The log cabin Democrat., 1922-01-13
OFFICERS FROM TWO COU,lILS ON TAAI-
BRUTAL DOUBLE TRAGEDY
In Which George Hopkins and Wife Were Slain Near Marshall Ascrib-
 ed to Tom and Roy Johnson

With officers of both Faulkner and Pulaski county in search of them, Tom C. Johnson and his son, Roy, who are accused of brutally mnrdering George w. Hopkins and his wife, Mrs. Nettle Hopkins, near Marshall Schoolhouse, Wednesday night, Were still at large so far as could be learned at the hour this edition of the Log Cabin DemG- crat went to press this afternoon. So completely is the whole community in terror of the two Johnsons, the of ficers fear their capture will be diff ficult and may not be accomplished without further bloodshed
 Sheriff W. M. Brady and Deputy J. l. Summers left Conway at 10 o'clock this morning to resume the search for the two men. They stated they expected to organize a posse and push the chase of the alleged murder CTS as vigorously as possible. In Pu- laski county, according to wires re- ceived from Little Rock, the sheriff's office has sent a detail of men into Bayou Meto township, adjoining Faulkner, where the Johnsons were reported to have been seen.
 Chester Polk of Enola saw and spoke to Tom Johnson ir the road com ing from Little Rock apout sunset yes terday, according to report reach ing here today. Polk at the time knew
 nothing of the double murder with which Johnson is charged. Johnson, he said, was walking around the road
 with his hands thrust m his overalis.
 He was about 40 miles north of Lit- tie Rock at the time, the report said. This would indicate he had travelled a number of miles since he was seen yes terday morning at the home of Lewis Clements, east of Vilonia. Nothing, so far as could be learned, has been seen of Roy Johnson since the tragedy.
 Justice of the Peace John Walls of Palarm township, who presided at the inquest over the bodies of Mir. and Mrs Hopkins, arrived here this afternoon and reported that the coroner's jury failed to fix blame fer the killing, finding the ma hand his wife came to their death at the hands of "unknown parties" Fear of the Johnsons on the part of the jurors is ascribed by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney c. A. Holland for the failure to charge the killing to the Johnsons, as the evidence of their guilt at the inquest was un- mistakeable, Mr Holland said Justice Walls was dissatisfied with the yer dict himself on this account and did not file it in circuit court, stating that he would endeavor to have the jury place the blame.
 It was illicit liquor, probably of their own manufacture, which fired the brains of two men, father and son, in whom illicit liquor had already bred a contempt for the law, and caused them to commit the most brutal double murder in the annals of the county, it was revealed when Deputy Sheriff !. I. Summers, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney c. A. Holland and Herbert Martin, who were sum- mored by first reports of the tragedy, returned to Conway last night and gave first authentic details of the gruesome tragedy.
 Marion Wright, the only witness who was examined at the inquest held by Justice of the Peace John L. Walls of Palarm township, related the cir which led up to the kill ing. Wright said he went over to Hopkins home about 8 o'clock We'd nesday night and found Tom and Roy Johnson there, They had brought a quantity of whskey with them and all were drinking, Wright said. About 9 o'clock the elder Johnson made a to Mrs. Hopkins which Hop- kins resented and trouble between the men threatened at that time Tom Johnson, he said, went cut to the yard and brought in long pole, but no fight occurred at that time. Wright said he decided to leave, but as ne further trouble would oc- cur he remained near and in hearing distance of the house.
 During the next two or three hours there was good deal of loud talk ing and disturbance, he said, which about II o'clock eliminated in what to he free-for all fight. and several pistol or gun shots were fired.