The Osceola times., 1880-01-03
THIRTY YEARS IN JAIL.
The Story OF a Sneak Thiers Life-A BOX
Containing 100000 Taken--The
Criminal Again Arrested
And Sent Back,
Philadelphia Times.

Criminal Again Arrested
And Sent Back.
Philadelphia Times
An old-time detective. now dead and
gone. conversing on the careers OF vari-
rous leading rogues he had known,
whose Operations had depleted the
stronc-boycs of banks or business houses
remarked oace: "Thev're all bound to
succumb- to inevitable fitc at last. They
20 on for wears rioting Ia their ill-goitcn
gains, sp' irging around with their fast
horses and faster women, fighing the
tiger and making big show, but they
RI come down 10 petty business ut last,
II they don't die before they get into the
almshouse.n The sageness of this is
strongly exempliiied in the career OF Il
rogue, Chauncey Johnson, "ow % years
ofage. thirty years of which ne had
sneak thieves, when he would have dis
dained TO undertake an operation the
spoils OF which would be less than thous-
ands. he has descended the slippery
grade. with the assistance OF the faro
table, until now, when he is ccught for
till-tapping. tie stake being an insignifi-
cant $2lS. lie has the reputation of
having made bigger hauls as the cham
pion sneal. thief than any man in his
Inc. He "a said to have been the com
panion o.. Dan Noble in the celebrated
tbeIt of 81 100000 in bonds from the
Office OF Daniel Lord, the New \ iork
banker. some wears ago. Bill Nosberg,
who was in the Southwark bank attempt,
and criminals OF that type, were john
so.s lilies. All his operations were
carried out with amazing coolness and
adroitncss. Complete master of his
countcnancc, ne would enter banking
house and steal the securities from a
safe under the very eyes of dozen men.
His operations were not confined to New
York City, but Philadelphia was also
branch fielrl-f fer has ekll.- lis first APP
pcarance here was along in the SOS,
when the great Barnun was coaching
. tn,irere Lind in her concert tour. She
IIzzss,r<s singing ut the Chestnut Theater.
gzEE elective George Callahan, whose keen
eve for crooked elsaractcrs 10 even now
N nowise dimmcd, though the fros,, of
seventy winters have passed over his
herd, Spotted" johnson, who was walk
ing up ant down in front OF. the theater.
The fetccive tool, him into custody rs a
suspicious individual, but such strong
vouchers for Johnson characteR were
produced that he was released. But the
detective treasured the countcnancc for
future emergencies. Not long afterward
johnson turned up in two big robberies
in New York, one boxful OF securities
from Lovejoy's Hotel, and the other a
$35,e00 affair. He was secluded in Sing
Sing for five years on one of these. In
November, 162, johnson. who was now
on the TOP rounds of his professional
ladder, trusting that time had obliterated
his physiognomy from Callanan's mem
IL. 10 10, Dl,tl lnlt lt.Lt Lt.a
again. At that time the Philadelphia
bank. at Fourth and Chestnut streets,
was the depository for boxes in which
the Third stree brokers kept their cash
and securities The prince OF sneak
thieves walked in one morning rs fami-
> liarly as though he had been accustomed
to Going that sort of thing for years,
took off his cap and poclcted 1t unob.
served. With pen behind his ear, and
with all the manner OF bankers clerk,
he walked quickly to the large sale
where the boxes were slowed, singled
out that belonging to Hacker x Lee, n
Walnut street firm, containing 100000,
tucked ii under his arm and walked of
withor. challenge. The firm inserted
an advertisement offering a reward of
500 for the return of the papers and
promising immunity to the thieves. In
a dav or two the firm informed Detective
Callahan that they had secured their
papers again and in singular way. \
lawyer had called upon them who said
client Of his had instructed him 70 ne
cotiate if the conditions of promised i'm.
= munity were not violated. The banker
described his legal friend. The detect
i've laughed and exclaimed: ''That's
Chaunccy Johnsonw lie started out TO
find him, and did secure him, although
several years had elapsed since the
Chestnu street Theatcr encounter.
Johnson did not recognize him. The
Walnut street firm were soon afterwards
assured that the detective was right
when he guessed that John, on and the
lawyer who negotiated the return of the
papers were one and the same person.
The firm did moi prosecute the case and
Johnson was at liberty again. He walk
ed straight down to Third street and
into the Bank of North America on No
yember II, 1862, inserted a wire through
the railing, and dragged 81 900 roll of
grcenbacks towards him, ut not quickly
enough 10 escape the cashier ssharp eve.
There was a hue nd cry raised, and
Johnson was collared before he get out
side, AM anothe~ faro table was cheated
out of its prev. johnson was tried under
the .illHS Oh VI w. bhSthbtliNs y Nti.i sun
fenced to one year in the Eastern peni-
tcntiary. In 1864, In the robbery OF
$4,000 from the Metropolitan Bank, OF
New York. he eclipsed his exploit with
the brokers' box. He walked into the
bank in the morning, hung up his coat
on a peg, donned a clerks custer, opened
q ,ook, disarmcd the cashiers scrutiny
by bis industry, and, waiting until that
officer had unlocked the safe and gone
into an inner Office, helped himself to
the greenbacks and fled. He was arrest
ed, plead guilty, and on that account was
let Off cay. When he came out of Sing
Sing the Lord robbery occurred, and
johnson resumed his old, reckless gain
bling. On one occasion lie staked $780,
900 in olcn bonds. Attention was at
tracted 10 him, and he was soon sequest-
cred in Sing Sing again. He acted as a
co-between in the return Of S150,000
worth Of bonds TO Wall street finn.
Dutch Heinrich, well-known New
York enc..k thief, who was every bit as
clever as johnson, was his companion in
{ nook qf his adroit thefts, and suffered
= - ~ - rivalry. johnson stole
l..