The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-12-26
THIRTY YEARS In JAIL.
An Expert aW-Breaksr-S Story of =
Sneak ThIeFs Life
tPhiladelphia Times

gone, conVerSlng on the career of lead
ing rogues he had known, whose opera
tiOns had depleted the strong boxes of
banks or business houses, remarked once
They're all bound TO succumb to newt
able fate at last. They go on for years
ing around with their fast horses and
faster women, fighting the tiger and
making big show. but they all come
down to the petty business at last, if
they don't die before they get into the
almShouSe." The sageness of this is
strongly exemplified in the career of a
rogue, Chauncey johnson, now 50 years
old, thirty years of which he has passed
In prison. In his day the king of sneak
thieves. when he would have disdained
to undertake an operation where the
spoils would be less than thousands, he
has descended the slippery grade, with
the assistance of the faro-table, until now,
when he is caught for till-tapping, the
stake being an Insignificant $219. He
has the reputation of having made big
ger hapls as the champion sneak thief
than any other man in his line. He Is
said to have been the companion of Dan
Noble in the celebrated theft of 81 ,00O,-
600 in bonds from the office of
Daniel Lord, the New York
banker,O some years ago. Bill
Vosburg, who was in the Southwark
Bank attempt, and criminals of that type
were JOhnson's allies. All his opera
lions were carried out with amazing
GOODNESS and adrOitness. Complete mas
ter of his countenancc, he would enter IL
banking house and steal the securities
from safe under the very eyes OF a half
dozen men. His operations were not
confined to New York city, but Phila-
delphi was also Il branch field for his
skill. His first appearance here was
along in the sos, when the great Bar
mum was coaching Jenny Lind in her
CONCERT tour. She was singing at the
Chestnut street thcater. Detective Geo
Callahan, whose keen eye for crooked
characters is even now nowise dimmed,
though the frostS of seventy winters have
passed over his head, spotted" John
son, who was walking mp and down be-
fore the theater. The detective took him
into custody as suspicious individual,
but such strong vouchers for Johnson's
character We're produced that he was re-
leased But the detective treasured the
countenance for further emergencies
Not long afterwArd johnson turned up
in two big rObberies in New York, one,
boxful of securities from LoveiOy'S
hotel, and the other $35, 900 affair. He
WAS secluded in Sing Sing for five years
on one of these. In November, 1862,
johnson, who was now ON the top rounds
of his professional ladder, trusting that
time had obliterated physiognOmy from
Callanan's memory, paid his respects to
Philadelphia.
At that time the Philadelphia bank, at
Fourth and Chestnut streets, was the de-
pository for the boxes in which the Third
stI eet brokers kept their cash and secur-.
tiles. The prince of sneak-thIeyes walk
ell in one morning as familiar as though
he had been accustomed to doing that
sort OF thing for years, took off his cap
and pocketed it unobServed. With pen
behind his ear. and with all the manner
OF a bankers clerk, he walked quickly
To the large safe where the boxes we're
slowed, singled out that belonging to
Hacker IL Lee, "a Walnut street firm, con-
tanning 500, 1000, tucked it under his arm
and walked off without challenge The
hrm inserted an advertisement, offering
a reward of 500 for the return OF the
papers and promising immunity to the
thieves. In day or TWO the firm in
formed detective Callahan that they had
secured their papers again and in sim
gular way. A lawyer had called upon
them WHO said client of his had in
Structed him to negotiate if the cOndi-
lions of promised immunity were not
The banker described his so
called legal friend. The detective laugh
ed and exclaimed: That's Chauncey
Johnson" He started out to find him
and did secure HIM, although several
years had elapsed since the Chestnut
street thsater encounter. johnson did
not recognize the detective. The Wal
nut street firm were soon afterwards as
sured that the detective was right
when he guessed that johnson
and the lawyer who negotiated the
return of their papers were one and the |
same person. The firm did not prose-
cute the case and johnson was ut liber- |
y again. He walked straight down to
Third street and walked into the Bank
If North America, on November II, 1862,
inserted wire through the railing and
ragged IA 81 900 roll of greenbacks to-
wards him, but not quickly enough to |
escape the cashiers sharp eye. There 1
VAS hue and cry raised and johnson
was collared before he got outside and
mother faro table was cheated out of its
prey. johnson was tined under the alias l
If q. w. Dusenberry at the June term of |
he court, in 1868, and sentenced to one /
rear in the Eastern penitentiary.
In 1854, in the robbery of $4,000 from 1
he Metropolitan Bank, New York, he 4
.clipsed his exploit with the brokers' 1
Iox. He walked into the bank in the
hung up his coat on peg,
lonned "A clerks duster, opened book, !
the cashiers scrutiny bv his 1
industry, and, waiting until that officer |
lad opened the safe and gone into the l
inner office, helped himself TO the green
'acks and fed. He WIS arrested, plead /
,uilty, and on that account, was left 4
asy. When he came out of Sing Sing |
Ill,
his old recklessness and gam 4
Hing. On one occasion he staked $780, |
100 in stolen bonds. Attention was at 1
racted to him, and he was soon sequest- /
red In Sing Sing again. He acted as I
go-between in the return of $150,000 /
worth of bonds TO u Wall street firm
Dutch Heinrich, wcll.known New 4
Ork Sneak-thief who was every bit as
lever as johnson, was his companion in
n most of his adroit thefts, and suffered 1
nee for his rivalry. johnson stole
bag containing 5000 in gold
rom New York bank and
,ot clear away with it. Heinrich,
lot TO be OutdOne, attempted the same
kIllful as johnson had been and was
aught. johnson had to sacrifice his
poll to save his confederate Johnson,
n 1869, although he had a wholesome 4
ear of the blue eye of detective Callahan,
kipped over 10 Philadelphia and tried 1
is hand successfully on the Girard 1
ank for 5000. In 1871 a check to his
areer was given, after his robbery of
sc, 600 from the safe of the Fifth avenue 4
Otel, New York. He WAS captured
nth his usual Ill luck, and was return
d 10 Sing Sing for ten years. He was
ecently set at liberty. The offense for
hitch he is now in custody was commit
ID short time ago in New York, and,
j detective parlance, clearly shows that
ne hand has lost its cunning and that 4
ohnson is now among the ranks of the
buffers" or superannuated. Two ladies 1
1tered q china store Chauncey follow
i and was mistaken for their escort by
le clerk, who hurried forward to
lat upon them. He sauntered back
ntil he had an opportunity TO rob the
esk and he did so, taking $2l8 Then,
) he was going out, he quietly told tAn
Jerk 10 let the ladies have what it1az
anted and be would call soon he
ldies, when 1lley had completed tlzir
were Surprised st beine
uestiOned concerning their Supposed
'cort, whose theft the cashier had dis
Dvered- They denied any knoW-1sdzs
the man. Johnson was arrested Nom
ay while lettering around the North
aver Bank, taken 10 the TOmhs ADD
lentifed. He Is now awaiting trial
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