The Alaska daily empire., 1923-09-25
Complaint Made by Chief
Keegan After Coronor's
Jury Gives Verdict.
BLOODSTAINED CLOTHING
OF JOHNSON DISCOVERED
Marked Coins Identified Be-
fore Jury by Members
of Gasboat Crew.

Harry Battling" Johnson was
arrested this morning on warrant
charging him with murder for the
alleged shooting of Hilda Weiss and
BILLY" Mason in a Front Street re-
sort early Monday morning. The
warrant was issued by Judge V. A.
Paine on a complaint made by Chief
of Police T. e. P. Keegan after the
Coronor's jury investigating the
shooting returned a verdict early
today saying that the two women
gunshot wounds inflicted by a per-
son believed by us to be Harry
Johnson"
The warrant was served on the
accused man IN the Federal jail
where he has been confined since he
was picked UP early Monday morn
ing. He had not been arraigned
nor had he secured an attorney
this afternoon. Judge Paine was
awaiting advices from U. s. At
torney A. G. Shoup before proceed
ing with the arraignment.
Verdict Not Surprise.
Tho verdict Of the COroner's jury
was not unexpected. Marked coins
found in Johnson's room identified
as having been spent recently In
the resort run by the women, blood
stained articles of clothing, and other
seemingly discriminating evidence
were in the hands of the jury yes
terday afternoon apparently casting
serious suspicion on Johnson. The
effect of this evidence was not over
come by a signed statement, pre-
pared by Johnson and voluntarily
given to officials last night, and
read to the jury this morning in
which he denied any connection
with the brutal. double murder.
The eliminating session of the
jury came this morning when City
Patrqlman V. l.. Tibbetts described
the finding of the bloodstained
clothing and marked coins in John
sons room in the Bergman Hotel.
Shoes Blood Clotted.
A pair of dark brown shoes figur-
ed largely in the result. These
with pair of brown, whipcord
trousers had been taken from John
sons room at the time of his orig
inal detention. according to Tibbe;s.
Both had just been washed and
were still wet. They were discov-
cred in the bottom of pack sack.
or barrack bag. No stains were
found on the trousers which, how
ever, were not microecopically ex-
amined. On the sole OF the shoes.
and in the seams between the soles
and uppers were stains and clots ap-
porently Of blood. although no tests
were made of them. The shoes
were without strings, these however.
being later picked up beneath john
sons widow on the outside OF the
hotel room he occupied and likewise
bore bloodstains.
Mr.. Tibbetts testified to the search
that disclosed the money among
which marked fifty-cent piece was
found in table drawer. In the
same drawer was a white cloth
mask, OF the domino variety. A
roll of nickels containing 50 bear
inS identifying marks was found on
shelf in a closet in Johnson's
room, hidden back of and under
paper and other articles. The wit
ness also declared that Johnson was
very nervous at the time he was
picked up.
The testimony of Patrolman Tfb-
belts was corroborated by Federal
Prohibition Director A. G. Means
who aided in the search and CO.
operated in the investigation OF the
murder at the request of Chief OF
Police Keegan.
Monday Afternoon Session.
II was apparent yesterday after