, 1879-04-20
JOHNSON'S STORY.
Some Charges Made Against q
Private Detective.
Who Is Accused Of Putting Up a Burg,
larry at Aurora.
An Absolute Denial OF All the
Allegations.
TIE REPLY.

l. II r. IL LIZ II IL
PArTEN DIsPOsEs OF THE CHARGES.
To be perfectly fair, the reporter, Of course,
called upon Mt. Patten at his office On Twenty
second street, and gave him an opportunity to
refute. The detective was willing enough to
talk. Prefactng what he said with bold and
sweeping denial OF any and all the charges oi
crookedness. he made the following statement:
ssThe man who is at the bottom of all this Is
Cornelius O'Callahan, and he has the support
and sympathy Of certain private watchrnen in
this vicinity in the attempt to ruin us and our
business. O'Callahnn was employed By us last
fall, and worked for us about two months. He
WIS the man who got hold OF Lew johnson,
and on some information we obtained
through him We made some arrests.
Among other things, O'Cal1ahan told us
there was to be house robbed
in Aurora, Mrs. Coulter's. ! Was then doing
some detective business on the Chicago, Bur-
lingron kE Quincy Road, and I saw Mrs. Coul-
ter's agent and notified him ct what We had
learned: 1t seems the plans were all laid, !, the
thieves went there, and we're scared away. This
be didn't hear OF until afterwards. It appears
they set another time. however, and VIC found it
out. We told Mrs. Coulter's agent we would
telegraph him If We knew tile work was going to
be done, and make the arrests II possible. We
word spoken about money"
no COMPACT.
nYou deny making any compact With John
6on and Wilkinss"
II do; and am prepared to prove the truth
Of what say. | can ret the afidavits Of Mrs.
Coulter that never sa" her; and Of her agent,
that not single word was said about money.
As for Johnson's statement, 1t will bave no
weight whatever In court Of record, or with
the public either, when they know be has been
in the Pcnitentiary, and has lost his right of
citizenship"
either, for . their share in putting up any such
burglary:'
The reporter then detailed to the detective
the substance Of the interview With johnson.
calling attention to the salient features thereof
particularly the story about the order for the
money and the other general charges, and asked
him what he had to sayto the story.
The facts are these" was the reply. 1--WE
had made some arrests out on the road, and
were going down to Yorkville to the trial.
Smith and Mcintyre, Of Piano, we're the men,
aud they were arrested for receiving stolen
property. johnson had given us some informa-
ton and we expected to use htrh rs 2 witness.
Just about this time johnson was arrested,-as
he claimed for being yagrant,- and was gwen
twcnty-four hours to leave town. I wasn't
ready to 60 out thcp-wanted to use him as q
witness,-and SO sent him on ahead. He had
no money, and ! gave him q note to a man in
Aurora for whom We had done some work, tell
ing him to
to Keep him while he waited there for me to
come on. was furnished with passes by the
Railroad Company. Whether Wilkins went or
not don't know. He mar have gone, but I
didn't know anything about it. picked him
matter, and we vent on to the trial. When he
got to Torkyille, johnson faifed,- he didn't
want to 60 on the stand because he didn't hare
an OATH. when was down. he said, 4 didn't
zenship.' l didn't know be had lost
his citizenship till / got there, but
when found it out, Of course I wouldn't put
him on the stand. The whole thing, it seems,
was only trick on hts part to get out into the
country, because be was afraid to stay in town.
Caliuhan was witness too, having been with
us when We got the goods ana heard Inc adm's-
siops: hut he sold out On NE completely
wouldn't 60 on the stand unless We would pay
him $500 OF 500. wouldn't do that and that
euded it."
1Now, how about Johnson's story that you
got the police to
SEARCH GALATIANS HOUSE,
with the idea of finding, if possible, stolen
nroperty secrcted by johnson, and thus settling
him, So that he would keep his mouth shut on
youl, -. 49,. .,ouo :.
in auy of the rest. never mentioned thing
Ia the police concerning johnson; never paid
auy attention to him at all, and don't know why
! should want TO pcrsccnte him." ~ oo-
*tHe says you have given some S25 or So
altogetler!"
Never paid him a cent OF money. All he
ever rot Callahan paid him, and had nothing
to do with him. johnson, as sad before, gave
US information sometimes. He was taken along
and. he showed the places where goods we're
stolen. and so on.'
isWly did you discharge Callahana''
'sBecause he got into us $50 or $40 worth, and
was drinking so we couldn't DO auythlngs With
him."
s'Johnson says you put the police on ca1la-
han, too.n ...
sWeIl, didn't. The detectives suspected his
house, and went md searched 1t, but bad
nothing to do with it. Why, after the fellow
left nc, took pity On him aud got him the sit
uation he now holds. Docs that look ike per-
sccution!"
nWhat Is Johnson's probable motive in this
thing?" .........
III suppose be thinks because he gave US
little information in our business that we ought
to come down with 500 or $500 and help clear
him. as for Callahan and the others who are
backing him, they want to ruin US, and are 1uE-
nishing johnson money in exchange 1or what
he is trying to do against us, to help aim
through lis trial, oil OF which am prepared 10
prove wbeu the time eomes.o
The average reader, in view OF the 1rank e1-
planat;on given b. AIr. Patton, will De more
than ever confirmed in the opinion that john
ennis cro+apaut mt RI he hp1fpye1x