps because he turned toward the window just before the glass was broken. Then he heard Pike swear as he went toward the door. "I didn't know where he was going," said Murphy. "I thought he might have gone out to get a bottle. So I went out to the front of the shop to see if I could find a pair of boots I had left there and also my tools. When I came back I must have blanked out for awhile because it was so late."

It was shortly before 10 o'clock when he left and as he went down the steps he noticed Pike lying face up on the ground. He looked down at the man and said, "Somebody done you up, Bill, and they done a good job on you." He said he observed no sign of life about Pike, so he went to Jim Reardon's and asked him to give him a hand to bring in the victim. Reardon refused and he didn't bother to ask anybody else. He said he also blacked out in Reardon's kitchen.

Cross examined by defence counsel, Murphy insisted that he and Pike had nothing to drink during his visit to Pike's house. He also stated that he heard no conversation at all from the time the window was broken until Pike left the house. Neither did he know anything about a fight outside. He thought this might be due to his "black-outs." Said Mr. Higgins: "In other words, you only had lucid intervals." According to Murphy, six bottles of tonic wine had been consumed at Reardon's house earlier in the day.

Murphy said that Pike was apt to be sarcastic when he was drinking, but otherwise he was a gentleman.

The case for the crown concluded with the evidence of three doctors.

Dr. Thomas Anderson, who signed the certificate of death, said that Pike's death was caused by asphyxia, caused by the entry of blood into the air passages of the lungs. Hemorrhage was caused by the wounds inflicted on the body.

Dr. Charles Hutton, 26, who conducted the post mortem examination at the General Hospital, described the injuries as severe. He found many crushing fractures of the bones in the nose, both cheek bones were crushed, the left jaw was fractured in two places and the nasal bone was broken, he said. In addition, there were several marks about the face, left side of the head, right temple, lacerations of the nose and superficial abrasions on the back of the right hand and wrist. He stated that it would require at least six blows to inflict these injuries.

Further examination disclosed extensive collapse of the lobes of both lungs, caused by inhalation of large amounts of blood and blood clots which were present in the lungs.

Questioned by defence counsel Higgins, Dr. Hutton said one would not ordinarily expect these injuries to cause immediate death but were severe enough to cause unconsciousness. But the injuries were susceptible to many complications that could cause death and which did, in fact, cause Pike's death, he added.

A sample of Pike's blood showed a blood alcohol level of 0.380 percent, which Dr. Hutton said, was double the standard at which a person is normally imparied. He added that an intoxicated person would be more prone to unconsciousness and hemorrhage, if injured, than a sober person.

Provincial pathologist Dr. J. Josephson testified that 0.380 percent of alcohol in the blood stream would indicate that a fair amount of alcohol had been consumed. He said, however, that he could not say if a person so intoxicated would be more susceptible to shock and unconsciousness than a sober man. Asked about the injuries, he said that bleeding from them could be extensive.

James D. Higgins began his case for the defence when court resumed at 10 o'clock this morning. He indicated when court adjourned yesterday that it was unlikely that it would go beyond lunch hour. It is expected that the case will go to the jury sometime this afternoon.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Friday, 01 February 1957:
Frank Johnson Convicted of Manslaughter
Jury Brings Back Reduced Verdict After 3 Hours

Frank Johnson of Bell Island was found guilty of manslaughter last night at 12.15 when the jury returned to give their verdict after three hours' deliberation.

The courtroom, which was crowded all day, was still full at midnight as men and women waited to hear the verdict.

Johnson received the verdict without changing expression as he stood in the prisoner's box which was guarded on each end by a red coated R.C.M.P. constable.

The prisoner was remanded until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 6th., for sentence.

MORNING SESSION
When the morning session of the fourth day opened yesterday the accused was on the stand and told the story of getting tonic wine and how he drank part of six bottles with four companions. He had nothing to drink apart from the tonic wine, he thought, but couldn't say for sure.

Asked how he fetl at the time he replied, "Pretty full." And asked how the others seemed, he said, "Think they were about the same. Gus Murphy was pretty drunk."

He left Reardon's sometime that night between 8 and 8.30, he said. Asked where he was going, he replied, "I was going down to Bill Pike's. I used to drink with him all the time." He said that about 15 men regularly visited Pike's home and Mr. Pike used to provide the liquor. He had no money for liquor of his own, the accused said.

Asked why he went to see Pike that night, he said, "I wanted to have a few drinks, if he had it, and talk to him, he was alone."

"Were the few drinks the most important thing in your mind." the Counsel asked. He replied, "I was good friends with the man and wanted to have a few drinks and a talk with him."

Using a picture of the houses in the area the accused pointed out to the court the way he took from Reardon's to Pike's back door and told how he went to the door and knocked and then looked through the window and saw Gus Murphy asleep on the floor. "[I?] took him to be asleep."

(Continued on page 14)

and on page 14:
Murder Trial
(Continued from page 3)
"'Aira drink there, Bill, and he hit the window right out in me face," the accused said as he told of the reply to his enquiry, at Pike's door.

"I was the best kinds of friends with the man and never thought it could happen in a hundred years," he said, "I got me face cut."

Asked what effect this had on him the accused replied, "Tarmented me, sir." He said to Pike, "You didn't have to do that, you cut me."

"Pike came out of the house and I was on the top or second step. Pike came out on the platform and made a kick at me and struck me in the chest, and I landed right down at the bottom step," the accused said.

"Pike was at the top of the steps and we were arguing. I told him, 'you cut me'." He came down over the steps and he asked me to come up. I wouldn't take any chances on going up because the man came near breaking me up when me put me over the steps," the accused continued.

"Pike walked down, to about the third step from the bottom. I thoughe he was goin' to jump me and I grabbed him around the two arms. I thought he was coming down to trim me. He grabbed me about the same way. I asked him to let me go -- he wouldn't let me go, so I overbalanced myself and threw him oved me head -- he landed on his back."

"Ge got in baototi

"We got into a bit of a tangle 'gin the steps, we were both swearing. He got up again, then I give him a couple of smacks by the garage doors. He went down on the ground -- I cracked him three or four times in the face with me right fist."

Asked how the victim was when he left, Johnson said that Pike was alive "like he was swearin' or grumblin' or somthin'. I left to go up to Reardon's. Pike was on the ground by the steps. Asked why he left the accused said, "to get somebody to help bring him in. I knowed I hurt the man. We had a pretty good fight there, and if he needed a doctor I was goin' to get him."

He told how Brazil, Hynes and Reardon refused to go and help and repeated the story he told Martha Reardon. He denied telling Mrs. Reardon that he killed Bill Pike. "She took me wrong," he said.

Asked if he suffered any injuries in the fight the accused said he had his knuckle cut open and a cut on his face, and Jim Reardon cleaned him up. Then he went to Fitzgerald's to watch television.

"Did you go back to look at Pike," Mr. Carter, Crown prosecutor asked, and Johnson replied, "No sir. I figured Murphy was goin' to look after him."

Asked why he went to the police after he left Fitzgerald's the accused said, "I knowed I had a fight with the man and knowed I hurt him, but didn't think I hurt him serious. I wasn't working and didn't want to get in any trouble."

The statement Johnson gave to the RCMP on the early morning of December was in evidence and asked if he agreed with it, said "If he got it there I must have told him."

He heard that Pike was dead, he said, around 2 o'clock, in the police cell, and Corporal McMullan told him. Asked how he felt about it, he replied, "I didn't expect it, and I felt bad about it when he told me."

Asked by Mr. Carter if he had any intention of killing Pike, Johnson said, "No, sir, I didn't have any intention of beating the man up. I had to do it, he was going to trim me or I had to trim him."

The cross examination of the accused continued up to the noon recess and when the afternoon session opened Mr. Carter continued his examination. He asked, "Why didnt' you go away from the steps?" and Johnson said, "He was arguing, he told me to come up. I told him to come down."

Mr. Carter asked, "If Pike had gone into his house?"

"I would have went on then," the accused said. "I was tarmented. I was dirty because he cut me face He made me mad."

Mr. Carter asked, "Did you know what you were doing?" and the accused said, "Yes, but I was tarmented."

ADDRESSES JURY
At 3.45 p.m. Mr Higgins began his address to the jury and during the next hour pointed out the hightlights of the evidence and the sections of the criminal code dealing with homicide. He told the jury that a verdict of murder could not be given on the evidence and either a verdict of manslaughter or not guilty could be the only verdicts.

He made no apologies, he said, for repetition of evidence, for he was obliged to see that nothing which might possibly be of any benefit to the accused would be left out.

Mr. Higgins concluded at 4.40 p.m. and Mr. H. Carter, Crown prosecutor, began his address to the Jury at 4.45 p.m. and concluded at 5.40 p.m.

The Court reassembled at 7.30 when His Lordship the Chief Justice began his address to the Jury and continued for an hour and fifty minutes to explain the details of the sections of the Criminal Code relating to homicide.

Punishable homicide is murder if it can be proved there was intent to kill or intent to inflict bodily harm which might cause death regardless of the consequences.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Friday, 1 February 1957:
Verdict `Manslaughter' For Fist Fight Slaying
Frank Johnson's face remained expressionless when a 12-man jury filed into the courtroom shortly after 12 o'clock last night and said that they had found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter.

The jury, which has been hearing the evidence of 24 witnesses during the past four days, deliberated almosted three hours before reaching a verdict.

Johnson, a 31-year-old Bell Island man, was tried on a charge of murder arising out of the death of William Pike, 47, on Bell Island Dec. 7, 1956.

He has been remanded until 10.30 a.m. Feb. 6 for sentencing.

When court resumed at 10 o'clock Thursday morning, Johnson took the stand where he was questioned and cross examined for four hours. He said he had been drinking with three of his bachelor friends on the afternoon and night prior to the fight and was "pretty full" when he went over to see Pike around 9 o'clock. He went over to see if he could get a drink from Pike, one of his drinking companions. He said he used to visit the deceased "all the time" and he never had to pay for any liquor obtained at Pike's house.

Up to the night of the fight he had been unemployed for three or four months. During that time, however, he always drank a quantity of tonic wine every day. He said it would be "a queer day" when he and his friends didn't have three or four bottles.

He went to Pike's house Friday night, Dec. 7, and knocked on the door. Pike was standing in the kitchen and appeared to be staggering, while Gus Murphy, a friend of Johnson, was asleep on the floor. He asked Pike if he had a drink there for him, and then Pike "broke a window out in my face."

"This tormented me," he said and he asked Pike if he had to do that and informed him that his face had been cut by the broken glass. Pike then came out of the house and kicked at him, sending him down over the steps. He picked himself up and argument ensued. Pike told him to come up and he told Pike to come down.

Pike began coming down the steps and when he was almost at the bottom Johnson grabbed him around the shoulders. After a brief struggle, Johnson "overbalanced" and threw his opponent over his head. After a few blows were exchanged, Pike fell to the ground after Johnson had hit him a blow between the eyes.

"I cracked him three or four times on the ground with my fist," Johnson said. "He stayed on the ground, but he was alive when I left because I heard him swearing or grumbling. I had no intention of killing him. I only intended to trim him because I thought he was going to trim me."

Defence counsel James D. Higgins, Q.C. addressed the jury for an hour. He reviewed the evidence and told the jury it was their duty to reach a verdict only on the evidence provided in court. "Long before this matter came before the court ... there was some rather hysterical writing in a local paper from a correspondent on Bell Island, he said. They were "statements which could cause prejudice to the prisoner."

H. P. Carter, Q.C., then addressed the jury for almost an hour, defining homicide and relating it to the case which the crown had presented.

At 7.30 last night His Lordship the Chief Justice began his charge to the jury which conclucded at 9.20. After going over the evidence and explaining the various points of law, Sir Albert Walsh told them they could bring in one of three verdicts: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter or not guilty.

He said the offense of murder is established when death results from an unlawful act and where there is intention to kill or to cause serious bodily harm which a person knows is likely to causes death but is reckless whether he causes death or not. When there is only the unlawful act and no intention, the offense is manslaughter. Engaging in a fist fight, he pointed out, is an unlawful act and if a person kills another in a fight he has committed manslaughter, unless he did it in self defense. If intention to kill is present, the offense is murder.

The jury retired to consider their verdict at 9.20 and returned at 12.12 this morning with a verdict of guilty of manslaughter. The Chief Justice thanked them "for the obvious careful consideration" that they had given to the matter and discharged them.


On page 3 of the Evening Telegram, Wednesday, 6 February 1957:
Johnson Gets 10-Year Term
Frank Johnson, 31-year-old Bell Island resident, was sentenced in Supreme Court this morning to 10 years in Her Majesty's penitentiary for killing another Bell Island man in a fight last December.

Chief Justice Sir Albert Walsh imposed the sentence following a plea for mitigation from defence counsel James D. Higgins, Q.C.

Johnson was convicted of manslaughter Thursday night after amost three hours deliberation. He was tried on a charge of murder arising out of the death of William Pike, 47, on Bell Island, Dec. 7, 1956. The 12-man jury, after hearing evidence from 23 crown witnesses and the evidence of Johnson, found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter. The trial lasted four days.

The 31-year-old miner was convicted of killing William Pike in a fist fight. Johnson said at his trial that he had no intention of killing Pike or of "beating him right up." He said he only intended to "trim" him because he thought Pike was intending to "trim" him.

He is not married and was unemployed for three or four months prior to his arrest.


On page 3 of the Daily News, Thursday, 7 February 1957:
JOHNSON GETS TEN YEARS
Frank Johnson of Bell Island was sentenced to serve 10 years hard labour at H.M. Penitentiary yesterday in the Supreme Court before His Lordship the Chief Justice, Sir Albert Walsh.

Johnson was arrested on Dec. 7th at Bell Island and charged with the death of William Pike, also of Bell Island, on the evening on Dec. 7th. Following the preliminary enquiry Johnson was charged with murder, and was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on Thursday, Jan. 31st., by the jury which deliberated for three hours before bringing in its verdict.

Mr. James D. Higgins, Q.C., counsel for the accused asked for leniency as the accused had but a record of minor assault. Mr. H. Carter, Q.C., acted for the Crown.



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