Introduction of new material in the second trial of Andrew Johnson for the serious burning December 27 of Pat Bohan was assured yesterday when District Attorney George Codding announced that he will dismiss similar charges against Mrs. Catherine Donoghue. Opening testimony will be heard this morning at 9:30.
    Mrs. Donoghue will be introduced as a witness against Johnson, who placed blame for the torture of the aged junk dealer on her husband in a series of confessions made to prosecution and police officers.
    Since the three defendants were indicted jointly for the crime, Johnson could protest the introduction of Mrs. Donoghue as a witness against him unless her case was previously disposed of, the district attorney explained.
    Donoghue has already been given two concurrent life sentences for robbing a restaurant patron and firing at policemen after leaving Bohan's home. He has served a number of penitentiary sentences, and once escaped from Folsom Prison, his record shows.
    Jurymen chosen yesterday afternoon for Johnson's trial were sent to Bohan's tumbled residence on Prune Street to survey the scene of the drinking party which ended in the alleged attempt by Bohan's guests to make him divulge the location of imagined wealth by burning his foot, first with matches and later in the stove.
    After four veniremen had been challenged by the defendant and two by the prosecuting officers, the following jurymen were selected: Lane Wyland, Frank Nelson, Oscar Lynum, Gain Robinson, William H. Gardner, Wade Wallis, George L. Clark, Charles Strang, Charles E. Clay, Louis Werth, W. H. Maultby and Robert E. Cook.
    Bohan was found by neighbors late the morning of December 28, unconscious from serious burns on one leg and foot. Although officers had not been informed of the attack, his alleged attackers were already lodged in jail, Donoghue after a gunfight with officers pursuing him after he had held up a Rex Cafe patron. Mrs. Donoghue and Johnson were arrested shortly after as they drove toward Jacksonville.
    In a signed confession made before a number of officers and Assistant District Attorney George Neilson several days later, Johnson told of a drinking party at the home of Bohan with its climax in the burning of the old man. He claimed to have taken no part in the affair except to obey a few orders from Donoghue, whom he claimed to fear very much. When Donoghue finally left the house, Mrs. Donoghue requested him to take her downtown to look for her husband, he said. He entered the Rex several times to inquire of his companion, once before and once after the holdup. Officers were informed of his search, and the couple were arrested shortly afterwards as they drove towards Jacksonville, Johnson's home.
    Bohan testified that when the party became noisy and he requested somewhat less exuberance, someone hit him over the head, knocking him unconscious. When he revived, a blanket was thrown over his head, his feet were being burned and he was threatened with worse pain if he did not reveal the hiding place of his money, he declared. Because of the excessive pain, he soon lost consciousness again. The phone was cut when officers arrived the next day.
Medford Daily News, March 5, 1930, page 1

    The state rested, and the defense opened, this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the trial of Andrew Johnson of Jacksonville, alleged pal of William Donoghue, torture bandit.
    The defense will probably endeavor to show that Johnson had no part in the torturing of Pat Bohan, but was an unwilling bystander, now caught in an act of circumstance.
    The first move of the defense, which takes the remainder of the afternoon, was to show discrepancies of state witnesses in their testimony since the first trial.
    Johnson will probably take the stand in his own behalf late today or in the morning.
    Mrs. William Donoghue, whose husband is under life sentence to the state penitentiary upon conviction as the torture bandit and Rex Cafe holdup man last December, was the principal witness this morning in the retrial of Andrew Johnson, Jacksonville, co-defendant with the Donoghues in their criminal adventure.
    Mrs. Donoghue turned state's evidence, and the indictment against her was dismissed under the provisions of the Oregon law providing such action. Besides, the district attorney felt the case against her was weak.
    On the stand Mrs. Donoghue was a willing and a voluble witness, but contributed little in the way of incriminating testimony against Johnson. She testified that liquor, she thought supplied by Johnson, flowed freely before the torturing of which her mate stands convicted, and the defendant is accused. The heat and the smoke and the liquor made her sick, and her husband gave "me a slap and told me to go to bed." When she returned some time later, the same husbandly treatment was repeated, and she again retired to her chamber. When she awoke and again returned downstairs, her husband was gone and she and Johnson started in search of him.
    Pat Bohan, still suffering from experiences of the night, was the first witness. He gave but meager testimony against Johnson, remembering nothing distinctly except that his feet had been badly burned.
    The case will probably be concluded by tomorrow noon at the present rate. In a previous trial of the case the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
    Johnson is represented by attorneys Gus Newbury and Don Newbury. His wife and children were in court today.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 5, 1930, page 6


    For the second time within the past month, a jury will probably retire today to decide if Andrew Johnson is guilty of the torture of Pat Bohan the night of December 26. The state will present final arguments this morning, followed by the defendant's concluding statements.
    Directly contradictory statements were presented the jury yesterday in the testimony of the defendant and Mrs. Catherine Donoghue, whose husband is jointly indicted with Johnson. A similar charge against Mrs. Donoghue was dismissed yesterday that she might be used as a state's witness.
    If Bohan was struck on the head and then burned with matches and in the stove, it was while she was upstairs, drunk, nauseated, and later asleep, Mrs. Donoghue declared. She was not surprised to see the junk man lying behind the stove against the wall when she came downstairs, she protested, and made no inquiry why he was there, thinking him drunk. Shortly after that, her husband pushed her into the kitchen and told her to go back upstairs, she said.
    Johnson testified that Mrs. Donoghue assisted her husband in his obscenely avowed intention to make Bohan tell where he kept his money. At the request of her husband, she brought more matches from the kitchen, and when questioned what she intended doing with them merely replied, "It serves him right," the defendant declared. Johnson himself took no part in the affair, and fearfully protested to Donoghue who threatened to kill him if he left the house, he testified.
    Arrangements were made early in the evening between Johnson, her husband and herself that they were to take their possessions to Johnson's house in Jacksonville later in the the evening, Mrs. Donoghue later declared. Pat was told nothing of the plan, and when asked the reason, she said: "It was probably just a crazy idea because we were very intoxicated."
    Contrary testimony was again introduced by Johnson, who declared he offered to take her away early the next morning, after Donoghue had left the house, as a chance to leave the place undisturbed. When questioned by prosecutors why he came downtown to search for Donoghue, the man he supposedly feared, he declared he thought he might get rid of the woman if he found her husband.
    Upholding the state's contention that the defendants knew Bohan had money hidden about the house, A. E. Whitlatch of Reddy Avenue testified that he found a billfold containing $100 under the linoleum in Pat's bedroom, which he presented to the injured man during his convalescence in the hospital.
    Seriousness of the very severe burns which kept Bohan a hospital patient for over a month, and which must still be specially dressed, was testified by Dr. James C. Hayes. Bohan was also suffering severe scalp lacerations and bruises on his face and side when he examined him, the physician stated. H. D. Bean, neighbor of the junk man, who found him the following morning, also described the hurts which skinned and blackened one side of Pat's face and neck.
    A number of police and sheriff's officers were also called to the stand to testify as to the condition of the pair when arrested on the Jacksonville Highway about 3:50 the next morning.
Medford Daily News, March 6, 1930, page 1