The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-20
FOUND IN
RANSACKED CABIN
TAKES LIFE TOLL
CONTINUED from first page,

Continued from first page.)
den avenue. who was eating lunch
with her family when che heard what
sounded 20 her like a muffled ex-
plosion. She thought very little OF
II, she told a News Scimitar reported
Tuesday night.
Mrs. Dutton, the dead boys mother,
was away from home at the time OF
her sons tragic death, She was at
tending n birthday dinner given for
her sister, and did not reach home
until after supper time. short while
after the boys body was discovered.
Thought He Was Playing.
The boys brothers and sisters and
his father, who is a carpenter for the
public schools of Memphis, thought
that Johnny was out playing with
other children of the neighborhood.
The small body. its head resting
against an old cook stove in the
negro shack. was discovered by VIII
Logan, negro, who resides in the
building. He returned In company
with John Bolden, another negro.
Logan. frightened out of his wits.
ran TO the boys father, and together
they discovered the still form. They
found the revolver beside the body.
Police were notified at once. and
the two negroes, who admitted the
revolver belonged to them. were ar
rested. Capt. Lee, of headquarters.
detailed Detective Sergeants Joo
Hewitt and Jimmy Taylor TO the
case.
They found the Dutton home and
- fafh AyhaEd ft1 a fttrFnnn FThArn
was some talk against the negroes
for a time.
Then a little girl was found who
had told someone that little Robert
had made the remark that he was
with the Mays boy when he shot
Johnny"
Hewitt and Taylor at once found
both the Thurman and the Mays boy,
and took them TO headquarters.
Sitting on Sergeant Hewitt's knee
in the detective bureau, his father
nearby, Robert told and retold the
story of the tragedy.
Troy shot little Johnny" he said,
'and I'm sorry, cause now we can't
play together any more"
Blames Another.
The tale could not be shaken. The
boy told IL always the same, but Troy
Mays maintained just as hard, al
though he was sobbing continually,
that Robert had done the shooting
u was found that he did not have
the strength to pull the heavy trig-
ger Of the revolver,
Then Lieut.. Hoyle. with Mays
brother, took the Mays boy into q
closed room, He was talked to
isfnAlks Male ~
was told the story OF how group
OF boys hanged Charles Weiss. and
finally he broke down, and told the
story.
Il shot poor little Johnny" he
said. Lieut. IIoyle told him he would
be treated kindly, and the boy put
his arms around the kindly police
officer. There were tears In the eyes
Of his listeners.
I'm worrying about my mother
he sobbed. and Mrs. Mays was sent
for at once.
Before the mothers arrival IL was
decided by police authorities TO re-
lease the lad temporarily TO his
mother and larger brothers. and Troy
and his mother found each others
arms in tho corridor of the police
station n few minutes later. The
Mays boy went home.
For four hours police worked on
the case. II appeared for a long
time TO be n deep mystery, and after
he Mays boy was brought to head |
quarters. il was not at all certain |
hat he would confess TO the shoot |
ng-fearing dire results.
Mrs. Dutton sobbed out her love |
or her dead son In their little home |
night. while the father and |
brothers and sisters sat by not speak |
ng for their grief. The body OF the |
'ayorite of the household lay IN the
iarlor.
Johnny was always an unlucky |
boy" cried the mother.
Just a year ago today he was
struck by an automobile and his leg
yroken, and now he's gone forever"
The heartbroken mother told also j!
II an incident which almost cost the /
Boys life prior to the automobile ae-
,ident. One Of his sisters set fire TO |
MS clothing with a match. and sthe |
flames were put out just in time to !
same him,
John Dutton is survived by his |
mother and father, three brothers and |
three sisters. They are; Allen, 81: |
Robert, Is; Albert. 8; Mildred, II; |
Lena Il, and Lucille 10