Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-12-28
A DOURLE ABANDONMENT.
IFrom tbe st. Paul Press, Dec. ISL

~ R
f S[From the st, Paul Press. Dec, Isl
"A deserter named johnson was arrested
in this city yesterday, and chapter OF
crime was thereby opened, which has here
tofore remained In obscurity. :.
Some time since man calling himself
VIM. B. Barney went to Darlington, ILL.,,
and secured work In the tin shop OF Ira
Chase. 1t seems that two or three years
ago a lady whose parents reside near Alton
desired to marry this Barney, but her pa
rents opposed 1t and compelled him to leave.
He enlisted and went to the wars, but the
fires oflove burned brightly In the malden's
breast, and she remained true to him.
She went to Darlington, and he deserted
and came there, as heretofore stated. But
short time elasped before he proposed
that they should be married, and they ac-
cordingly went to Chicago, and were duly
pronounced man and wife. They then pro-
ceeded to Crystal Lake, which is but short
distance from harrington, and after five
days of welded life Mr.. Barney disappear
some property which she held in her own
name, and he succeeded in inducing her to
place the money, three thousand dollars, in
his hands, promising to start hardware
store in Darlington. iaiatN tLI.J |.
Two weeks after he " turned upmissing,"
lewd woman at Crystal Lake, named Ra-
chel Baker, received letter from him, ask
ing her to meet him at GAINESVILLE, Wis. She
obeyed the summons, and reached there on
the 18th of November, and he made his APP
pearance on the 10th. BY this time the
( deserted wife began to open her eyes, and
though she loved hinlstill, she did not relish
the idea of another female enjoying the
benefits of her money. She accordingly
employed MIS-. M. Babbitt to pursue the
guilty parties, and he cucceeded, by good
management, in caging the bird. y.
Mr.. Babbitt proceeded to GAINESVILLE, but
the bird had flown, whittier, no one knew.
Owing to y slight clue which he obtained
he followed on, and when he reached Wi
mona found the first definite trace. Their
names were registered and they had been
at the Bauder house for five days, but when
the officer arrived they were again on the
wing. Whether they took the stage for st.
Paul or cars for Rochester could not be as
certained at Winona. Mr.. Babbitt went to
Rochester, and, finding no trace OF the game,
came to this city. reaching here Monday
night. He Immediately commenced an ac-
tive search, examining all the hotel reg
isters, &c. Yesterday morning he entered
the bar-room OF the Minnesota house, on
Wabashaw street, ard there, playing a game
OF cards, he saw man answering the de-
scription of the gay Barney. Upon the reg
lister he found the name of Brown, "resi-
dence Chicago written in hand which
confirmed his suspicious. He accordingly
applied to the provost marshal tor assis-
tance, and Lieut.. +. Dampier, of Co. i, in
dependent battalion, who is in command of
the provost guard in the city, took posse
of men, and, going to the Minnesota house,
arrested him while he was playing the
game of cards.
He was searched, and on his person was
found pocket-book containing $500. The
woman was also arrested and searched, but
no money was found upon her. Both were
taken to Col. Averill's office, and, after
short examination, he was turned over to
Capt. Keith, who sent him to the provost
guard house.
He says his real name is VIM. johnson,
that he is twenty-eight years old, a timer
by trade, that he enlisted in company X,
5Sth Indiana infantry, Capt. VIM. b. Carr,
Oct. 6, 1861; that lie was taken prisoner at
Tennessee, Aug. 18th, 1862,
and paroled the next day; and that he was
not legally mustered, and consequently
cannot be held as deserter. He has black
hair, black eyes, dark complexion, and is
five feet eight and half inches in his boots.
His general appearance is that of desper-
ado. t..
The money taken from him was deposited
in bank and receipt given him for the
amount. His paramour was released after
being searched. A letter was found in her
room which was signed James Baker Jr.,
and was evidently from her husband. 1t
was dated at Memphis, Oct. 16, 1864, aud
was addressed to his parents. 1t showed
that he was soldier, and that his wife had
proved false during his absence, and desert
ed their children, three little boys. He ap-
pears much distressed, and asks his parents
10 take the children until his term of service
expires. He concludes the letter by say
Ing, 80 God forgive her that has wronged
me, once wife," ''''f i'f DE