Interview of Robert E. Johnson
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While researching the legal records, this interview with ROBERT E. JOHNSON was found. JOHNSON was an inmate at Maricopa County Jail in 1990, and during that time he had several separate conversations with fellow inmate ROGER SCOTT and also with co-inmate JAMES STYERS. In these conversations, each of SCOTT and STYERS discussed the murder of CHRISTOPHER MILKE. JOHNSON'S name, along with the nature of these discussions, first shows up in a letter STYERS wrote to Debra on May, 5, 1990 : "Roger confessed to a man named Robert Johnson I told my Lawyers Secretary. = can't get my Lawyer to tell him. Your Lawyer can get it from my lawyer. No one else is willing to talk in court." Indeed, as the following transcript shows, JOHNSON says that both SCOTT and STYERS told him that it was ROGER SCOTT who shot CHRIS. This presents the strong possibility that the story of the murder that SCOTT told Detectives Saldate and MILLS on December 3, 1989, was untrue in almost every way. The scenario of the crime that SCOTT related on that day - in which ROGER SCOTT claimed that JIM STYERS shot CHRIS even though he had tried to talk STYERS out of it - was probably meant to try to minimize SCOTT'S role in the crime. And, more than half an hour later, when SCOTT tried to further reduce his blameworthiness when he claimed that Debra was involved in CHRIS'S death. The likelihood that - contrary to the story SCOTT told the police on December 3, 1989 - ROGER SCOTT, rather than JIM STYERS, fired the shots that killed Christopher Milke is important for another reason. When interviewing anyone, especially a suspect who has confessed to a crime, the police are supposed to make an unwavering effort to find out the exact truth of what happened. But the interview of ROGER SCOTT by Det. MILLS shows that the police did not test the many inconsistencies in SCOTT'S story at all. Anxious not to lose the "solution" to the crime that ROGER SCOTT had presented them, MILLS never pressed SCOTT about his incoherent story in attempt the ferret out the truth behind his claims. Rather, the transcript of that interview shows that MILLS was eager to have SCOTT implicate Debra and STYERS, even feeding SCOTT many leading questions to help him tell his story, and glossing over the many places where his claims made no sense. And SCOTT'S story, along with the made-up "confession" and the various modes of character assassination, was one of the keys to the State's propped-up case against Debra Milke. Hence the grave doubt that ROBERT JOHNSON casts on SCOTT'S story of December 3 means that the underpinning of the State's investigation was fundamentally wrong - and when the police accepted SCOTT'S story whole, they lost their opportunity to find out the real facts of what happened. The state's entire theory then rested on an uncritical acceptance of SCOTT'S rambling, self-serving story. Another important point emerges from the interview with ROBERT JOHNSON. As JOHNSON relates his conversations with SCOTT and STYERS, the roles of these two men are given in concrete detail. But Debra is only discussed in vaguely, with many obviously incorrect details. The State claims that Debra planned Chris' death and for weeks pressured STYERS and SCOTT to kill him. Yet, repeatedly, when these two imprisoned men discuss the crime, Debra is only mentioned in passing. In fact, among the few concrete details JOHNSON has heard about Debra's supposed involvement is that she and MARK MILKE once tried to do away with Chris together, which is a ludicrous piece of total nonsense that no one believes. The transcript of this interview is inadmissible in court and therefore cannot be used in the legal proceedings of this case. But it does tell us something about what took place, and that should be what the legal system is about. The story ROBERT JOHNSON tells may be in many ways close to what actually took place. In particular, it agrees with many things STYERS said in his letters to Debbie - in these letters, STYERS confessed that he had been at the murder-scene, 99th Ave. and Happy Valley Road, and he also gave reasons why he went to Metrocenter and fabricated the story of the missing child. Whatever the details of Chris' murder were, they had nothing to do with what the police, the prosecution and - later on - the media led the public to believe. It should be noted that in the entire interview the name of JIM STYERS is misspelled as "Styres". To make reading this 29-page document easier, we have corrected all misspelled names below. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS INTERVIEW OF ROBERT EARL JOHNSON
Appearances :
Tom Buckner: I'm Tom Buckner, investigator for the County Attorney's office. We're currently at the Maricopa County Jail, the Madison Street Jail. Today's date is June 26, 1990. The approximate time is 1:42 P.M. I'm currently interviewing Mr. Robert Earl Johnson, date of birth, 10/2 of 1960. Tom Buckner: Robert, I'm here to talk to you about any knowledge or any conversations you heard about the Christopher Milke homicide, that's the four-year-old boy that was taken to the desert and shot right before Christmas. Will you tell me what your involvement -- or knowledge you have of this case and how you obtained it? Robert Johnson: Well, (inaudible) to the paralegal field and I'm pretty knowledgeable about law (inaudible) you know when I moved over here to the -- (inaudible) where I'm staying right now, I was moved into C-pod where at the time Roger Scott was residing. And, he found me down there one -- one time working on my case, I was a pro per status, and he just came down there and starting asking for some information about, you know, certain things, like how can he change his lawyer and um, because of a conflict of interest as his codefendants had talked to him so he wanted a court-appointed lawyer. And so I gave him the information and (inaudible) he sat down there. He says (inaudible) and he just started telling me about his case. And asked -- he asked my opinion if I think he should try and go for a Rule 11. I asked him, "Why would you want to go for a Rule 11?" He said, well, with this case concerned. I never knew what he was in for, I never asked what he was in here for. But he did say to me him and Styers were codefendants. Styers wasn't up here at the time, he was downstairs on the two floor. And so I said, well -- you know like, well, give me a little background on his case, I can tell him about a Rule 11. So, that's when he started telling about this case and involvement with the murder of that little boy. Tom Buckner: What did he tell you about the case? Robert Johnson: Well, he -- at first he just -- he just told me -- this is what he told first, that him and this guy he was mad at, they went out to, um -- I forget where he said exactly this place was that they went and, um, and their intention was, they had took this little -- Styers' son, took (inaudible) his son or somebody -- or some relation to him, and they took him out there to watch the -- a balloon show.
And then the little boy was walking up ahead, him and Styers were -- him and Styers said, "Well, when should we do it? When?" Or, "When do you want me to do it?" And at that time he said it just had happened. He just pulled out a gun and shot him. Tom Buckner: Who pulled out the gun and shot him? Robert Johnson: He did. Roger Scott had said that Styers -- Styers and his girlfriend had paid him $250 to do this.
Tom Buckner: Who had pulled the trigger on the gun?
Tom Buckner: Who had, which individual? Robert Johnson: Roger. Roger Scott. Tom Buckner: Roger?
Tom Buckner: Roger told you that? Robert Johnson: Uh-huh. Then when they -- and so when they did it, they went to the Metro Center, called the police and they was going to make it look like it -- he had just disappeared or been kidnapped or something, when the police came. And they got the story and stuck with that story until like apparently they must have (inaudible). And then he was up there for about two days afterwards but then (inaudible) but his codefendant moved up, Roger had moved up. Tom Buckner: Roger had moved up? Robert Johnson: Yeah. Roger (Inaudible) and Styers had moved up there then and I said, "My this is crazy, they got both you guys here now. (Inaudible) 'cause you know Roger (inaudible) aren't you codefendants?" He said, "Yeah, but he's not up here, they wouldn't put --" I said, "I thought they wouldn't put you guys together," so I went down to his room and he was -- Roger was gone. So, I said okay, so it was just like a switch up. And so I just continued the conversation with Styers because, what Roger was telling me, I related the information to him -- to Styers. And Styers had gave me the information, well, they did go out there but he didn't know that Roger had a gun. So they was out there, Styers was, you know, having fun with the little boy and they were looking at the show, whatever it was they were looking at.
Then he concurred with them going to the -- afterwards, going to the Metro Center and calling the police and concocting their story about him being -- that he was just kidnapped or something and they didn't know where he was at. Tom Buckner: How many shots -- how many times did he say the boy was shot?
Tom Buckner: Roger -- Robert Johnson: Styers said he heard one shot, turned around and saw Roger -- Roger with a gun and the little boy laying down. And Roger just -- (inaudible) he just said he was just shot, he didn't say how many times, he was just shot. Tom Buckner: Did he comment on whose gun it was? Did either one of them say whose gun it was? Robert Johnson: Uh, no, they had never told whose gun it was.
Robert Johnson: (Inaudible) nothin' happened though. Tom Buckner: In which cell were you in at that time, what cell block? Robert Johnson: In six one, C-pod. Tom Buckner: Six one? Robert Johnson: Yes. Tom Buckner: And where did you talk to Jim Styers about this? Robert Johnson: Oh, okay, in Roger -- I'm sorry -- Roger Scott's when I first got there, that was -- that was -- I can't even remember -- January 29th -- I -- I had the conversation with Scott around February, February -- and Jim Styers is the one about -- one -- one and a half months ago. I was (inaudible) C-pod when I talked to both of them. Tom Buckner: And Jim Styers was (inaudible)? Robert Johnson: Him, Styers was a month and a half ago. And Scott was in February. Tom Buckner: How was it that Kenneth Ray, the attorney, got to talk to you? How did he find out about this? Robert Johnson: I didn't -- (inaudible) attorney, whose attorney? Tom Buckner: He's attorney for Debra Milke, the mother of the child. Robert Johnson: I don't know. Tom Buckner: You said he came and interviewed you? Robert Johnson: No. I talked to Styers' lawyer who is Jesse -- what's his name? I had his card, he gave me his card. Tom Buckner: Jesse? Robert Johnson: Jesse. His first name is Jesse, G-- J-e-s-s-e. And that's -- he came and talked to me and I didn't talk to anyone else. Tom Buckner: When did he talk to you? Robert Johnson: This is about a month and a half ago. (Inaudible) right after I talked to Styers and Styers had -- because I told Styers, I did tell Styers what went on when Scott was talking me. And so, when I told Styers what Scott had told me, that which guy did it and like he told me that he had (inaudible) shooting, shooting the little boy and he asked, "Well, would you tell my lawyer that?"
Tom Buckner: Okay, did you ever talk with an attorney by the name of Kenneth Ray? He's a tall gentleman with a beard? Robert Johnson: Uh, no. No, see Jesse is the only one I talked to. Tom Buckner: That's the only attorney you talked to? Robert Johnson: Uh-huh. Tom Buckner: What did Roger Scott look like when he was telling you that he was the one that shot the little child? Robert Johnson: As far as his demeanor -- Tom Buckner: Yes. Robert Johnson: -- is concerned? I believe that Roger repeated it to me more than once. I (inaudible) and -- Tom Buckner: Did he say what kind of gun it was that he used? Robert Johnson: No. Tom Buckner: When Jim Styers' attorney interviewed you, did he make a tape recording of the interview? Robert Johnson: No. Tom Buckner: Where did he interview you at? Robert Johnson: In this same room right here. Tom Buckner: Okay. So Roger Scott you first met when you were up there -- Robert Johnson: Uh-huh. Tom Buckner: And he came to you for some legal advice in regards to a Rule 11? Robert Johnson: Right. Tom Buckner: And how to change attorneys? Robert Johnson: Right. Tom Buckner: Okay, and you gave him that information. When -- when -- how long ago was it after that that he contacted you and starting talking about this actual crime to you? Robert Johnson: Scott? Tom Buckner: Yes. Robert Johnson: About 20 minutes later. He had came -- he had left and went upstairs, and that's when I was writing my motion. He came back down, that's when he asked about the Rule 11. He said, what -- as far as to really -- I said: You'll have to give me some background on this, as far as any history, if any exists, you know, mental -- mental states and (inaudible) some background on his case. Tom Buckner: What kind of -- what did he tell you about his mental health? Robert Johnson: Well, he said he had a history of -- history of -- he said he'd been committed once, at one time. He didn't say when (inaudible) had a mental disorder. He said his chances are for a for Rule 11, that what his lawyer told him, he said it was pretty good. I said, "Well, it's pretty hard to get one of those Rule 11s if you don't really have substantial history of mental, you know, mental disorders, if you haven't been continuously committed." And I thought it was pretty hard getting one. And that's it. And then I -- (inaudible) well, I think get one and win this case. He said -- 'cause I can -- I'll just claim that I was incompetent at the time (inaudible). I said, "Well, I don't know about your case," and that's when he started telling me that. And then I asked (inaudible). "Well, did -- did you do it?" And he say, "Yeah, they were going to pay me -- going to pay me $250 to do it." I said -- then I got kind of -- got discouraged with him because, you know, the situation, but I just kept on talking to him. He had admitted it to me three times that he had did it. (Inaudible) I asked him, there was another guy here at the table. Tom Buckner: Do you remember his name? Robert Johnson: Excuse me? Tom Buckner: What was his name? Robert Johnson: I'm trying to think who it was, who was there. Prior to him coming down, there was another guy at the table talking to me. He had asked to talk to me alone. I said, "Well, when I'm finished with this guy here." (Inaudible) I can't think of who it was. Tom Buckner: Why do you think Roger Scott told you he was the one that shot the boy? Robert Johnson: Well, it was -- I think he's -- he's -- he's trying to find a way out of it and it just looked like it was eating him up (inaudible) talk to him. He was pretty leary at first, (inaudible) leary talking to him about it. Especially when I told him that he (inaudible). He told me false charges then I looked up the charges.
And I said, "Oh, yeah, I remember that case. That was you?" (inaudible) he said, "Naw, that was me and Styers." I said : What Styers (inaudible) somewhere. Tom Buckner: Did he tell you what statements he made to the police after he was arrested or while he was being questioned by the police prior to his arrest? Robert Johnson: He told them that Styers had did it. He told me that he told the police Styers had did it. That's all he had said.
But Styers had told me that -- that when he -- when -- when Scott did it, that -- that Styers was scared 'cause he said he feared -- but I didn't -- I didn't (inaudible). I said, "Well, if you was scared -- I mean, if you feared that he did that because he was mad or something because you didn't pay him or because he was mad for whatever reason, why did he do the little boy and didn't do you? Or if it was (inaudible) why didn't he just kill both of you guys?" And then I said : Well, if he feared, why would he drive to Metro Center? And he got separated up to look for him, and call the police. "Why didn't you just leave and go call the police and tell them what exactly happened, to clear you of it?" He didn't have an answer for it. Tom Buckner: He didn't have an answer for that? Robert Johnson: No. I said, "Well," I talked to him, I told him -- I told him, "Well, you probably didn't do it but you knew about it, right?" And then he said, "Yes," he knew about it. After he -- after he admitted it, finally, because it just didn't make sense, I was telling him about it (inaudible). (Inaudible) This turned a Rule 11. I thought maybe he would get one but they turned it down.
Robert Johnson: He started -- what are you talking about, when they went out there to the -- to the where ever (inaudible)? He had told me where they were at but I can't remember. They wanted to go see -- he took the little boy, walked -- he said -- Okay, before they left home? John -- Scott wanted to do something else. Styers told him no, that I'm going to take the little boy up here and show him this little show here. And so Scott -- he said Scott got mad, that was another reason why he was mad at him because he didn't want to do what he wanted to do. So they went, him, Scott and the little boy went to wherever and -- when -- when -- once they got there, started showing him -- was showing the parachute -- I think it was a balloon show, I'm not sure what it was. And they was looking up, they stood up there for about two hours. And then they told him it was time to go, that they, -- him and his girlfriend and his daughter were going to go out to dinner. And so they went, they left, started walking back to the car. Roger was on one side and the little boy was in the middle and Scott was on the other side, and they were walking and Scott and the little boy fell back. And while Styers was still walking, looking up in the air at the remaining balloon, when he heard the shot and he turned around and he saw Roger with the gun and the little boy laying on the ground. And he asked him, he said he asked him, he said he asked Roger why he did that, and he said that Roger (inaudible) mad at you that you didn't pay me my money. And he said he feared that he was going to kill him next.
Tom Buckner: Where was the mom at that time, the little boy's mom, Debra Milke? Do you know? Robert Johnson: No. Styers said she was at the house, waiting for them to contact, so they were going to go somewhere else. After I talked with Styers, after his lawyer came, about a month after that, he had told me -- then he started telling me involved with his girlfriend, said that her husband had previously attempted to do away with her son, that little boy, for some reason, some insurance money or something and it never did go through.
Robert Johnson: No, he just -- he called her Debbie. Tom Buckner: Debbie? Robert Johnson: Yeah. Tom Buckner: Did he ever refer to Debbie's husband or her ex-husband? Robert Johnson: Yeah, he sure did. Um, -- he has, he has, okay. I didn't -- I -- well, we're in different -- we're in separate parts right now but we can still, like -- I'm on the floor above (inaudible) but we can talk through the door and stuff. (Inaudible) I can -- I can try and get that inform -- you know, if you like, or something. Tom Buckner: When's the last time you talked with Styers? Robert Johnson: Yesterday when I was off the floor (inaudible). Tom Buckner: And what did you talk about yesterday? Robert Johnson: I just asked him if he (inaudible). He said no, (inaudible). We were talking about a song that I was writing (inaudible) that I just told him I finished. (Inaudible). Tom Buckner: When's the last time you talked to Roger Scott? Robert Johnson: (Inaudible) went to court on the 29th of May. I saw Scott and I also (inaudible). Okay, when they take us from (inaudible) away from general population, when we go into court they put us in the main jail, old county jail, where they got the women there also. And so when I was going -- when it was time for me to come out for court, Roger came out. They handcuffed him. Matter of fact, Scott and Styers (inaudible) we all -- me and Styers (inaudible) court that day. And Debra was there. They had -- she had came out after they had took Roger Scott along, Roger Scott and Styers. And then she came out. Me and her were going to the same -- me and her and two other girls were on the same chain because we went before the same judge. And she was there. And I said, wanted to (inaudible) call her. She said just call her "Milke". I said, I asked her, "Are you Debra Milke?" She said, "Yeah." But I didn't -- we really couldn't talk. Tom Buckner: Did she say anything about her case at all, what was going on, or -- Robert Johnson: I asked her how -- how's her case coming. She said -- she said it wasn't looking too good. And then Styers had told me that the county attorney was trying to intercept his letters to (inaudible) writing to each other. And so his lawyer told him that they had seized some letters from Debra from you. And so -- and the county attorney had told Styers that they want -- he got to give up his letters too or they're going to subpoena them. And so when he got back from court or wherever he came from, he flushed them -- tore them up. He said he sent some off, tore some up and flushed the rest of them.
Robert Johnson: Styers. Tom Buckner: Styers did? Robert Johnson: Yeah. Tom Buckner: Did they get a chance, either Milke, Styers or Scott, while they were on the chain going over to court, did they get a chance to talk to each other? Robert Johnson: Well, we were -- they didn't -- they were out there, right now -- (inaudible) they just didn't say nothing. No, they never -- they didn't talk. I don't know if they did after (inaudible) but they didn't -- once we got in the elevator we were -- we were -- They were separated, once the guard found that they were codefendants. But they were separated. So they went back until they went to the courtroom, to go to the same courtroom. I don't know what took place after that. Tom Buckner: How long did Styers' attorney talk to you for? Robert Johnson: About 20 minutes. Tom Buckner: And he didn't make any tape recording of this? Robert Johnson: No. Tom Buckner: What did he ask you? Robert Johnson: You know, what I -- what I could tell, and then -- I don't know, how did I come about -- See, the reason why he came because he was asked. He -- Styers informed him of what I -- what I told him that Roger told me that he did. He was wanting me to tell his lawyer, just to -- Basically what he was asking me was how -- what I knew and what I could tell him and -- I really didn't tell him (inaudible) because -- I don't know, I'm -- Tom Buckner: Are you willing to get involved in this case? When I say, "involved," if you were asked to go to court would you testify to the same material that you told me today? And basically, I guess, you told the same thing to Styers' attorney? Robert Johnson: Yes, I did. Tom Buckner: Okay, would you go to court on this matter? Robert Johnson: Yes, I would. Tom Buckner: What are you presently in the Madison Street Jail for now? What charges? Robert Johnson: Um, possession of marijuana, pursuant to a plea agreement, the concealed weapon charge was dropped and that is the charge. I was on parole when this happened but I get sentenced on the 17th. Tom Buckner: Okay, what were you on ^^parole for? Robert Johnson: On forgery and possession of a dangerous drug. Tom Buckner: And what is your prior criminal record, if any? What -- what have you been convicted of in the past? Robert Johnson: I've a federal charge of attempted murder. Those (inaudible). Tom Buckner: When did that happen? Robert Johnson: April -- April 11, 1980. That's when I got convicted of it. Tom Buckner: What was the circumstances involved in that? Robert Johnson: I was in the service when it happened. This guy, we couldn't get along and I just -- When I was in Germany, and I bought this keyboard, it was like -- it was like a synthesizer type. And we never could get along together, we both had (inaudible) duty that night, while everybody else was out in the field. And he came in my room and started stuff with me, broke my keyboard, threw it up against the wall and smashed it and broke it. And we just got into a fight. Tom Buckner: Okay, in the army? Robert Johnson: Yeah. It just so happened his father was our post commander. Actually, what I first got arrested for, I got arrested for -- we both had felony assault charges and two weeks later I got aggravated assault charge, he -- he was handling his mess and the week after that I got an attempted murder charge for it. Got five years. Tom Buckner: Okay. Anything else that you -- do you have any other felony convictions? Robert Johnson: No, those are it. Attempted murder and the forgery -- Tom Buckner: Forgery, dangerous drugs? Robert Johnson: Those two charges, yes. Tom Buckner: Have you ever been arrested for anything besides that that you weren't officially charged with? Robert Johnson: No, -- well, I had a juvenile record. But other than those, that's all I have. Tom Buckner: Where are you from, Robert? Robert Johnson: Right in Phoenix. Tom Buckner: Phoenix? And where did you go to high school at? Robert Johnson: Phoenix Union High School. Tom Buckner: The old one that's shut down now, right? Robert Johnson: Yeah, where we go to court in. (Laughter) Tom Buckner: Did you go to college at all? Robert Johnson: Well, while I was in -- while I was in incarceration on this, on -- on my (inaudible) parole board, I attended CAC and Criminal Law. (inaudible) while I was on parole, I was going to a technical school in word processing. Not -- never went to college or anything. Tom Buckner: Did you graduate from high school? Robert Johnson: GED. Tom Buckner: GED? How far did you actually go in the high school? What area did you -- Robert Johnson: Eleventh grade at the time. Tom Buckner: Eleventh. Do you have family here in Phoenix? Robert Johnson: Yes, my parents and my kids -- I have two kids here. Tom Buckner: We'll stop the tape for a minute. Is there anything else that you remember that Styers or Scott told you or which you possibly told Styers' attorney that you haven't told me during this interview? Robert Johnson: No. Tom Buckner: How did Styers act when you told him what Scott had said? Robert Johnson: Actually he -- he was -- it was kind of like he was, he was kind of relieved (inaudible) to know that, especially when he asked if I would tell -- asked me to talk to his lawyer about this conversation you know that that that might be on his behalf. He's been -- sort of like -- he's been, you know, talking to me constantly after that and offer me things. Tom Buckner: Offered what? Robert Johnson: Offering me things and stuff. Tom Buckner: What has he offered you? Robert Johnson: You know, (inaudible) store (inaudible) if he wants to buy me things at the store (inaudible). Tom Buckner: Candy bars and things like that? Robert Johnson: Or stamps, or whatever. Whatever you find in the store -- cigarettes. Tom Buckner: Is there anything else you can remember, Robert? Robert Johnson: I had asked -- I had asked Styers about this, "Well, being in your condition," 'cause he was in Viet Nam, I says, "Well, do you think it's possible that you might have did it and just can't remember? You went to a flashback or something?" And he said, he said I wish you had asked me that because it could be a possibility. He said, "But more than likely, no." Well, that's when I started telling him what Roger was telling me. Tom Buckner: Did he tell you about having flashbacks or anything? Or being injured in the service while he was in Viet Nam or anywhere? Robert Johnson: Yeah, he did. Matter of fact, one day when we was in the park, this one guy from the top tier threw some books down on the table on the bottom tier, and it made it a real loud. It went -- bang sound. Roger (note : must read JIM) kind of freaked out and got -- he fell to the ground to the prone position or something, like he was in the service or something. 'Cause I was in the service -- he got into a prone position and he -- it pretty well freaked him out. Tom Buckner: Did he ever tell you that about his mental problems at all or that he whether he still suffered from them? Robert Johnson: From -- from the service? Tom Buckner: Yes. Robert Johnson: Yeah, he does, he told me that -- Tom Buckner: How did he say he suffered? How did -- did he say how it affected him? Robert Johnson: He told me one night -- he told me one day that his crime was -- he had a dream one night, that his broadest part was being in the service but his crime was involved to it, about killing this little kid, killing the little kid that was involved. He said it was in one of his dreams but it was in connection to one of his nightmares, dreams from Viet Nam. I mean, like going there and killing women and kids didn't bother him or nothing. And-- Tom Buckner: Did he -- go ahead. Robert Johnson: And I asked him, how did -- how did he feel about this? He didn't -- he didn't feel nothing from it, he just -- he just even though you're connect with -- with the little kid that got killed. And he said, no, it -- it wasn't no bother. Tom Buckner: Did he ever tell you he had hallucinations, saw people that weren't really there or heard people or heard voices or -- Robert Johnson: He talked -- he talked in his room all the time when nobody -- no white spirits. His roommate has been there with him though but when my roommate that was at that time George, George he's still in 14, like I say (inaudible) and I can handle him when I stay up late at night and do my -- all my work and so forth, my roommate at the time, George, George Small well he was over here playing cards one night and heard him. And I call George (inaudible) but I called him and asked to talk him, and he was asleep, he was in bed asleep. "Who I said, Jesus Christ you talking to?" He says, "I wasn't talking to anybody." I said "Yes, you were." (Inaudible) Tom Buckner: Could you make out what he was saying, or what? Robert Johnson: I couldn't make out what he was saying. I thought he was just -- him and his roommate having some kind of conversation. (Inaudible) Tom Buckner: He was answering himself? (Inaudible) Robert Johnson: Yeah. And walks, he paces up and down, into the parlor, everybody knows he start I mean, he's started pacing up and down with his radio on and he's mumbling to it or something even with the radio going or stuff and he like -- and he's like in a daze all the time. Tom Buckner: And Roger Scott told you he'd been committed at one time; did he say where or for what? Robert Johnson: No, he never said what. He didn't say where, he said -- he did tell me at one point. You know he did tell me what block you're on I remember. Tom Buckner: Did he ever talk about his mother -- Roger Scott ever talk about his mother to you? Robert Johnson: No. Tom Buckner: Did he ever talk about his previous marriage? Robert Johnson: No. Tom Buckner: About any of his criminal past? Robert Johnson: other than when we -- I was asking him well (inaudible). I was asking him, "Well, did you have any prior (inaudible)?" (Inaudible) He just said he didn't have any priors or anything. Other than that, that's the only thing. Tom Buckner: All right, this will be the end of the interview. Thank you very much for -- Robert Johnson: You're welcome. Tom Buckner: The time is 2:15 P.M. |
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