Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-09-16
AUTOPSY
ON BODY
OF GIRL
Rowing Farm Hand Sought in
Strange Death of Girl
Near Kingston
IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Memories of HaII-MiIIs Case
Revived in Probe of Death
of Sarah Johnson

NEW BRUNSWICK, Sept. t.
Sara Elizabeth Johnson. fifteen years
old, of Aqueduct, whose body. shot
through the temple, was found near
Carnegie Lake, short distance from
her home in a clump of bushes died
of cerebral hemorrhage, according I
to the findings of County PhysiciaT
DIR. John L. Suydan1, following an
autopsy on the girls remains per-
formed at the morgue Of Coroner
Hubbard here this morning.
Chiea of County Detectives Ferd A.
David, who has been busy since the
finding of the body attempting to
establish whether the girl was muir
dered or committed suicide, was not
willing to state today, which or tbs
two theories were correct. There is,|
however, general belief that Miaa
| Johnson was murdered as no gun
| has been located on the sceDe -
murder. 1t Is pointed out that Il
'The girl had committed suicide, surely
the gun would be near her body.
Meanwhile the authorities are
searching for Harry Selhaver, thirtp
year old farm hand. who was en-
ployed on the Johnson farm from
May to August S, when he was dis.
charged by Mr.. Johnson because OF
his attentions to the daughter.
Sara was in the habit of sleeping
with her ten yeariold sister, Kathryn.
On the night of her disappearance.
about 9:45 Sara told her little sister
that she was unable to fall asleep
She left the bed, went outside. He,
vanishing was not discovered ultil
next morning.
Detectives found clues of shoes
and rubber heels corresponding with
those of Selhaver outside the window
at the Johnson home. 1t was said
today that four or five other young
men who have been on friendly terms
with Sara. will be questioned.
Chief David Is disussing the cast
expressed the belief that the body
OF the girl was not carried to the spoi
where it wis faund and that the
shooting occurred there. The bullet
fired into the temple. 1t was estab-
lished was discharged from ~ cal
ibre gun.
The fact that the skin from the
face was leached away, the authors
toes are unable to determine whether
the shot was fired at close range Or
not. The girls parents say that she
was right handed. thus discrediting
the theory that she committed sui
tiut dI IL DUiut anu dnkit WHGit tltG
bullet was lodged. Three revolvers
in the Johnson home were checked
up. but found that two of them were
out of order and the third untouched. j
A nationwide search has been in
augurated, through the instrumen7
tality of the New Jersey State Police.
for the slayer. Efforts are being
made to locate Selhaver, who was sixs
foot tall. weighed $50 pounds and
was inclined to be slim for his
height. His appearance was de-
scribed as shabby, with dark blue
working shirt, dark cap and brown
shoes.
According to the girls father, Sell
haver is believed to have communi-
Gated with the girl after his dis
charge, arranging for q meeting
with her the night of August IL.
Selhaver's mother, Mrs. A. B. Meyer.
of Spencer. Iowa. is said to have
mother recently telling of havingsre-
ceived a postal from Selhaver dated
Princeton. August II.
Chief David revealed today that
two silver buckles which were miss
ing from the girls pumps when her
body was found, had been cut away.
He said that they were doubtless
taken after the girl had been shot
but could advance no reason for the
act.
Detectives investigating the slay-
ing find many striking slmiliarities
between the new mystery and that
surrounding the death of the Rev.
Edward Wheeler Hall and his choir
singer, Mrs. Eleanor r. Mills whose
bodies were found side by side In a
field on the Phillips farm two years
ago today. Sarah left home on
August ~ and had not been
since until James Casserly. caretaker
at st. Joseph's College, discovered
her body yesterday.
CONTINUED on page A.