The San Francisco call., 1908-03-29
man TOO NEAR FOR
POLICE TO DISCOVER
Insurance Agent, Companion OF;
Actress Who Shot Herself,
Again Disappears
Mystery of Jewel Robbery Not
Yet Solved by the De-
tectives

-
OAKLAND. March 2s-while the po-
lice searched for Edward johnson. the
missing man who lived at 1877 Mar
ket street with Miss Alice Brady. the
pretty actress who shot herself ia an
attempt at suicide to avoid being aues-
toned as to the alleged theft Of jewels
and money from Mrs Grace Frost OF
1861 Thirteenth street, the sought for
insurance agent slept peacefully In the
Hotel Athens, about two blocks away
from the police, station, or visited at
Providence hospital with the wounded
woman He was registered at the hotel
as Pierce e. Johnston. and he remained
at his room until early this morning,
when he left hastily The police are
again at a loss to locate him.
In the course of their Investigations
today the police uncovered information
concerning the woman who called her
self Mrs. Catherine Johnson, which
confirmed the exclusive Identification
published in The Call this morning that
the woman was Miss Alice Brady. an
actress. who. according to her own
statements, was once in Maude Adams
company. Also, it has been learned
that her maiden name was Brady. and
that she was well known in Tacoma,
Wash. In fact, it was from Tacoma
that the woman and the man, Pierce
Edward Johnston, came to Oakland.
sTET IN OTHER CITIES
The acquaintance of the insurance
agent with the handsome actress is not
short one. for the best Information of
the police on this point shows that they
nave met in many cities. They arrived
In Oakland only a short time ago, and
1T is supposed they met here by ar
rangement. taking apartments at 1877
Market street March is. 1t was there
that the woman shot herself while De-
tective st. Clair Hodgkins waited for
her in the hall yesterday morning.
Pierce Edward Johnston was not in
the Market street house when the de-
tective called. He was seen by the po-
lice after the shooting, although he
threw them off the scent by making an
engagement which. it is said he did
not keep. IT is probable that he waited
until nightfall at some place in this
city. for it was early in the evening
that he rented an apartment at the
Hotel Athens. He made himself known
to the clerk, saying he was the hus-
band of the woman who shot herself,
and then retired until 10 o'clock
VISITS WOUNDED WOMAN
He then went to Providence hospital
" oCC IL tlc dClTeSS Hdo rall1eQ from
her self-inflicted injury Late at night
Johnston came back to the hotel and
kept his room until he left this morn.
Ing. The police say now they do not
know where he is and assert that thew
have no wish to find him.
As yet they have not, however, recov-
cred the diamond ring and $3.50 in
money still missing from Mrs Frosts
purse. The rest were returned to her
IN a mall parcel which contained an
opal ring. small diamond ring and
two sapphire rings. It was Miss Brady
that the police first suspected, and De-
tective. Hodgkins was calling on Miss
Brady to take her to the police sta
tion when she shot herself. AS yet the
police have only suspicious as to the
real thief. and have not even a sus-
picion as to the whereabouts of Pierce
Edward Johnston.
At Providence hospital 1t was given
out this afternoon that Miss Brady is
recovering from her injury. She IA
kept under a close watch.