He answered, "Yes, she is a freak of nature. I noticed her yesterday in
that building where my brother had his office. She appeared to be having
an earnest conversation with the janitor." After a few other remarks the
doctor left me and I concluded to go and see a party that I thought
could give me some information. I could not get that colored girl out of
my mind, and before I had gone a block I decided that I would go and
find out who she was, and what her business was with the janitor of the
building where the lumberman had had his office. I knew that Sheriff
Cabel would know who this girl was, as he knew every one in Dallas. I
turned around and went back to the court house, where I found the
sheriff and said, "Sheriff, I saw a colored girl near the hotel a short
time ago (here I described her) and I would like to know who she is and
something about her."
The sheriff said, "That girl is known as Liza Johnson. You know Emma
Johnson. She's the daughter of an old colored woman who lived for many
years with Emma Johnson. Her mother died when she was a child and Emma
raised her like her own daughter. She's a good girl and Emma thinks a
great deal of her; Emma can tell you all about her, and I will take you
over to Emma's if you want me to." This he did.
We called on Miss Johnson, and the sheriff introduced me, and told her I
was a friend of his, asking her to treat me accordingly, to which she
assented.
I said, "I want to know something about your maid, Liza. I understand
that she has been seen in an office building over on Commerce St. and I
am anxious to learn what business took her to that building."
She replied, "Why, I don't really know, but I reckon I can find out.
About a month ago the negroes here in Dallas had a picnic and Liza went
to that picnic. She met a young negro there and he brought her home. I
saw him, and he was good looking, well dressed, and appeared to be
fairly well educated. He was black as ink though, but had good features,
like those of a white man. He had thin lips, small mouth and a straight
nose. If he had been a white man he'd have been good looking." This was
an exact description of the slayer of Mr. Temple. Continuing, she said,
"He came here from some place down in the state. He is a stranger here
and don't mix with the other colored people. He's acting as a sort of
body-servant to his master, who has an office in that building on
Commerce St."