Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-05-02
J0HNS0N'S BODY
FOUND BY WARDENS
Patten Officers Remains Discovered Floating in
Water at Big Bog Dam Near Canadian Border
No Examination Yet

relatives, his friends and by the parish
priest. He however, stoutly denies
all knowledge of the affair and that he
ever saw Mertley Johnson or Dave
Brown.
Bodies Are Necessary
The corpus deficit is absolutely nee
essary as a foundation for murder
charge in Maine and it is well under
stood that the authorities have simply
been waiting for the discovery of one
or both bodies and proof that they met
death by shooting before making an
arrest in this greatest of all Maine
woods mysteries. 1t is said that the
young man under suspicion has scant
chance of getting away as the Maine
authorities have had the hearty CO.
operation of Canadian authorities
across the border. Mayer Edward
Groleau of st. Zacherie has himself
taken a great interest in the mystery
and has done everything within his
power to assist Commissioner Parsons
and the others engaged in the disen-
tanglement of the warden mystery.
Mayor Groleau is 'jobber" for the
Great Northern Paper Co. and spends
much of every year in the Maine
woods where he has large crews of
men at work. He is also well known
in Bangor where he frequently goes
on business.
The Maine authorities have little
fear that the suspect in the case will
flee, should the body of Johnson show
that foul play occurred, inasmuch as
he is as before stated, closely watch
ed by his fellow townsmen. The first
suspicion against him was voiced by
brother Canadians who desire to see
the mystery solved. Rigid investiga-
ton by Com'r Parsons and others
brought to light the evidence against
this man, the most important of which
the officers guard with the greatest of
care.
Search Going On
The finding of the body of Mertley
Johnson has caused renewed activity
in the search for that of his brother
warden, Dave Brown, known far and
wide as one of the most fearless and
efficient wardens on the force in
Maine. 1t is believed that Browns
body will be found near the place
If the wardens were shot it is believed
the bodies were weighted and sunk in
the waters of the bog.
Johnson's body will, in all probable
ity be taken to lockwood where an
autopsy will be performed by DR.. w.
S. Stinchfield or DR.. w. G. Sawyer,
medical examiners for Somerset coun-
in that county.
Com'r Parsons on reaching Rock
wood, Thursday, was joined by former
Deputy Sheriff Lehman Smart and to-
gether they went to the Pittston farm
from where an IS mile canoe trip is
necessary to reach the place where
Johnson's body was found. 1t will be
a long, hard and dangerous trip be-
cause of the high water in the West
Branch. Com'r Parsons and Mr..
Smart will probably not reach the
camp of Wardens Mullen and Douty
until some time Friday morning.
Missing Since November
Wardens Brown and Johnson have
been missing since last November
when they went into the big woods to
arrest Canadians who We're suspected
of illegally catching beaver. Shortly
before their departure after the poach
ers Warden Johnson had taken a
pack containing ten beaver skins from
a Canadian at Loon Stream, the Com
mercial reporter having been with him
at this time. Although he obtained
the beaver skins, the Canadian fled
into the woods and although pursued
was never captured. 1t was on a
search for this Canadian and others
that the two wardens started on the
Brown and Johnson went into the
woods the middle Of November and ex-
pected to return to civilization Short
ly before Thanksgiving. Before leav-
ing Loon Stream Warden Brown wrote
a letter to a close friend in Dover
Foxcroft in which he spoke of the
dangerous mission on which he and
Johnson were about to embark. He
intimated that their lives might be in
danger from certain Canadians, one
of whom at least, had threatened ito
get" Dave Brown if he ever entered
the beaver trapping country after vio-
lators.
When the wardens failed to return
a few days before Thanksgiving there
was little wOrriment among their
friends, inasmuch as it was thought
that they might be on the trail of
poachers and did not intend to come
out until they had arrested their men.
Thanksgiving arrived and nothing
was heard from Brown and Johnson.
It was then that their relatives and
friends began to worry. Com'r Parsons
started a quiet investigation and
shortly became convinced that his two
star wardens had met with foul play.
A posse composed of the most skilled
guides, woodsmen, detectives and Of
into the woods, combing the boundary
line, and going through the woods like
a fine tooth comb. The posse entered
Canada and searched both sides of the
line for miles without results. Snow
fell and although other posses went
into the woods little could be accom-
plished.
Comr Parsons then established
camps for wardens all around Big
Bog. Two wardens to a camp was
the rule. Daily these wardens have
combed the region for some sign where
foxes or other wild animals had at
tempted to dig to any body that the
snow might hide from sight. They
have also talked with every Canadian
that has come across the line to work
in the woods and have had their eyes
and ears open for clues and any gos-
sip about the matter.
Rewards aggregating $1,000 for the
finding of the bodies and the arrest
and conviction of the murderers are