The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-15
KANSAS NEWS.
Mystery Concerning Detective
Montgomery's Murder.
May Be Unraveled by the Arrest
of w. G. johnson.
STATEMENTS CONFLICT
He Is Given a Severe Examina-
tion by the Authorities.
Details Of the Causes Which
Led Up to Capture.

Winfield, Oct. ia mystery still
clings around the facts concerning the
arrest of W. c. Johnson. suspected OF
the Montgomery murder Ferguson,
who made the arrest, still refuses to
talk. George Miller, proprietor of the
''1O1" ranch, on which Johnson was
working, is in town with several of his
cowboys, and Monday had a secret con-
sultation with Ferguson and the coun-
ty attorney. Miller says Johnson cane
down to work for him the next day fol-
lowing the murder, and at his invita-
ton.
The details which led up to the ar
rest of johnson are interesting. When
John Skinner and Col. Ferguson, who
are working independently of the Pink
erton people, and the detectives placed
in charge of the case by the Santa F'e
company got onto the clew that finally
led to the arrest of Johnson, they very
carefully investigated it, They then
went to Johnson's father WHO'S respect
ed citizen of Winfield, and told him
that they had a strong case against his
son. They laid the matter before him
and finally the elder johnson went to
the ranch and saw his son to whom he
explained all the officers had Sc d anc
advised him to come quietly with the
men to Kansas. He agreed to do this
men in positions to get him in case he
tried to make an escape. They met no
trouble in taking their man although 1t
had been reported that the Mlllers
would not allow it.
George Miller and his foreman were
in Ponca City Saturday with their shot
guns, but these were not taken from
their cases and it is thought that the
fact that they carried their guns gave
rise to the story The men brought
their prisoner to Ponca City from Bliss
freight train, and there they wait
ed for the regular passenger, which was
several hours late Johnson was taken
direct to Winfield. but was not landed
in Jail. He has been under guard ever
since his arrest.
What was brought out at Johnson's
exam ination is of course a secret from
the public, and the officers who attend
ed are keeping very quiet concerning 1T.
1t is said though that Johnson crossed
himself on several essential points, and
that in several places his story will not
wash. He says he was in Winfield the
night of the murder, and that he left
the next morning, going to the ranch.
This is disputed by several, who say he
went on Monday morning, which would
be the second morning after the trag
edy. He appeared very nervous during
the examination
1t seems that during July and August
johnson was employed on the ranch as
a mule driver and that he lost his job
there, after which he went to the quar-
ries west of Winfield and secured work.
Several days ago he applied to Joe
Miller for his old job back. Miller
wouldn't agree to give him the old job,
but agreed to give him another.
The officers are of the opinion that
while Johnson may not have fired the
shot that killed Montgomery, he at least
knows something about the matter and
was on the ground at the time the shot
was fired. Ed Donnelly, the operator
a
night of the murder and forced to re-
turn to his office when he went to get
help to hold the suspicious looking man,
after he had been in the depot, was
present at the investigation for the pur-
pose of identifying, if possible, Johnson
He says that while johnson Is exactly
right in height and in some other re-
spects resembles the man at the depot,
he is certain they are not one and the
same. Others are certain that johnson
was in Winfield all the time on the night
in question.
johnson is being held with the hope of
learning something further concerning
the crime.
Since the murder there has been one
clew which has had a Strong bearing on
the case and that is the man who visit |
ed the home of Mrs. Baird on the night |
of the murder 1t has now been discov-
cred that apparently the only person |
who inquired of Mrs. Baird concerning |
the location of Montgomery's house was |
Art Dow. Immediately after the muir
panied by young Dow, started to drive |
to the Montgomery home AS neither |
of them knew exactly where it was
Kruger sent Dow to BairdS to make |
inquiries while he remained in the |
buggy. Mrs. Baird had not heard of the |
murder at that time and when she did |
hear of it, naturally thought of the in |
Quiry which had been made.
Mrs s. E. Bereau, mother of Mrs. !
George Montgomery, whose husband |
was murdered, is now dying. She was
-frf41 rxvff ar-1T vrsi0
brought on by the murder. Mrs. |
Bereau was standing near Montgomery |