The New York herald., 1879-12-09
AGAIN IN THE TOLLS.

cHAUNcY JOHNSON, THE NOTORIOUS CRACKS
MAN, CAPTURED By DETEcTIvE DoRcEy-THE
STORY OF HIS CRIMES.
we'll dressed man entered the crockery and cut
lery store Of Gilman Colamore h Co.. at No. 10
Union square. on Thursday last and made inquiries
regarding the price of some vases few minutes
later two women. followed by another man. entered
the store. The women waited upon by the
cashier Edward Van CANT who left his desk. IN the
rear part of the building. the drst man having en-
gagged the attention Of the only salesman in the store
1t the time. The cashier thought the second man
was AN acquaintance of tho women. SO he paid
attention to him he walked around the
store while the woman examined several arti-
cles. He ssuntered into the part of the
store unobserved and turned the key in the cashiers
desk from which he took package containing $2l8.
He then made his way the front part Of the build
ing where he called Van Cant aside and told him to
select some chinaware for the women. because they
were friends Of his. and no would call again. The
cashier said "All right" and the man left The man
who had entered frst, aud who Is thought to have
been tho thiefs partner then told the salesman that
he did not anything he wished to purchase. and
passed remarking that he would call again. The
cashier returned his desk and in few minutes dis
covered the robbery. The women. when questioned.
the cashier realized that he had been duped. The
theft was reported ut Police Headquarters and Van
Cant was conducted through the Rogues Gallery,
but he failed to identity any Of the pictures that
Of the robber. Some years ago Detectiye Joseph
Dorsey arrYstsd Billy Pierce and James Ryan two
ores store ut No. 7Sl Broadway. and at the request
OF the arm Detective Dorcey was detailed on this
DETECTIVE poRcEY's CAPTURE.
The detective was furnished with an accurate de-
work was that OF Chauncy Johnson. noted bank
robber and burglar, who was recently released from
espe s lor
around the North River Bank corner Of
Thirty-fourth street and Eighth avenue. Dor:
saw him cross the avenue loiter near the door of
the West Side Bank Then he determined to arrest
johnson. and in . second was beside him. The
officer tapped him the shoulder and informed
him that Captain nealey wanted to see him.
'"rhats rough" remarked johnson, "Joe; you
know that I've served the State we'll"
you start out to commit crime there are men who
them,' was the detectives reply.
without further ceremony Detective Doroey took
quarters Superintendent Walling was about leaving
his ottice when Dorcey arrived with his prisoner.
atty.s1 wears old and wore black suit light over
coat and black Derby hat requested to be seated
The gas was turned on and the superintendents
eyes glistened as they fell on Johnson.
"Why. that's Chauncy Johnson. :. said the Superin-
tendcnt. looking at the prisoner:
say. He was then taken into the Detective Office.
aud with fifteen other persons was placed in q
room. where he was instantly recognized by Cashier
Van Cant rs the man who had robbed his desk.
Johnson was then locked up.
CAREER.
The prisoner has quite remarkable history. hav-
ing passed nearly thirty years Of his fo in prison.
When quite young man he spent . good deal of
his time and money in gambling saloons. and 1t
associated with crime and criminals. He lost
small fortune At tn. ,.ss gaming table
cracksman to support himself. In those days Dave
Bottles, Tom Biglow, Fairey Mcclure. Dan Noble.
Rory Simms aud Bill Vosberg were in their glory.
Being successful IN all the small jobs he had un-
the robbery Of the Metropolitan. Bank. cor
of Broadway and Pine street. in 1864.
and he was chosen to perform the work. One morn
ing Johnson entered the bank and taking on his
coat placed 1t upon OF the pegs. He then
donned one Of the clerks linen busters and going
Fye minutes later the CASHIER came in and seeIne
Johnson, whom he supposed to be one OF the clerks
At work. rsnarked:--"i gdeas I've got out Of the
wrong side of the bed this morning."
'Perhaps So" was Johnson's only reply.
The cashier. not suspecting that there was . thief
dear him. opened the safe and afterwsrd passed into
the safe. Of which he took SIS 900 In grsenbscks
With the money he decamped, but some days later
he wa. arrested. When arrsigned at court he
pleaded guilty, and on that account got OF with
light sentence. This case brought him prominently
to the notice OF the police. and VIXEN ha came out
in . gambling saloon by Detective oKeefe NOV
dead) and on his person was found several thousand
dollars worth Of stolen bonds. He instrumental
In the return of $3.50 700 worth Of bonds which had
been stolen from banking house in Wall street. but
Notwithstanding that WAS sent to prison. When he
came out Of Sing Slug he fell into the
When his time had expired he came back to the city
again. and In 1871 he managed to seal In
cash out OF the safe In the office Of the Fifth Avenue
Hotel. For this offence he was sentenced to prison
for ton years. He completed his term. with de-
ducon for good conduct and came back to this city