Evening journal., 1921-06-18
SHOCKLEY CASE
MYSTERY GROWS
Johnson Denies Sending
Telegram Announcing
Mans Death
LOCAL POLICE
ARE INTERESTED

supposed to have sent telegram
from indianapolis, Ind, TO George
Shockley. 624 West Fifth street. an
nouncing that his son. Ellwood
shockiey, aged 80 years. had been
drowned in the food at Pueblo,
Colorado, had any knowledge OF the
telegram or or the present where
abouts Of young shockley. is denied
in a letter received by local news
paper from Mr.. johnson. who is now
in Miami. Florida.
Mr.. Shockley has requested the aid
of the Bureau OF Police in clearing
up the mystery and is awaiting an
answer to inquiries sent TO Pueblo
by superintendent OF Police Black.
The letter OF Mr.. Johnson fol-
lows:
As the Causeway Realty Corpo-
ration OF this city is a subscriber TO
your paper and I am in the employ
of the company, / have had the I'D
erty OF reading the publication IN
reference 10 the mystery Of Mr.. FL
wood Shockley. it being reported
that am wanted in the case as a
suspect for the sender Of the tele-
gram sent on the 9th from Indian
apolis, Ind.
Now in order TO clear matters
1 wish to call to your attention that
left Wilmington, Del, on the date
II September Il. 1920. and arrived in
I, fiami. Fla. the 27th Of September.
|. have been in Miami all the time
since my arrival. and 1 have not
seen or heard anything from Mr..
Shockley since about two weeks be-
fore left Wilmington
He went in the office OF the PEN
Del Development Corporation, where
was employed at that time. and
made me a payment on his lots And
as usual we had quite a talk; dur
ing the conversation he mentioned
his property in Florida, and asked
me to write to the Recorder OF
Deeds in some county Of this state
and try to locate the property for
which az one time he held deeds, but
as he was unable TO tell me the name
Of the county, 1 could not do any
thing for him, so the subject was
dropped. and from that day have
never seen or heard from him.
think / sent him a card upon my ar.
rival in Miami. but never received
any reply.
Il would appreciate II very much
II you would make this plain to tn,
readers OF your paper in the next pub
lication, and assure them that 1 an
in no way connected with the send
ing OF such telegram. 1 have n,
other means of clearing up this riva
mystery than to say and to prov
my whereabouts since left vii
mington. This can do without an.
trouble at the request of anyone con
cerned."
Upon receipt OF the telegram. MI
Shockley sent a telegram TO A.
johnson, Indianapolis, asking him {
wire or write him full particulars
After waiting in suspense for severa
days. and not receiving any furthe
word from the sender OF the tele
gram, and being informed by tn
telegraph Office here that no repor
Of non-delivery had been received
Mr.. Shockley requested the local po
lice department to communicate wit
the police In Indianapolis in an en-
deavor to locate the Johnson VIII
sent the original wire.
The local police several days ag
sent a telegram 10 the chief OF po
lice at Pueblo. and the Salvatio
Army and Red Cross have bee
asked by the young mans parent
10 assist them In getting some in
formation conserving their son.
Thus far no word has been rt
ceived from any source that woul
throw any light on the mystery. AZ
cording 20 the father. several day
: after he left this city last fall
telegram was received from his so
in Baltimore, stating he had bee
: robbed and asking for funds, bl
not designating his whereabout
that city. Mr.. Shockley wired II
chief Of police at Baltimore TO II
tc locate the youth so that he coul
send him the money requested. tn
Baltimore police sent back word the
were unable to find young Shockle
Since that time his parents ha
heard nothing from him and wei
under the impression that his fon'
ness for the navy had lured him ini
service again, until the telegrai
from indianapolis was received.
Despite his inability TO locate II
sender of the last mentioned me
sage, Mr.. Shockley is inclined to n
belief that his son may have goI
West in search Of work and lost h
life in the Pueblo catastrophe. Wh'
told last night OF the receipt of Il
communication from Arthur
johnson, Miami" he adhered TO IN
belief. feeling that some friend
his son by the name of "A. =. Joh
son" had wired from Indianapoli
or. while hesitating 10 give creden
TO his suspicion. he felt there W
just a possibility that his son mi
have been instrumental In the sen
ing OF the message.
Mrs. Shockley disagrees with h
husband in this
Il am not willing to believe" 81
said last night. that my son wou
have sent such a telegram. knowii
the worry II would cause us"
n you want 10 be cool, enjoy pref
scenery and picnic In the open, 90
a..