Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-21
BIunder OF Murderer in Check
ing Trunk Led to Discovery
OF Horrible Crime.
DRUGGED, BLACKJACKE0, SHOT
In Room Of Man Held for Deed Was
Found blackjack" Clotted
With Blood.

Il
der OF the murderer in wrongly
routing a trunk sent TO the Union
depot in this city was the means late
yesterday OF disclosing CHASTITY
murder The victim II william A.
johnson, who with his wife and seven
year old son, arrived here Monday
morning, In company with a man
who went by the name OF a. G.. powers.
The party registered at a cheap north
end hotel, Powers" as coming from
Nome, Alaska. The Johnsons did not
give their residence.
Powers, whose real name is James
+. webb, and Mrs. johnson we're ar
rested at an uptown lodging house
early today. They were located through
the finding Of 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 in
toSicated. denied all knowledge OF the
crime. webb declared that he saw
johnson last at the Union depot yes
terday afternoon waiting for train
to go to seattle. He asserted that
johnson was intoxicated at the time
Nothing OF importance was elected
from either
on Webb's person were found two
watches, one Of which Mrs. Johnson
Identified as her husbands, and two
ladies' handSerchiefs both blood stain
ed one Of Webb's hands was injured
and bandaged. He carried an inter-
national typographical card issued by
Vancouver b c. local number 226.
webb Is believed 20 have operated
In real estate in Seattle within the
past few months,
AN ORDINARY TRUNK
An ordinary looking trunk was re-
cciVed at the depot late In the day
and ordered checked via the oregon
and Washington railroad TO North
Puyallup. station not on that road.
shortly before 10 o'clock last night
the trunk was taken to the platform.
There the mistake was noticed and
IL was sent back to the bassaScroon.
A little later one Of the baggagemen
noticing pool ~ blood. which had
| trickled from the trunk and break
Ing the trunk open, discovered the
| body OF n man
investigation by the detectives de-
vetoped that the mans name was ".
| 4 johnson ana visit to the room Oc
cupied by him and HIS family resulted
| In the discovery that the mattresses
wore saturated with blood, and also
that blood was spattered over many
personal belongings Of Johnson
Several beer bottles were found in
the room and a bottle OF wood alcohol.
empty.
The detectives believe that Johnson
was first drugged with the alcohol then
struck over the temple with black
jack" as he lay on the bed, next shot
through the temples and finally, 20
make death certain, Iohnson's negligee
shirt had been twisted and tightly
knDtted about his neck
Among the JohnsOns' belongings
were large number Of cards bearing
tho name OF Miss May Webster.
some Of them having the address 1915
south wall street and others 1881
Ellis street" san Francisco. The Wall
street address does not name any city,
but is believed by the police TO be in
Spokane, Wash.
DAMAGING EVIDENCE.
In Powers room, suit case was
found. containing a blackjack clotted
with blood and frayed at one end
| handbook OF the scandinavian Amert-
can bank Of Seattle, belonging to j, T.
webb. some loose envelopes, which had
| borne the same address and an inter
national typogra phical union card, No
| 222s. issued by the Vancouver, Il. g,
| local to j. Z. Webb.
According TO the clerk Of the house,
the trunk left the hotel about the mid
| die Of the afternoon, The clerk said
| ne remembered the incident because
| IN. porter commented upon It's weight
after having carried II To the express
! wagon.
\ few minutes later the clerk stated.
| Mrs. Johnson and her child left the
| hotel and did not return About b
| o'clock Powers" came down and after
! saving he was going out FOR little
| while. mentioned that tho Johnsons
| would probably go 60 Seattle on
! night train.
! found on Mrs Johnson The woman
! said her husband had recently sold a
! farm near Seattle and that yesterday
| he mad entrusted the money TO her
| FOR safekeeping.
| The woman told the police that she
| married Johnson AT Butte, Mont, eight
| wears ago. They lived in several cities
! ana "a few wears ago went 10 Renton.
| near Seattle. where johnson acquired
! some property which enhanced greatly
| I'm value Six months ago Johnson
| sold his Rentou property for SIS 600,
| since which time they have been
! travelling about the country
| Tho police have been unable so Tar
| To- get any satisfactory statement from
webb. .-.-..
WEBB Is \ PRINT Err
Vancouver T. c.. June 2l.-Jesse =.
| Webb. held In Portland for the murder
OF ". \ Johnson, was employed as a
| prJntar az a ioh office here until three
/ months ago. when ne left town. he rs
| an expert printer but none Of the union
! ofHcialS know anything ~ his history.