The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-11
Paris is Ordered to Release ScToggins of Suffer the
 Consequences MRS, M, ). JOHNSON TALKS ABOUT HUSBANDS DEATH Widow Says She Is Confident Her Husband Was Murdered-Addi-
 tional Witnesses Are
 Secured.

Johnson double murder case near North Birmingham which Is attracting so much attention when a threat was made yes terday on the life of Coroner Paris if he did not release Harry Scroggns, who is held in the county jail in connection with the death of West.
 The coroner found a slip of paper under the top of his desk yesterday morning when he went to the Gaudin Undertaking establishment, on which was written the following:
 Coroner Paris: Unless you release Harry Scroggins immediately drastic measures will be taken. Your future success in Birmingham will be at an end. (Sioned.) "F."
 Coroner Paris laughed at the threat last night. and said he would be present when the killing took place. He also said that he would carry the investigation to an end and would convict the guilty man.
 While there were no developments yes- terday which the officers would make public, it is known that some additional witnesses were found whose testimony
 
 The case originated when D. A. West was found fatally wounded last Monday morning on the side of road near North Birmingham Two men were arrested in connection with the case, and they are still in the county jail.
 Saturday morning M. D. Johnson, one of the most important witnesses against the two men in jail, was found dead be- tween two logs in a. field near his home at North Birmingham. bullet hole through his breast showed the manner of death. and the officers are now trying to find out who killed him. Some people adhere to the suicide theory, but the of- ficers are unanimous in their opinion that he was killed. They even go so far as to intimate that the killing was done In connection with the West case.
 There seems to have been no cause for Johnson's taking his own life and for that reason the officers do not hold to the suicide theory. One of them said yesterday that there could be only one thing that would have led Johnson to commit suicide, and that was that he had killed West himself and feared dis- covery. In the same breath the officer laughed at this possibility and said it was not to be considered for minute.
 Marshal Cole of North Birmingham and Coroner Paris are Investigating the West case, and also the Johnson case which are so closely allied.
 Among other things 1t is stated in con nection with the death of Johnson that he left home Friday night at o'clock and came to Birmingham. Johnson started for the e,ore where he was employed but never reached there.
 Mrs. Johnson was seen yesterday after noon at her home in North Birmingham and asked if she still believed her hus- band had been murdered and she said that she could never be convinced other wise. She told of her parting with him on the fatal evening and continuing said
 Why should l believe my husband killed himself when he had every reason to be happy and contented. When he went away Friday night I felt uneasy on account of the West murder and his connection with the case, but he appeared to be in the best of spirits. l heard a shot fired in the vicinity where his body was found about 10 O clock and some how it affected me very much. l was feeling very badly and lay awake all night wish ing for his safe return. He told me a few days before his death that he had loaned his pistol, 32-calibre weapon, tc Scroggins and that the man kept 1t all night, returning it to him at o'clock Monday morning. He said Scroggins had left an empty pistol and the one he took away was loaded in every chamber. Wher it was returned he broke it and founo that it contained two new cartridges 1T place of the old ones. He also said that it looked a little suspicious but that ht would tell no one of the matter. Wher he was summoned to appear before the coroner's jury and told what he knew of the killing, he went from North Br mingham to the city on the same cal with scroggns and the man urged hin to say nothing about his having exchang ed pistols on the night of the murder.
 'He had about sS in his pockets wher he went away from home Friday nsh and this was missing when he was found l am anxious to see the mystery cleared and if my husband was murdered his slayers shall be punished As far as know he did not receive warning of any kind. and if he knew that his life was in danger he never said he thought so''
 Marshal Cole of North Birmingham sac that there were to be new developments and that more will be brought to lghi as the investigation proceeds. He would not state the nature of the new evidence but said it would all be brought out al the second inquest. Several new wit nesses will be introduced whose testimony promises to be sensational. Two in quests will be held by Coroner Paris thi, week to take further testimony. Th' continued inquest in the West case vii be held Wednesday morning at 9.3' o'clock in Gaudins undertaking establish ment and the Johnson inquest will bt held in the city hall in North Birming ham Thursday afternoon. This last in. quest was to have been held Saturday afternoon, and the jury was summoned but was continued to allow the officers tc secure additional witnesses.
 A report was circulated in the city and reached North Birmingham to the effect that Will Wells, another witness in tn, West case, had been found dead in bed but 1t proved to be wild rumor.
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