The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-25

ARREST OF c. c. JOHNSON FOR FORGERY.
A Sketch Of his Operations in Vermont and
Elsewhere.

Elsewhere.
A special dispatch to the Boston Journal
says that Mr. j. S. Adams of Chester, has |
received letter from Sheriff Hitchcock Of |
Peoria, Illinois, the officer who arrested G. |
G. johnson, the forger, giving a detailed
account of the arrest and the facts which
led to it. While stopping in Peoria, John
son, called upon G. Wolcott, dry goods
merchant, whom he had known in years
past, and asked Wolcott to indorse a check
for him, as he was not known by the banks
in that city. Anxious to oblige an old
friend of whom he knew no evil, the gen.
tleman complied and johnson got his check
cashed. 1t was drawn on the bank of Re-
demption of Boston for one hundred dol
lars. The check was sent to Boston and
sent back protested with the legend, mo
funds connected with it," The name of
the cashier of said bank was forged and
Mr.. Wolcott is out ono hundred dollars.
This is not all johnson attempted to do
in the swindling line, but is the only in
stance wherein he was successful in OBJ
tanning money. He attempted to pass
forged check on Yondorf Bros, clothing
dealers, but failed to get any money. The
next place visited was Ottenheimer Bros,
where he was again unsuccessful in making
the much longed for negotiations He
seems to have given up the attempt there
after, and soon left the city.
On learning the above facts, Sheriff
Hitchcock redoubled his efforts for John
son's capture, and to further that end sent
Deputy KELSEY to watch that city. 1t was
at last found that johnson had purchased
ticket to Chicago, via the Chicago. Bur-
lington and Quincy railway, and the ticket
was traced to the time of its being taken
up. Just before the arrival IN Chicago,
that city was thoroughly searched, but no
johnson could be found.
After sitting the matter Sheriff Hitch
cock concluded that his man had gone to
Cincinnati, and telegraphed to detective L.
NJ. Hazcn of that city to look out for him,
and with such success that in few hours
he was able to telegraph that he had arrest
ed the man. The sheriff Immediately OBJ
tanned the necessary papers for requisi-
ton and went there. He secured johnson
and brought him to Peoria, where he is
now in Jail awaiting trial for passing forged
checks.
Since he left Chester, last September,
Johnson has been operating in Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minnesota, and has obtained
several thousand dollars on forged checks.
Johnson's family reside in this town and
are respectfully connected, and this sad
affair falls with crushing effect upon his
wife. Until within few months johnson
has led an exemplary life, but he took to
the wine cup, which has led him to commit
crime which will result in his spending the
remainder of his days within the walls of
a state prison, as he is wanted in six states
to answer to the charge of forgery.
"Brownie," from Springfield, VT, writes
the Boston Journal, giving an account of
his operations in that town. He says
Our busy little village cannot boast of the
residence or birth place of many noted
criminals, an ''honor" we are not at all
anxious to possess. G. c. johnson, whose
arrest for forgery was duly announced in
the Journal, was formerly resident Of
this town. He was our constable in 1862
and in the auditors report last year no
tice this item "Due from the bondsmer
of 9. c. johnson $238.60." His arrest
will not make them feel any more comfort
able. His first experience in the forgery
line that am aware of was his obtaining
some blank checks of our banks here ant
| f1tipn thp n his OrdQr fOl
fifty dollars and signing the name of ID. M
Smith & Co. of this town, the well-knowr
manufacturers of clothes pins. He wal
, identified by Horace Partridge & Co. o.
Boston and the check was cashed by Bos
ton bank, sent to our bank here, pro
nounced a forgery, protested and returned
! with the request that the maker might b.
punished. If he had met his deserts a
that time it might have stopped his future
, brilliant" career.
His next operation was at Rutland
where he is wanted for his hotel bill an,
5000 obtained by fraud. He then went t
: travelling for the Vermont Novelty Work
company of this place on his own account
He was first heard from at Detroit, al
though officers from Rutland were on tn
| LOOKOUT lOI ulIl. LIZ plSoSutCu u CutCl
q purporting to be signed by X. q. Britton
Novelty Works company, drawn upon tn
National bank of Bellows Falls. Mr.. b
0 w. Chase, formerly of the firm Of Chas
q Brothers of this town, identified him an
: the check was cashed, sent to Below
Falls for payment, protested and returned
b and now Mr.. Chase would like to see Mr.
{ johnson about $50 worth. Mr.. Johnso
told Mr.. Chase the reason why it wa
y drawn upon the bank at Bellows Falls wa
d that the Vermont Novelty Works compan
J. had changed their bank account TO tina
q bank for better accommodations. He imi
tated Mr.. Brittons signature very closely
: and but for the fact of his sending it to tina
, place, it would have been hard to detect.
: This same operation has been repeated
number of times, paying his bills by none
Y obtained in this manner. The only wonde
II is that no has not been arrested before dur
It ing his three months of western travelling
IS A number of our citizens have receive
IS letters from his victims inquring as to tn
Financial standing of C. G. Johnson
formerly of your place, but now travelin
8 for the Vermont Novelty Works com
n pany." The replies have not been YER
flattering. The amount received from eac
one has been small, or he would have bee
IS arrested before. He is now languishing il
d Jail at Peoria, ILL.,, and no doubt by thi
r time he duly appreciates the motto tina
. "honesty Is the best policy"
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