The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-28
GRIFFITH IMPLICATED
ENGINEER SUSPECTED OF MURDER
 OF JOHNSON.
Testimony of Negro Corroborated by That of Other Wftnesses-Cor- oner's Investigation Not Yet
 Completed.

Pensacola, Fla, Dec. 27.-tSpecial.)-
 w. Trairs Johnson, widely known and highly esteemed young man of this city who could count his frenrs by the score was found murdered this morning in a club room on South Palafox street at $40 o'clock, and the occurrence mas had added a great deal of mystery oy the later discovery that the house had been entered and the sum of $20O had been stolen.
 The sheriff, the chief of police and every city and county of1cer In the place are straining every nerve to catch the murderer and robber, and the most thorough net that can De deviseo has been thrown out.
 The young man was alone In the room when murdered. Mir. Allie Riera, his life time associate. had left him a short time before and had gone across the street to a restaurant to get cup of coffee, MT. Johnson refusing an in- vitation to go with him.
 MT. Riera drank his coffee and then went directly back to the club room. He was surprised to find the front door locked. He called to Johnson, but the latter, who had been left reading a newspaper, did not respond. MT. Riera evidently thought the young man had fallen into a dose and he went around to the rear entrance, making an entrance in that manner. He and a friend mounted the stairway and MT. Riera went directly to the room in which he had left Johnson.
 He was mortified to find the body stretched at full length on the floor with the head almost severed from his body. The young man, who had pos sibly been deeply engrossed in his newspaper, had been struck from be- hind, his life having been taken with single blow and this blow was so well directed that he fell to the floor without murmur and was laying at full length on his face when Riera en- tered the room.
 The coroner and the officers were summoned at once, and the search for the assassin began. It was readily conceded that the murderer had hidden himself in the building and that when he saw that the young man was alone. he suddenly made way from his hiding place and bounced upon the victim, Killing him with a single blow.
 The club room was luxuriously fur nished. Paper of the latest and most stylish patterns adorned the walls, while on the floor was most expen- sive carpet. This latter aided the thief and murderer in his movements, and would not have attracted attention from the otnce below. The room in which the young man was murdered was directly over that occupied by the Postal Telegraph Company, and was formerly the headquarters of the Elks. The club had good attendance. and was enjoying an era of prosperity.
 The remains were allowed to rest at the club room until the coroner had viewed them. and then were taken to the undertaking establishment for preparation for burial. In the mean time the officers are working at every clue to catch the murderer.
 In the Johnson murder case, the cor oner's jury took up the investigation this afternoon, and made a thorough research into the matter. Evidence of a damaging nature was found against John Griffith, a steamboat engineer. who was known to have telephoned to Johnson to meet him at the club where the killing took place.
 Griffith was arrested shortly after noon. He seemed downcast when the discriminating evidence continued to come out against him and the consn- sus of opinion tonight is that he Is the man responsible for the deed.
 Henry Campbell. colored. was before the jury and told that he saw Griffith emerge from the rear of the clubroom with bloody hands. The way he acted gave Campbell the impression that he was trying to elude detection. Camp bell watched Griffith some time and thought he acted like a man much frightened. Others saw Griffith and all corroborated the negro's testimony
 The jury will report at 10 tomorrow and tonight, Griffith Is locked up at the county jail. No charge has been placed against him.