Johnson was a good choice for Revenue Agents. He knew all his neighbors in the Dark Corner, particularly their personal habits. Before long, all his neighbors learned how he was now earning money. One by one, they began to have arguments with Johnson, some of them extremely bitter.

That’s why an argument erupted immediately between Ward and Johnson that February morning. In anger, Johnson shot at Ward. The bullet hit Ward’s small son and killed him instantly.

Sheriff Gilreath came and took Johnson to the County Jail. Months later, at his trial, testimony indicated that Ward was standing at such an angle to Johnson that Johnson could not see the child before he fired.

The jury found that the child was killed accidentally. Because of this, Johnson was acquitted of manslaughter.