The New York herald., 1871-02-22
JOHN ALIENS SUCCESSOR.
The Murderer Johnson in Pri.
SON Again.
Mercy Thrown Away-His villanies Summed
Up-scens In the Special Sessions =

The appearance OF the crowd occupying the
benches in the Court OF Special Sessions yesterday
was SO srlkingly different from what is ordinarily
presented that all concerned er connected IN any way
with the OF the court made It the subject OF
general comment Usually the seats are hlled by
those ell known criminals OF the street. the base
ment saloon or the panel house; the companions OF
criminals and vioators OF every law. social ana
moral; men who would as readily thrust the bowie
KNIFE into The heart Of fellow creature IT would
tend TO hide their crimes, place their hands IN MS
pocket and steal his money or ewelry, or enter MS
house and purloin his goods. They recognize no
law and submit to nothing that would be likely tn
deter them from constantly committing acts of
IoLENCE, RAPINE AND EVEN MURDER.
Yesterday, however, there were mea Of respecta.
bility and great number OF the genter sex present.
although when the court opened there was nothing
Indicate, at nrs that anything out OF the ordinary
course Of business would transpire either for their
amusement or instruction. The most remarkable
feature, however, was the immense gathering or
colored persons of both sexes, who were quietly
sconced In their seats, their sable features present
Ing strange contrast to those Of their pale brethren
while their et-like piercing glances seemed TO pene
trate everywhere and through everything scarcely
excepting the columns supporting the building,
literally s'gOng throughn ALL
THE REASON FOR THIS C0NuLoMERATION
was soon made apparent. There was to be an old
thief, burglar, highway robber and murderer, all in
one tried-One OF the most frightfuy brutal and
disgusting men OF color' that ever stepped across
| court room. Al ten O'Clock justices bowling and
| Shandey took their seats upon the bench, and the
motions being declared IN order, the calendar, com.
pIf Aiier Wiiiam nyer, New FORK rowdy Of the first
water had been sent ac ross the waters OF lainenL-
ton, for SIX months for deriving Mary French Of
her stockings and several other garments OF neces
| sary character and Henry Ggan was also de-
spatched on similar journey for four months, for
| Of the State Of New York W.
JOHN JOHNSON, THE MURDERER, WAS CALLED. ;
| Now all the dusky faces OH the benches seemed to
/ become SILL more dalkened and they leaned for
ward in GREATNESS anxiety to catch every word OF
nate, but unmerclfu 'brudder.n In the present In
| stance Johnson was charged with deliberately walk
and stealing from the hands Of Mrs. Rem piece OF
harcloth valued az fifteen dollars. 1t was not the
vaue o tng me- Mtc,e a OF the me anner Nv wnicn ne per-
| concerning him, but
TILE MANS PREVIOUS DISGUSTING. REvolTING
CAREER,
| as subsequently revealed in the court Reared in
the neighborhood OF the Five POINTS, Johnson took
10 crime as early as he could walk or speak, and be
IL SAID, quite as naturally, to all appearance, to
el her OF these natural acquisitions. Ludwig Rem
showing that when he saw Johnson enter his place
be was filled with terror and did not attempt to pre-
perate character OF the man. Evidence was next
given as to his previous crime, which so far over
SUeLcueS tNc present one as TO fenQer lt scarcely
worthy oil remark. At the age Of twelve years ne
| was engaged IN the
LUCRATIVE BUSINESS or pocKET-pIcKINe,
and being taken one day with his hand In a lady's
pocket, he was arrested, convicted ana sem to q
iormaiory. This was no reformation to the deter
mined and resolute young African. He was there
two years, ana was no sooner released than he was
engaged IN highway ROBBERY, being taken with
two others for clubbing gentleman IN the street,
aud after robbing MIN OF all his property departed,
leaving min hall dead.n BY qulbOle as ingenious
as the subtle mind OF Johnson could produce, he
was acquitted with reprimand that the next time
he would feel ine Iron hand' with rgor. Within
two months OF thls t!me he was suspected OF being
BuRGLARloUsLY ENTERED DWELLING HOUSE
everything that could oe removed He afterwards
allowed an admission TO escape his lips while under
burglary, and after little investisation Johnson
found himself within the wcli guarded precincts OF
the state Prison for Aye years PRETENDING to be
entrey penitent Tor his past crimes anu mlsdeeis-
he was always plnnglng ncadlong into vice when
ree-some friends Interested themselves in him and
lie was released. Notwithstanding his promises Ia
reform he was no sooner allowed to breathe the at
mosphere Of liberty than he
STAINED HIS HANDS WITH HUMAN BLOOD,
murdering Henry schlosser in the month OF Decem-
bcr 1860, at 46 Thompson street. with shOemaker's
knife. because lie endeavored to prevent him from
stealing several pairs of CATERS. He was arrested
Tor Ihs and The evidence was so strong against him
HE WAS SENTENCED TO DE HANGED
Dy Judge Russell on the 1in o. February, 1857. After
TIE effort to obtain stay Of Proceedings on the part
OF his counsel an appeal to the Supreme Court re-
suited In a reversal OF the Judgment and he got on
win lour years imprisonment in the State Prison,
HIS counsel subsequently ascertaIned that great
part Of his vilany had been kept back by his
friends, and he expressed the opinion that the mur.
der OF Schlosser was most cold-blOoded massacre.
Three weeks ago johnson was released, and COM
Ing to New York obtained live dollars from a FRIEND
TO whom he stated that he would never do an ytbIp0
again tnat would place him within tile clutches Of
the law.
HOW WELL HE KEPT THIS PROMISE
Is clearly demonstrated by his present offence. This
friend visited him Monday evening In his cell in
the Tombs. and Johnson eudeavorcd to convince
INN that innocent. ron TN
upon him and sald "You contemplate scOundrei I
you know you are guilty. After deal of preyart-
cation he admitted It, and gave further hint that
ne was
'AFRAID HE WOULD DIE ON THE GALLOws
yes." There Is little doubt that he would murder
anu smile over the operation. Judge bowling, in
sentencing him yesterday morning, repeated al the
foregoing facts carefully recalling incident after in
cident or the fellows lile and stated that he deeply
regretted he was unable TO Impose heavier penalty
than that allowed by the Court.
You are the worst Of the worst the deepestdyed OF
the blackened in CRIME. the most thorough scoundrel
New York can produce,' said his Honor" "No pun
ishment that the law nici, not even the terror
that would be struck into the soul OF the ordinary
culprit with the gallows before him, affects you In
the slightest.
you WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH
for most bloody oence-the worst crime recognized
by the law-yOu were snNtcled from the halter and
death almost bya miracle, and launched again into
the light OF hope and chance for repentance and
better life was afforded you; but you refused all good.
al! nat might tend to soften that brutal heart. Tn0w
send you to the Pcnitentiary for six months and ni
pose line OF fifty dollars, and you will stand COM
mtted until that amount lie paid, while Will take
care that during my term Of oflce the fine shall not
be remitted."
The prisoner was as immoyabe and as cool as the
sfone wncn comp0sed the prison walls, and left tho
court with as little concern as he would exhibit in
taking meal
ANOTHER HORSE STEALING CASE.