Nation: Death for a Family

Summoned to a westend St. Louis apartment house earlier this month, police found Mrs. Hermine Rohs, 60, and her son Willy, 23, brutally slain. Both had been stripped naked, had their hands bound and been stabbed to death. Willy’s wife, Marilyn Rohs, 23, had been knifed in the neck, back and abdomen. Although her vocal cords were severed by a knife slash in her throat, Marilyn Rohs had managed to call the police. Five months pregnant, the young woman had been raped twice. Soon after the assault, the baby was born dead. Last week the mother also died.

Stunned by the savagery of the four murders, St. Louis police were quick to arrest two suspects: Edward Johnson, 29, a 6-ft. 9-in. plumber’s laborer, and a friend, Willie J. Smith, 28. According to Smith, the men met the night of the murder in the Fat Black Pussy Cat Lounge, where Johnson asked his friend to help him “go collect some money.” Smith told police that he was carrying a .32-cal. revolver and asserted that Johnson wielded a hunting knife. They went to the Hermine Rohs apartment, where, said Smith, Johnson had done a repair job. As soon as they were let in, they began ransacking the apartment.

Then, related Smith, Mrs. Rohs’ son Willy and his wife arrived, and were admitted by Johnson at knife point. All three victims were forced by the intruders to strip. Then Rohs was ordered to perform sexual intercourse with his mother. He refused, and both he and his mother were murdered.

Marilyn Rohs was taken into another room and raped twice. As they were leaving, said Smith, Johnson suddenly stabbed the young woman. “What did you do that for?” Smith said he asked Johnson. “Because she knows who

I am,” was the reply. Johnson was right. Despite her wounds, Marilyn Rohs informed police that she thought she could identify her assailants, especially the tall one. She mentioned a plumber who had done work at the Rohs apartment, and a search there uncovered a receipt for plumbing work signed by Johnson. He was picked up, and his arrest led police to Smith. Separately, the two suspects were brought to Marilyn Rohs’ hospital bed, where she identified each in turn. Although Marilyn Rohs is now dead, her identification may help convict her accused killers.

Since being arrested, Johnson has made several half-hearted attempts to commit suicide. But despite his plight, Johnson seems almost as concerned about his image in the community as about the charges against him. When he was arrested, Johnson objected to six plainclothes police officers’ being sent to pick him up. What would the neighbors think, complained Johnson, seeing all those cops at his house?