Connecticut western news., 1921-06-09
JOHNSON BREAKS SILENCE
 OF MANY MONTHS Intimates Revelations May Follow Opening of Case
 Case

For the first time since his arrest in Alberta,' Canada, last October, charged with embezzlement, Phile- mon w. Johnson, one time treasurer of, the town of Norfolk, who disap- peared in 1917 following series of financial complications in which he was believed to have been involved, Monday broke the silence he has maintained throughout the entire in- vestigation of his. case.
 In a statement regarding his ap- preaching trial when he will face the charge of embedding Norfolk town | funds to- the amount of SIT, ,000, MT. i Johnson revealed the fact that he in- tends to bring to light evidence to prove that he was used as a tool by number of other parties in Norfolk and vicinity in handling the town funds, and the accounts of the Nor folk Manufacturing Company of which he was treasurer. s... Others Implicated, He Says
 As a result of bis decision to tell all he knows of the misuse of Nor folks funds, startling disclosures are expected to follow. For long time, Johnson has absolutely refused to make any statement that would involve anyone else in the case, al- though the opinion has been general that there was a sensational back ground to the Johnson case, that would result in more than one per son being found to have had a con- nection with the mishandling of the funds of the town. Now that he has completed a chain of evidence in his own behalf, MT. Johnson intimated Monday that when the time came he would make full and frank state ment of all the facts in the case.
 Will Tell All
 "The public may rest assured", he said, "that there will be some sur prises in store for them when the truth comes out. l have waited a long time, but when my story is told at the trial, it will be found that someone else had something to ao with the money, too"
 l f-.. .#tt. Ask Change of Venue
 The clerk of the superior court in 1 Winsted Monday received copy of motion filed on behalf of Mir. John son, in which Benedict M. Holden and Josiah H. Peck of Hartford, counsel for MT. Johnson, ask the Litchfield county. The reason for the request is said to be the fact that here are so many complications in the case that Mir. Johnson's law yers wish to, have the trial trans ferred to another couny, The case has become so involved, they point out, that it would be difficult to comb 1 Litchfeld county for a jury to try the case. MT. Johnson is now out on bonds.
 MT. Johnson has been spending considerable time in trying to find the facts concerning the Norfolk Manufacturing Company. All the sins of this company, were visited upon MT. Johnson during his three 1 years absence.
 Horton's Whereabouts Unknown
 Shortly before Johnson came back to Norfolk, J. Francis Horton, who was lawyer for the company, left this vicinity, and Johnson is more than anxious to locate him. It seems that when Johnson was treasurer of the town of Norfolk, he was treasurer of the manufacturing company and on several occasions he had business dealings with MT. Horton. Concern ing this, MT. Johnson Monday made this statement:--
 "A good many things can be said about man in his absence, and when l think of the number of false state ments that were said concerning my conduct, I refrain from talking about MT. Horton until he is in a position where he can hear what say"
 What Johnson would like to say in connection with Horton's disappear ance just prior to Johnson's return to the United States remains to be seen.
 Denies Forgery Charge
 When Johns on first disappeared, statements were made by various parties in Norfolk that hes had forged notes or raised notes. It1 1was claim ed that he forged the name of 4. Burton Color on a note for S2,300, which was on the City Bank & Trust Go. of Hartford. This statement was attributed to Walter Collar and A. Burton Collar by Mir. Johnson.
 Since then, it has become known that Johnson's lawyers h$ve on file letters from the Collar Brothers de- nying that Johnson forged the name of either to the notes or raised any notes.l
 Change of Attitude
 One thing is noticeable. That is that there is a sharp issue between some of the residents of Litchfe.i county as to statements, which they have made about Mir. Johnson. Many persons were willing, if not extreme ly anxious, to make statements dero- gatory to him when he was away, nud the imnrpssion yai~pd pround