The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-20
AiitIlmontl G!iispatttt.
THURsDAY..... JANUARY 20, 1870.
THE CIRCULATION OF THE DISPATCH"
is LARGER THAN THE CoMBlNED CIRCU-
EATON OF ALb THE OTHER DAILY NEws-
PARE2e OF THIS cTTY.
From The Cincinnati, Commercial,

On 'he l1th OF bccemDer last q package
containing $T4S.91 was received in this city
by thc United States Express Company from
their Office in Leavcnworth, Kansas, di-
rcctcd to Mrs. Rhoda Johnston. There was
also note in the package directed to the
agent Of the Express Company in this city
requesting him to see that Mrs. Rhoda
Johnston got Ike money, and that she signed
y RECENT ior the same, which was to be re-
turned to LcaTcnworth. This money was
TIC balance ducto Mrs. Johnston on policy
Of $4,000 issued by the Northwestern hIu-
tual Life Insurance Company, of Nlilwau-
kic. Wisconsin, on the life Of Marcus l..
Johnston, who died in this city last May.
4 notice was put in the post-ottice on the
same day requesting Mrs. Rhoda Johnston
to call ut the Office OF the United States Ex-
press Company, as she WIS unknown, ard
gct her package. She called the next day,
the 10th, and exhibited letters from hir.
Somcrlry, the agent Of the Express Company
at Lcavtnworth, and also agent Of the North
western Mutual Life insurance Company,
AMI also letters from George L. Johnstcn, the
brother Of the deceased, wnoreSidcd in KAN
s@s. She was a sharp, shrewd, keen woman,
and TIE agent OF the company in this city,
not doubling her word, had, however, to re-
quirc her, as the rules OF the Office de-
manded, she being stranger, to be idcnti-
fed by some one known i'll the Office.
She brought in some one from the local
Office of the Northwestern Mutual Life In
surancc Company Of this city, who had
maid her several months previous 5000 on
account ct this policy, and he identified
her and signed the rcccipt-book in the Ex-
press Office with her for this package, and
She took the money away with her.
Another Mrs. Khoda Johnston, who also
claimed to have been the wife Of Marcus
T.. Johnston, and who said she held the po-
licy Of $4,000 in the Northwestern Mutual
Life Insurance Company, and claimed to
have sent this policy to her BROTHER inlay;
George +. Johnston, in Kansas, for coilec-
ton, and 10 have received $3.50 on account,
but, failing to obtain the balance. put the
claim IN the hands of Major Blackburn,
prosecuting attorney Of this county, several
months ago.
She also had letters in her possession
from Mr. SoInclby and from Mr.. Gcorge'E.
Johnston. whom she claimed SIS her brother
il-iaw. Mr.. Blackburn had been corrc-
srondng for months with Mr. Somcrby,
Mr.. George L. Johnston, and with the home
Office Of the Insurance Company at Mil
wuukic. but without any very satisfactory
result until few days ago, when tic lnsu-
rance Company sent Air. Blackburn the re-
ccipt OF thc Express Company at Alilwau-
HE, datcd October 18th, for the $GiS.9l. :.
Nr. Blackburn then inquired at the Office
OF the Express Company III this city Tor the
package, and was told that the money had
been received and delivered TO Mrs. Rhoda
Johnston, and that they had her re-
ccirt for K. Mr. Blackburn then brought
his client TO the Office to sec if she
was the person to whom the money had
been paid, lie fearing that his client
was perhaps imposing Oh him, and he
was IL ortc told that she was not the per-
Bon who had received the money. Mr..
blackburn youchcd for his client, who, by
thc-way, was a poor, simple, ignorant, wo-
man, not capable Of concocting any sTindlc
on TIC Insurance or express companies, and
who evidently had no hackers or aidcrs or
nhctlors in the scheme. He knew her SIS
Mrs. Rhola Johnston. She had been go in-
troduccd 10 him by respectable people who
knew her, and with whom he was well ac-
quaiptcd. lie, believing his client to be
the person Sic represented herself as,
claimed tic money. She knew Of no other
Mrs. Ehoda Johnston. She had married
Marcus l.. Johnston eight years ago, and
had Two children by him. Her husband
bad been a book-bindcr By trade; had SUI
forcd four years from cancer Of the sto-
mach, had finally died Of that disease in
this city, and was buried here.
The agent Of the United States Express
Company in this city felt that no mistake
had been made in giving out this package
OF moncy, for he was himself present
when il was givcn TO Mrs. Johnston, and
Lad ut the time satisfied himself that it was
I'll right: but the statement Of Major
blackburn and this Mrs. Rhoda No. 2, and
tie letters she exhibited, showed that some
thing was wrong; but where the error was
was not so plain. lie at once called on the
agents OF the insurance company in this
city, who had identified the 10. |, and re-
quested them 10 produce the lady. After
several hours hunting she was found and
brought to the Express oilice and confronted
with No. =. Both claimed their names were
Rhoiu JoluRton; both were wives Of Mar
cUs l.. Johnston, deceased; both had 4
broiicr-in-lNw in Kansas named George L.
Johnston. they both knew hin, and lie
had visited at both their houses in this.city.
No. was married seventeen years ago by
Bishop Simpson, and had seven children by
her husband, and No. was married eight
years ago, near New York city, by q
Squire, and had two children by her hus-
band. No. | said her husband had never
been away from her beyond few weeks at
time; and six, seven, and eight years
ago he resided with her in Evansville,
where he was in business, while No. 2 said
he lived with her for years in New York
and here. Both had held the policy of
So, 900 on the life of Marcus L. Johnston
in the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
Company, and both had sent it to George
l.. Johnston to collect-No. l sending, in
addition, power Of attorney to collect the
money. No. claimed that, by agreement
between the two brothers, Marcus L. and
George f., as Marcus could not pay the pre-
MUM George L. was to. do so, and receive
one half of the policy for his advances and
trouble. No. received 5000 last spring,
and in October the $74S.9l, and note
given up for $40 and some interest, making
the - eco (all that was due her); while
No. says she received $3.50 last spring
from George L. Johnston.
:, TheSetwo women were questioned separate
ly and apart, and both tell straightforward
stories. They were told that QUE must lbe
an impostor, &C., and told il they were ly-
ing what the consequence would be, but
neitber fljnehed an iota They worn ouos