The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-21
MURDERER'S
bad MISTAKE
Portland Has Trunk Murder
Mystery
VICTIMS WIFE is INVOLVED
TRUNK ROUTED WRONG BY
LAUNDERING MURDERERs, UN-
COVERS CHASTITY CRIME WHILE
TT is FREsH-WlFE OF VICTIM
AND MAN ARRESTED.

Portland, Ore, June 21.-The blum
der of murderers in wrongly routing a
trunk sent to the union depot in this
city, was the means late yesterday of
disclosing a CHASTITY murder. The vic
tim is William A Johnson, who with
his wife and 7-year-ol old son arrived
here Monday morning, in company
with man who went by the name of
A. c. Powers.
The party registered at a cheap
north end hotel as Powers, coming
from Nome, Alaska. The Johnson's
did not give their residence. Powers,
whose real name is J. P. Webb, and
Mrs. johnson, were arrested at an up
town lodging house early today. They
were located through finding the little
boy. during the absence of Powers, or
Webb, and the woman.
They were apprehended as they were
returning from an automobile trip to
suburban resort. Both the man and
woman, though badly intoxicated. de-
MED all knowledge of the crime
Webb declared he saw Johnson last
at the union depot yesterday after
noon, waiting for a train to go to Seat
tie. He asserted Johnson was intoxi-
Gated at the time Nothing important
was ELECTED from either
On Webb's person was found two
watches, one of which Mrs. Johnson
identified as her husbands, and two
ladies' handkerchiefs, both blood stain
ed. One of Webb's hands was injured
and bandaged
fs How Mistake Was Made.
Webb is believed to have operated in
real estate in Seattle within the last
few months.
The trunk was received at the depot
late in the day and ordered checked via
the Oregon & Washington railroad to
North Puyallup, a station not on that
road. The mistake was noticed on
the platform and the trunk went back
to the baggage room. Later one of the
baggage men noticed pool of blood,
which had trickled from the trunk,
broke 1t open and discovered the body.
The investigation Developed that the
mans name was w. A. johnson, and
a visit to the room occupied by him
and his family, resulted in the discov-
cry that mattress was saturated with
blood and also that blood was spattered
over many of the personal belongings
of Johnson. The detectives believe
Johnson first was doped with alcohol,
then struck over the temple with a
blackjack as he lay on the bed, next
shot through the temple and finally, to
make death certain, Johnsons negligee
shirt had been twisted and tightly
knotted about his neck.
In Powers" room d suit case was
found containing a blackjack covered
with blood and frayed at the end a
bank book Of the Scandinavian Aneri-
can bank of Seattle belonging to J. p.
Webb.
According to the clerk Of the hotel.
the trunk left the hotel about the mid
die of the afternoon. A few minutes
later, the clerk stated. Mrs. johnson
and her child left the hotel and did not
return. About s o'clock Powers" came
down and after saying he was going
out for a little while, mentioned that
the Johnsons would probably go to
Seattle on the night train. Over 81. 900 |
in currency was found on Mrs. John
son. The woman said her husband had |
recently sold a farm near Seattle and
had entrusted the money to her for
safe keeping.