SAC Los Angeles to SAC Seattle re NORJAK suspect associates of Lou Johnson

LA 164-497

On 9/3/74, [REDACTED] was interviewed at his place of business, [REDACTED] Los Angeles, California. [REDACTED] stated he and his wife had been acquainted with LOU JOHNSON, the former Dodger baseball player, and [REDACTED] for several years. [REDACTED] stated he was a baseball fan and had become personally acquainted with [REDACTED] He recalls that about 1969 or 1970, MAURY WILLS, a Negro star for the Dodgers, had become involved in a dispute with the Dodger management and was sold to Montreal. Apparently in sympathy with WILLS, JOHNSON also became involved in a dispute with the management and was sold to San Diego. Shortly thereafter, JOHNSON was sent from San Diego to Hawaii. He refused to go to Hawaii and gave up baseball. KEYSER stated JOHNSON [REDACTED] in Los Angeles, moved to Seattle where he was [REDACTED]

He described JOHNSON as a "real country boy" who in his own mind had suddenly become "Mr. Baseball" then largely due to his own actions, everything for him fell through.

He recalls that about November 1971, LOU JOHNSON and a man named [REDACTED] referred to by JOHNSON as [REDACTED] came to his shop driving a 1970 Cadillac. This was the first time he had met [REDACTED] and when they came into the shop, LOU JOHNSON did most of the talking and he, [REDACTED] tended to believe that the Cadillac was owned by JOHNSON. He later found this was not true. [REDACTED] located a work sheet dated 11/30/71, for work on a 1970 Cadillac bearing California license [REDACTED] He recalls that after several days passed and JOHNSON and [REDACTED] brought the car in again. This time they [REDACTED] recalled the car was black and they wanted the new paint job in the same color. After the car was painted, [REDACTED] and JOHNSON picked it up and indicated they were returning to Seattle where he assumed they both lived.

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DB COOPER-53698

LA 164-497

About a month later, [REDACTED b6/b7C/b7D] brought the car in to be worked on. After the work was completed, he had taken the car to an address furnished by [REDACTED] Los Angeles.

About two weeks later, she brought the car to the shop and stated [REDACTED] was involved in some type of [REDACTED] in Seattle and would probably be in jail for awhile. [REDACTED] wanted to leave the car with him, [REDACTED]

[REDACTED b6/b7C/b7D] added that JOHNSON had borrowed $250 from him, which was never repaid, and the last work on the 1970 Cadillac was never paid for by [REDACTED]. He got the distinct impression during his contact with both JOHNSON and [REDACTED] in 1972 that they were broke. [REDACTED] stated his records indicate that the 1970 Cadillac was repossessed from him by a Stockton, California, firm on 10/19/72. He recalls the repossessing firm had contacted him three or four months prior to that date and told him of the status of the car. At that time he had taken all the belongings of [REDACTED] and/ or JOHNSON out of the car. Included in these belongings were some clothing and a handgun found in the trunk. He added that a short time, perhaps two or three weeks, after he had [REDACTED] had talked with him of some problems she was having [REDACTED]

[REDACTED b6/b7C/b7D] stated he would cooperate in any way possible with the FBI. He stated he does not know any of the specifics concerning the background of the gun which was left in the 1970 Cadillac nor whether the gun belonged to JOHNSON or [REDACTED]. He added that [REDACTED] [REDACTED] in Los Angeles, and JOHNSON has not helped his family in any way in the way of support since he abandoned them in 1969 or 1970.

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DB COOPER-53699