The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-14
NOT cHAuNoEY JOHNSON.
THE PRISONER BUcxNGHAM NOT IDENTICAL
WITH THE NOTORIOUS BANK noBBER-A

THE PRISONER BUcxrNGHAM NOT IDENTICAL
WITH THE NOTORIOUS BANK RoBBEn-A
ETUPID POLICE MISTAKE.
Its one Of tho richest jokes ever heard Of" sa'd
old detective in speaking to HERALD reporter yes
tcrday the subject reported Identification OF
Buckingham, the arrested on suspicion Of for
gerry, Chadnccy johnson, the notorious bank
breaker 'Why, they are no more alike than lion
and porcupine" and the detective stopped short TO
enjoy tho mistake by an uproarious laugh '"hy,
Chauncey johnson is nity-six years OF age"
he continued ITO begin with. Then he's
a small man, with sharp Dyes and peculiar
features. buckingham, on the other hand, Is
at tho most not over thirty-6ve years OF age,
tall and well built, with frank, open iacc knew
johnson intimately for years, and knew him well
I know my right hand. never the prisoner
Buckingham before in my life. but knew in an In
that no wasn't tho man. If there Is any Other
proof wanted just ask the Warden of Sing Sing, who
will tell you That Cnauncey Johnson is at the present
time behind the prison bars there serving out ten
years sentence. It's incomprehensioie to me how
anybody could have mado sucn y mistake"
Mr. Savage, who has been officially connected with
the Tombs for many years as messenger, also repu-
buckingham somewhat under the influence OF
liquor when arrested SAID he, III wanted nothing
further 10 satisfy that he wasn't johnson Chaun-
coy johnson, gambler and burglar though he was was
mover known 10 taste drop OF liquor. knew him
s not tho s,ph,ess anu esemsance between Inc
two men, aud besides johnson is now In sing sing Tor
burglary. He keeps the books In one Of the shops
ne U.s. by the way one VI the most accomplished oook
Keepers in the country besides being man descended
from highly respectable people lie is also man OF
nne education and address,"
How happened IT, then, that no became tho notorious
criminal that he Isl" asked The reporter
stumbling. he the most nvcterate gambler
ever knew. He always lighting the tiger II was
the passion of his he Every cent he got went INTO
some faro bank. remember once talking 10 him on
In lnh nf Grim Hn n
The tier OF his cell in tho Tombs waiting Tor
tho prisoners van TO take him to Sing sing.
Cbaunce' SAID. IT'S too bad that fellow like
you should always be going TO State Prison Tho
words seemed TO strike HIM. He stopped moment,
as II ag,tated; then he sand, solemnly Savage, 50
help me God, never stole a cent from poor man in
my life; robbed the rich only, and every time com
m'ted crime aid it 10 get more money 10 play
faro with Ia moment his scli-posscssion .ad re-
turned and no was chatting as lively and unccncern-
edly as ever Another strange thing about Johnson
continued Mr. Savage; che never would tell where he
lived. His intimate friends never knew. He
always won't home aiooe AIS friends often tried 10
learn but they never succeeded.
Officer Gardner, OF the Tombs also ridiculcd
the den OF buckingham being johnson, aud
johnson s last sentence by which It appears that ho
was sentenced TO ten years Sing Sing on June 20,
1872 for the burglary OF the picture frame store oil f.
TO that The bond robbery In the Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel You may depend upon it," said oifcer
Gardner, "Chaunccy johnson Is at this moment safe
In State Prison. He Is not Buckingham"
The reporter next called on Buckingham, who occu-
pies cell IN the Iombs pending his trial Tue pris-
ouer IS tine looking man OF about thrty1ve years of
age, polished IN mis- conversation, and apparently
OF business. He mt first much
TO seeing any newspaper representative.
'rbey have Indignantly assaulted me- he bitterly said,
ION the uncorroborated statement Of some detective
am not Chaunccy Johnson l am respectable man
and have done business tor years broker About
the crime with whch am charged l OF course cannot
talk until am placed before the jury but am inno
cent and my innocence will be established
How Detective Woolsey could have made such
stupid blundcr is mystery AT the Central Office The
police admit that Buckingham Is unknown to
thom He never belore arrested, SO Tar as be
learned