The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-16
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
A VILLAIN Gagged.
A Deserser from an Indiana Regiment
marries Woman and Aban.
dOns her after Stealing $4,000.
lie is ARRESTED In ST. PAUL In
COMPANY WITH A PARA
MOUR.

| ~ NA' D"oois, A1oq', d DcpuLy I[OVOSI MAI
shall and U. 8. Detective from Marengo, nlir
OILS, yesterday arrested desperate name
William johnson, at the Minnesota House
charged with the double crime of being a dc
| serter from the 18th Indiana Volunteers. an
also of marrying woman at Burlington, Hin
| DIS, leaving her in few days, minus 5000 il
cash, and absconding in company with pros
| titute.
The woman whom johnson entrapped int
marrying him, and who must have been igno
rant of his real character, was a maiden lad
somewhat advanced in years-a plain, inexpe
rienced Hoosier. She lives near Alton, II
linOis. She owned in her own RICH
some property, which johnson induced he
to dispose of in order ito Get him up in bust
ness" The property was accordingly sold
and brought SO, 900, which johnson at once
borrowed, and quietly sloped, after living
with her only about week. This happened
month ago.
Of course the lady was overwhelmed witt
Distress and was anxious that the villain who
had treated her so shamefully, should be ar
rested, and her money recovered. One OF
two officers were spoken to on the subject
but none seemed willing or able to manage the
matter. Finally Mr.. Rabbit was recommend.
ed as detective who had succeeded in several
difficult cases in ferreting out rascals, and who
always brought his man into camp, when he
''went for him" The case was put into his
hands, and he commenced to work it up. u
johnson had confessed to his wife during
their brief intercourse, the important secret
that he was deserter from the 18Th Indiana
Infantry, and was even then keeping shady,
for fear of an arrest This information 80 in
cautiously divulged, gave a foundation and
shape to the whole matter of pursuit and ar
rest, as we shall see. A photograph of him
an excellent likeness-was also given to Mr..
Babbitt by his wife, and was of invaluable aid
in tracing him, as he has strongly marked
face, which even casual observer would
remember.
In nine out of ten of the cases of this char
acter which we have had occasion, as repor-
ter, to write up, the villain hero of the "ro-
nance in real life, :" has been entrapped through
a liason with some abandoned woman. 1t ia
invariably weak place in their covert, through
which the crafty fox is traced and caught.
This case is no exception to that rule. The first
clue Mr.. Rabbit obtained to the rascal was
through his connection with prostitute named
Rachel Barker, in whose company or in pur-
suit of whom he absconded. He had told
some one "a relative, as it happened, OF Mr.
Babbitt) that he " was going out west, and in
tended to find Rache Barker" The latter was
reported by some of her associates to have gone
to GAINESVILLE, Wisconsin, and there, in wanton
dalliance with her, spending the money be had
stolen from his wife, 1t was presumable the
double deserter would be found.
Mr.. Rabbit received from Captain Coon, Pro-
vost at Marengo, warrant for the arrest of
johnson, and letter to the Provost Marshal
at GAINESVILLE, desiring him to aid Mr.. Rabbit in
the arrest. This was about q week ago, and
the hunt began. Rabbit went to GAINESVILLE,
searched the purlieus OF that city over but
heard nothing of the fugitive. Finally he
found clue to them at the Hyatt House,
where JOhnson's paramour had gone on Nov.
18th, under the name of Mrs. w. C. Morton,
and was joined by johnson on the day follow
ing. They had left on freight train, west.
ward bound. After getting letter of recon-
mendation to the Provost Marshal at La Crosse,
he pursued them to that city, where he again
got clue to them, which led him to Wmona.
They had stopped at the Border House there
several days, and taken the cars for Rochester,
whittier he followed them. Here the trail was
almost Obscured, but after patient labor and
some strategy it was picked up again, and led
Mr.. Rabbit to st. Paul, where he arrived late
on Monday night, almost sick with fatigue
having had only few winks of sleep in sever
nights.
Early yesterday morning he had conference
with Col. Averill, Provost Marshal of thu
State, to whom he had credentials from Capt
See at Winona. Col. Averill gave him such
authority and instructions as was necessary tc
manage the arrest, and Mr.. Rabbit started Out
on a reconnaissance to the various hotels.
After visiting several with no success, b,
went into the bar room of the Ninnesots
House, where, playing cards at a table will
some other men, sat the object Of his search
There was no installing that countenance. Mr.
Rabbit carelessly went to the register, and 500,
detected the handwriting of his bird, who hat
registered his arrival as Mr.. Brown and La
dy," about December LIST. He asked the bar
keeper who this Mr.. Brown" was, and wa
informed that they were still in the house, an,
that "Mr. Brown" was ono of the men at tn
card table. ...,.
Nh. Rabbit did not dare to look around agai
at the table, but carelessly lounged out AM
went straight to Col. Averill's Office, where b
told the Colonel he had certainly spotted hi
game. Col. AveriI told him that he had be,
ter make the arrest ct once, and that as b
felt sure from the portrait of the rascal ths
he was desperate, he had better take squa
with him to aid him. He thereupon sent hin
with an order for guard, to Capt, Keith.
happened, opportunity, that Lieut.. Dampiel
of Co. F, Hatchs Battalion, which is dom
Provost duty here, was in the room at th
time, and as he boards at the Minnesota Hous'
recognized the portrait at once, stating that b
had become acquainted with johnson. Lieu
Marty and two guardsmen, armed with n
volvers, at once accompanied Mr.. Babblt
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