The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-06
Several Rewards Offered for Solu-
tion of Question, Did Mortimer
johnson Kill Himself?
SIMILAR TO BURDICK CASE.
Brother and Sister of Young Bust
ness Man Found Dead in His
Room Are Satisfied That
lie Was Murdered.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Baltimore. Md. July 5.-Rewards aggre-
eating s1.1co are offered for the arrest and
conviction of the murderer of ]. Mortimer
Johnson prominent young business man
of this city. who was found with two bullet
holes in his head in his bedroom on the
third floor of his fathers home. at No.
1879 Hollins street. early in the morning CT
June "a
This is the latest development in the mys-
terious shooting case which is generally
believed to have been a murder. In some
respects it is a parallel of the Burdick mys-
terry of Buffalo.
Although eleven days have elapsed since
the finding of Mir. Johnson's body nothing
has been brought out in the Investigations
of the police and the Coroner that would
tend to raise the veil of mystery surround
ing tbs young mans death.
The police have held to the theory of sui
eide up to this time, and they have the sup
port of the young mans father in this be-
lief
Walter johnson of New York and Mrs
Lady Durret of Paramount. ". Va. brother
and sister of the dead man, scout the sui
Cide theory and do not hesitate TO declare
that their brother was murdered and that
woman WAS the criminal. Public sentiment,
which is aroused by the mystery, is that Nj.
johnson was murdered.
1t is expected that the rewards offered to-
day Will attract outside detectives who may
be able to solve the mystery A local paper
this morning offered reward of $50 and
the brother and sister of the dead man sup
picm"nt@G this with 800 more. This amount
stirred the police to do something in the
same lire. and Marshal Farman announced
tonight that he would add 500 to the re-
ward fund. although he declared that he
still held to the opinion of suicide.
TWO REvOLvERS USED.
Mr.. Johnson vas killed by two bullets
from reviewers OF different caliher. One
was a 22-caliber and the other a IS. The
detectives found that the 8-caliber revolver
was out OF order and that II only exploded
cartridge when the cylinder was turned
with the fingers. This is a snas which
those accepting the theory OF suicide do not
attempt to explain.
Mr.. Johnson's body was discovered by
Charles sheeler, man Of all work, EN-,
pioyed by MIR. Johnson's father. He called
to the young man to come to breakfast
and. getting ne response, went to the bed
room. He looked in. but says ne did not
and made the discovery that Mr.. johnson
was fully dressed. One OF the revolvers
lay about two feet from the body and the
other under the body.
The attendant notified the elder Mr.. john
son. who sent him for a physician, and
later told him to summon Mrs: Susan
WHO HIS Deen d lIlcHu Oh tNe eitei
MIR. Johnson for many years. When the
police reached the house they found Mrs.
Suter in charge. and she forbade them TO
enter the room where the body lay. She
was brushed aside. however. When she tes-
titled before the Coroner's jury. she said
that the case could no. have been anything
, else except 4 suicide.
The elder Mr.. Johnson also testified that
he believed the Young man had committed
suicide. He said that there was a strain Of
insanity in the family on Mortjmers moth
ers side. Mrs. Suter was called before the
jury four times and told straightforward
story every time. She said that Mortimer
and she Were always on good terms
Testimony somewhat opposed to this lat
ter statement Of Mrs Suffers was given
by Miss Violet Stanbaugh. cousin of
Mortimer Johnson. She lived in the John
son home six years and told of a remark
Mortimer once made to her.
He told me-" declared Miss Stambaugh
that If Mrs. Suffer- ever came into the
house to keep her in front of me- He would
not trust her behind him. he said''
Evidence was introduced at the Coroner's
inquest showing that Mrs. Suter was a
frequent visitor at the Johnson home.