The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-10
Paying Careful Attention TO tho
Mysterious Johnson Case.
POLICE DO NOT AID SEARCH
The Detectives Have Been Warned That
False Steps VIII Cost Them
Dearly.

Baltimore, july lO.-After a long con-
ference at the County court house yes
terday afternoon between Assistant
States Attorney O'Dunne and Detective
William Atkinson. Mr.. ODunne an
nounced that the evidence in the john
son case would not yet warrant the ar
rest OF the principal suspect on a charge
OF murder.
There are several important clues
which have just developed" continued
Mr. O'Dunne " and the detectives are
running them down as rapidly as possl-
BILE There seems 10 be more doing to-
day than there has been before, and II
the clues now being Investigated pan out
there win be important developments.
We have determined 10 push the case TO
the utmost, and will leave no stone un-
turned 10 ascertain the responsibility fer
the mysterious death OF Mortimer John
SON.
A large amount OF evidence against one
person has already been gathered IN this
case but the marshal OF police and the
chief OF detectives still maintain that II Is
a case OF suicide, and they discourage
all efforts 10 prove the contrary. The
detectives have been warned, therefore.
that II they make any false steps in the
matter they will do so at their peril.
Chief OF Detectives Pumphrey grows an
gry when asked for information about
the case He seems 10 discount tin, value
OF all the evidence his men haN OBJ
tanned
II was ascertained today that Mr.. Lady
Durette asked a few days ago for sn
interview with Mrs william suter. the
great friend OF old man Johnson, lther
OF the murdered man. Mrs. Suter re-
piled that she would talk only In the
presence OF Chief Pumphrey. and would
permit no other detectives TO be around
INTEREST IN THE COAT AND SHOE.
Interest In the mystery has been great
~ renewed since the discovery OF the
coat and old shoe found by the detec-
tves in a bundle OF clothing that was
carried away from the Johnson house.
The detectives say the spots on this coat
and shoe are blood. The stains are to
be submitted TO chemical analysis.
The finding OF the bloody coat and shoe
which was announced for the first time
and regarding which the detectives then
refused 10 talk. was today acknowledged
| openly by the police, and II was he-alded
as the only new development OF the day
George Johnson, brother or Joseph
Johnson. father of the dead man. was
asked today to tell about the bloody
! package but his reply was: MY mind
| is a blank about the whole thing. All I
do remember IS that when / was up
there at the house. Lady Durette was
going over some old clothes in a little
Morty was killed. and I picked out the
coat and three old PAIRS OF shoes. The
detectives took the coat and one OF the
shoes"
Mrs Durette today said
II am hoping and praying that the po-
lice will find the murderer Of my brother.
But they have never searched the house
they have left every opportunity open
for the perpetrators OF the crime 10 cover
up violence OF their deed But for the
| ac.'rfty of Detective Atkinson, the whole
ma -sr would have been allowed TO drop
already. The police officials jumped
| 10 the suicide theory. and their determi-
| nation not to alter their own opinion has
preventei the full investigation OF one
| OF the most brutal crimes Baltimore has
ever known. My brother would never
! have committed suicide There was too
much promise in the world to him for
| that He was cruelty murdered, and
| know with almost absolute certainty VINO
killed him.
The detectives know. too. and II they
are not hampered they will complete
the chain OF evidence which will convict
| this individual"
! READING ABOUT CRIMES
Old man johnson is still locked up In
HIS home. at No. 143o Helms street. read
|
has been pouring over these volumes ever
since his son was buried. His man OF all
work, Sheeler, lounges around the place.
| The shutters are tightly closed. and no
| one can gain admission. Abraham Neale,
| the negro laborer OF the house. left there
-today Neale says Sheeler knows a good
deal more about this crime than he has
! told
Mrs Durette and Walter Johnson, sis
| ter and brother of the dead man, who
! own the house in which their brother
| was killed and where their father lives
now. are arranging 10 sell the place.
! They say they will never deep IN the
/ old home again. and they express 'ndf-
] ference as 10 what Will becJme OF their
father when his roof Is sold from over
| HIS head
The detectives assigned 10 this case
are running here and there tonight mys-
| teriously. They have not manifested 50
much activity I'm many days J: IL known
/ that certain important links Of evidence
/ are still missing from the complste chain.
/ hut 4, is believed that these will be found