The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-04-12
Seek Evidence in Disappearance Two
Maine Guides

4 cNlueuCe WHICH might ledu 10 the COLI
viction of the individuals who are res
ponsible for the deaths of Game War
dens David F. Brown and Myrtley e.
Johnson, who have been missing since
last November, and of making ar
rangements for a search for the no.
dies of the two men, Willis +. Par
sons, State commissioner of Inland
fisheries and game, recently made a
trip into Northern Maine.
IN the woods near where the twU
wardens were last seen, there was
snow too deep to make a search for
the bodies possible, but the trip was
a profitable one for the, commission
err was able to consult camp regis
tiers and to pick up evidence which
may go a long way in solving the
mystery.
Mr.. Parsons and Curator James of
the States natural history depart
ment who accompanied him. travel
led several hundred miles, part of
the distance through the heart of
the northwestern Maine woods. They
visited the camps where the two
men were last seen and crossed over
into Canada to the parish of ST
LdtHtl1c, NHSlC II 10 DSiICAti lldl
the clues that may lead to the dis
covery of the murderers will first be
picked up
The Maine officers found the air
alive with rumors concerning the
fate of the missing men and there
is no reasonable doubt in their
minds that the rumor will finally sim
mer down to something tangible.
Commissioner Parsons and Cura-
tor James left the capital and pro-
ceeded to lockwood by train From
lockwood the party went to Seboo-
nook by automobile. AT the latter
place a two horse team was taken
which conveyed the officials to Loon
stream Another shift was neces-
J sary here, for from the stream to
Half Way camp which was the next
point of destination there is only
single track.
The span were dropped and in
single hitch the party proceeded to
the Half Way camp and from there to
ST. Zacherie, which is across the line
in Quebec.
The Investigators did not conine
themselves to the road but looked
II dDOuL III lilt WOOuS dDlY /.
/ among other ventures they went
down on snowshoes to the Bog dam,
near which the two wardens were
supposed to have been lost In conf
pany with Warden Del Rogers they
visited a number of hunting and SUI
gar camps. of which there are a
number in that section.
Everywhere they met men and wO-
men and picked up what information
they could. The trip was not an easy
one. for a heavy rain prevailed for
a while. which the wind blew direct
ly into the face of the party. Fol
lowing the rain it cleared off cold
The visit at ST. Zachefie was an in
teresting one This LITTLE French
parish has a population of about 2000
people and is provided with a mayor.
This official who has been the head
of the parish government for over -
years, promised his cooperation in
helping to solve the mystery of the
two murdered men. and the Maine
men think that he will he of great
assistance to them. The priests of
the parish are also cooperating. Mr..
, Parsons was promised by the st.
Zacherie mayor that a crew of citi-
zens from the place would turn out
to search for the bodies. as soon as
the snow had gone.
Commissioner Parsons found about
three feet of snow on the ground on
the level and that the streams and
! lakes were locked in ice. 1t will be
a month or more before it will be
possible to search the woods, with
any hope of finding the bodies.
Returning. Mr.. Parsons continued
his Investigations by taking another
route which took him north to the
Forty Miles depot of the Great North
ern, which is one of the big woods
hotels of this corporation. From
this camp the officials went to Rock
wood by automobile.
The department is all the time re-
ceving tips from those who claim
met their end Complete reliance is
not placed in all these stories. but
the officials have no doubt that the
slayers of Brown and Johnson are
well known in the woods.
An unusual feature Of the mystery
is the great popular interest that has
been taken in the case and the con
trIbutions that have been made to
tie reward fund.
One thousand dollars has been offer
ed for the finding of the bodies and
the total reward now available for
evidence that will lead to the conYic- /
ton of the murderers now amounts /
TO $3050 A considerable part OF lthis /
latter fund has been made up of vol I
untary contributions. Recently the
fish and game department received a /
money order for $50 as a contribution /
to this fund and not long ago a .
check for 5000 had been received to-
wards the same fund.
Just as soon as the snow has gone .
Commissioner Parsons will return to
the headwaters of the Penobscot and [
will personally direct the search for
the bodies.
Card OF Appreciation
I wish to express my annreciatiOn