WOW! I can certainly understand all of your questions about this case. I just hate that Johnson ran home and got his shotgun, because when he came back "true" anger over the dispute and confrontation (and he probably thought about the years of abuse by this man and others) with Rutherford removed any rational thinking and judgment he might have had regarding this problem. But one thing I'm sure of . . . after he shot Rutherford, Johnson knew he was a dead man -- trial or no trial!