The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-05
MORTIMER JOHNSON'S DEATH.
THE BALTIMORE POLICE SAY IT
WAS A MURDER.
Young Mans Father and Woman Friend
0r the Father say Suicidc--Brother
and Sister Say II Was Murder shot
with REVIEWERS or Varying CaIlbrc.

BALTIMORE, July 4-The Baltimore police
are wrestling with one OF the most myster-
ious shooting cases that have ever been
brought to public notice In this city. On
the morning of Wednesday, June "a. the
dead body of j. Mortimer johnson, owner
Of a prosperous business, and son Of former
city Councilman Joseph q. johnson,
wealthy property owner, was found lying
on the floor of his bedroom. in the third
story of his fathers home, 1880 Hollins
street. Charles Sheeler, man-of-all-work
about the Johnson home, made the dis
every, and his alarm caused an investiga-
ton by detectives and Coroner's jury,
which has developed nothing to decide
whether the young man committed suicide
or was murdered
When found the body was fully dressed
in suit of fashionable clothing young
johnson usually wore. Two bullet holes
we're found in his head.
In the johnson family. which has long
been known in southwest Baltimore for the
political prominence and charitable acts OF
the head of the house, Joseph G. johnson,
there IL wide difference of opinion as to the
manner OF Mortmer's death. Dr. Lady
Durrett of Fairmont, W. Va, who was
the first woman to graduate in medicine
in Baltimore, is sister Of j. Mortimer John
son. She has been in this city since the day
after the tragedy and Investigations in
stituted by her caused her TO exclaim
positively before the Coroner's jury last
Wednesday:
MY brother was murdered. No one
except a woman had a motive to put him
out Of the way. My brother never took his
own life. He loved me too much and would
have thought of the consequences upon
me"
walter johnson. a cartoonist OF New
York city. who recently returned from
Paris, is a brother Of the dead man. Like
his sister, Mrs, Durrett, he believes th,.t his
brother was murdered. Before the jury
of inquest Walter johnson said:
MY brother did not commit suicide
any more than am dead man sitting in
this chair. A woman a woman can tell
something OF this case"
Friends and relatives Of Mortimer John
son have been examined by the dozen and
OF them all the only ones who think young
johnson committed suicide are his father,
Joseph G.. Johnson, and Mrs. Susan Suter,
wife OF William Suter, a halter, who lives
az 1888 west Baltimore street,
Mr.. johnson told the jury that his son
long ago remarked to him that if he ever
got into any deep trouble he would end
his life Not a witness appeared who was
willing to say that young johnson was
in trouble of any kind. Only the night
before his death he called on j. p Bgham
an intimate friend, and together they
planned an outing for the following Satur-
day.
Mrs. Susan Suter has been friend Of the
elder Mr.. johnson for several years. She
said to the jury in giving her Id, of the
case:
1T must be suicide. It can't be murder.
Mrs. Suter told the jury that j. G. johnson
visited her home on the evening preceding
the finding Of the body and that he left
az 1890 o'clock. She was positive of this
because she looked at clock in her dining
room as Mr.. johnson left. Mr.. johnson
swore he was home at 10 o'clock. Both
Mr.. johnson and Mrs Suter were recalled
by the jury, but adhered to their original
statements. When the body was first
discovered the police thought it a case of
suicide of an unusual character. because
the young man had been shot by two pis-
tols--of 80 and .3s calbre
The Coroner and the detectives found
the door Of Mortimers room locked when |
they first entered the house. Their passage
way through the house was barred by |
Mrs. Suter, who said she was acting under !
orders from J. G. Johnson. The officers |
OF the law pushed the woman aside, and |
after Charles Sheeler. the ma n of -all-work, |
produced the key to the room they entered |
Face downward the body lay surrounded |
hu n mn Of A iIrAr
owned by Mortimer, lay about two feet !
away from the body. Another weapon Of |
.3s calibre, which was later identified by |
j. G.. johnson as belonging to him, was /
under the body.
The Coroner and detectives were puzzled |
at the aspect Of the case confronting them. |
The theory Of accidental death was quickly |
put out Of mind when the investigating |
party concluded that a man could hardly !
be handling two pistols and happen to
shoot himself in the head with both.
Robbery had not been the motive be-
cause the young mans three-stone diamond |
ring, valued at $500, was found on his anger,
his diamond stud was in his shirt front and |
a roll OF money was in his pocket. Of
happy disposition. with friends by the
pound and known all over that part Of the
city for his kind acts. especially to the
poor, Coroner Jones came to the conclusion |
that Mortimer had not committed suicide
ITO AtteCLlStc WOuIu IOJ eXpTeSS an |
opinion, but for six days they were busy
running down r,Irnors and clues. A Jury |
of inquest failed, after three sittings, to
fasten the crime on anyone. and could not
determine that the young man committed
suicide Charles Sheeler, the man-of all
work, who has been employed in the John
son home for several years, told the Jury
that he whistled for Mortimer al was his
custom, TO come to breakfast on the morning
of June % He did not get response and
went TO Mortimers room to look for him,
and failed to see the body because as he
explained, he only glanced inside hur-
riedly. Sheeler told the jury he returned
to the kitchen, but felt unsettled regarding |
the young man and returned to the bed
room, where he discovered the body. He
notified Mr.. johnson, the elder, who i'm
mediately sent him for DR.. Wilbur Stubbs,
and later sent him for Mrs Susan Suter.
Until the arrival OF Mortimers sist or, |
Mrs. Durrett, from Fairmont, W. Va,
Mrs. Suter was in charge Of the johnson
home. Sheeler declared to the jury that
he heard no pistol shots in the house during
the night preceding the discovery Of the
body although he slept on the same floor
with Mortm At Police Headquart ers
Sheeler was "sweated" by Marshal of Police
Farnan and Captain OF Detectives Pur-
phrey. He was put through the third
degree" in all It's searching inquiries.
Sheeler chung tenaciously TO his original
stat ement about finding the body. He
told the police that he knew Of no reason
why Mortimer should commit suicide.