The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-17
CONF LICTING ARE.
-FOUR ACCOUNTS OF.
ROADHOUSE KILLING.
Eye Witnesses Tell Contra
tictory Stories of John
son Murder Sunday
Night

Evidence submitted by four wit
nesses at the inquest Of Coroner J.
D. Russum yesterday morning into
the killing of Waldo S. johnson of
Pelham, which occurred Sunday at
midnight at the roadhouse of Ben
McGimpsey, six miles distant from
the city, was considered highly con-
Trajectory by Coroner Russum. Ben
C. McGimpsey, who was arrested an
hour after the killing by De-
tectives J. T. Moser and W. F..
Watson, Is being held in the county
jail without bond pending the out
come of the inquest.
Remains of Johnson were yester-
day sent 10 Pelham by Johns, for
funeral services and interment. The
funeral services Will take place to-
day from the New Hope church. in
Pelham, interment in the New Hope
cemetery. Johnson is survived by
his mother, Mrs. Fl. L. Johnson of
Pelham; two brothers and two sis
tiers.
According to the testimony of Mrs.
Rose Johnson. the divorced wife of
the slain man, who was present when
the killing occurred, she stopped at
the roadhouse Sunday night on re-
turn automobile trip to Pelham,
where she had gone in the effort to
bring about a reconciliation with her
husband, but failed to locate him.
Husband Appeared
She testified that she was accom-
panied to Pelham by Miss Henry
Coranez, who was wounded In the
knee during the shooting affray.
She said that as she stopped the car
husband
peared and that she went into the
road house with him. They ordered
drinks from McGimpsey. she stated,
and that after serving the drinks he
pulled his pistol and began firing at
he husband.
When questioned as to the shooting
of Miss coranez, who witnesses al
lege was shot by Johnson, Mrs
Johnson stated that she knew moth
ing of it and said her husband did
not have a pistol at the time.
C. A. Chambers told a similar story
to that of Mrs. Johnson regarding
the two women having come into the
place, the ordering of drinks, and of
the subsequent shooting of Johnson.
He testified that he did not know
Miss Coranez had been shot until
after Johnson had been killed.
Different Version
a. M. SnaCkteIOTus eIHploye Ol ME-
Gimpsey's road house, gave an en-
tirely different version of the shoot
ing to that OF Mrs. Johnson and
Chambers.
Shackleford declared that John
son came to the road house about 3
O'Clock Sunday night, and remained
for a short while, and then went
away, returning In short while
with Chambers. Shackleford de-
clared that Johnson and Chambers
were lounging in the room of the
road house when the car, containing
Mrs. johnson and Miss Coranez drove
up in front of the place. Shaclle-
ford testified that Johnson, after
learning who was in the car, went
out to the vehicle. following which
he heard voices and one shot fired.
Shack1eford then said that Mrs
johnson, followed by her husband,
soon appeared in the doorway of the
road house, johnson having pistol
in his hand, Shackleford quoted Mrs
johnson as saying to her husbands:
Don't do that" Shackleford testi-
fled that Johnson pointed the pistol
at McGimpsey. who said that he was
willing to be friends. Shackleford
said that when he saw Johnson with
the pistol in his hands, he backed
out OF the room and a few seconds
later he heard three shots fired.
Upon his return, Shackleford testi-
fled that he found Johnson laying
In the doorway, breathing his last
and with the pistol In his hand.
Detective J. T. Moser, who arrested
McGimpsey, testified that he found
johnson laying face downward, with
pistol under his hands.
George Joseph, who drove the car
hired by Mrs. Johnson, had not been
located late yesterday. The investi-
cation will be continued today.