Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-28
A Reliable Account Of Their Con-
duct Under Arrest.
Through Their Avid Passion for
BravadO Signs of Weakening
\Crop Out,
A Life of Crime Does Not OBJ
literate Memories of Early
Training.

AuQ TUT AmAlu lAilOdus uaNO N1Nn
captured. They were found in bluff
of rocks on the bank Of White river,
in Oxford Bend, yesterday morning.
Sheriff Saddler, Of Franklin county,
Mr.. Powers, Deputy Sheriff of john
son county, and George Bentley, who
were piloted by Dick Oxford, Of Ok
ford Bend, made the arrest.
The robbers offered no resistance as
there was no use in doing so, as the
boys had got the drop" on them be-
fore they saw them.
They came into town with them
yesterday, about l o'clock pm, and
remained here last night, They were
guarded in a room at the Van Wrinkle
House, both being fastened together
with heavy iron chain.
Having known Sheriff Sadler from
his early childhood, | was permitted
to have a long talk with the prisoners.
On going into the room | recognized
Governor" johnson as James j.
johnson, for whom / had made out a
pension voucher on Tuesday, the 9th
day of March. and he directed me to
put his postofiee address as DuQuoin,
| Ill saying that was his home aud that
he was then on his way back to Hi
nois, and would be there by the time
his check would reach there.
When he was in my Office on
the 9th inst, there was an
other johnson came in sGd Iheard
them talking. This man johnson was
Boosting about being union soldier
and Republican, and remarked that
he had met one johnson in this coun-
try whom be liked very much, as he,
! too, was a Republiean-or, to use his
exact language, he was tn" same kind
of a cat that he was" After he had
left my Office this other johnson
(whom have known for thirty years
as an honest citizen of our county re
marked to me that he, too, had been a
union soldier, and sometimes voted
the Republican ticket, but he didn't
see any use in making so much blow
about it.
This man johnson asked me last
night if his wife could not draw his
pension. and told him he could draw
it himself, even while in Jail, and he
answered by saying he didn't suppose
he would have more than zone more
draw" to make.
They we're both perfectly cool and
talked as cOolly and unconcerned
about it as boys would of base bal
game.
The oldest of the Johnsons says he
was born in Kentucky, betweeDLouis,
vile and Nashville, and removed to
Illinois many years ago, and remained
there until about three years ago,
when he removed to Kansas, and has
been living there ever since until
about four months ago, when be sent
his wife back to Illinois and he came
down TO this county to see his brother,
who had recently moved TO Oxford
bend from Kansas. He says be is
thirty six years old. The boy is his
nephew, and is also named jim
johnson; he is eighteen years old:
be was shot in the leg in the fight
they bad last Sunday week and
could not trlvel. But for this the
old man said they (or at least he
would never have been caught, but be
said be had taken the boy into the
robbing business and he was deter.
mined never to leave him alone to
suffer the penalty. He told me be
would go 70 hell with him if neees.
sary.
They told me that the Rev. Mr.
Buchanan, the rerivalist who is nov
hers. had visited them 10 prison yes,
terdsy evening and given them good
advice The older one of the John.
sens said be supposed that preacher
thought they were fit subjects for hin
70 preach 10. but that be hardly
thought be would bother With any,
thing Of the kind noW-that it wa
too late to begin. The boy said i
some preacher would come along wh,
could raise the dead that be woulc
/ like 70 engage his services.
! | asked him il be would not like {,
have poor Cain raised from the deal
and restored to his family, alive AM
| well, as be was . month ago and Will
his family.
i He said: Eyes, | would give al
the money in Arkansaw fit wer
mine. to be able to give him to hi
family alive and we'll"
But he declares he did not XII
Cain. They both say that Herndo
killed Cain and that Mcdonald she
the brakeman. The boy says that h
, shot Mcdonald and that Medicinal
was trying to sheet him. They bot
say they had no idea Of killing any
= one, that their idea was 10 frighte
! everybody and 90 through their pool
!, cts and take their money. Then
said he would have skipped" out e
. Illinois where his family had gone.
They both seem very sorry tn
poor Cain was killed, but they say
= is too late to Org over SPILLED mill
! and that they will meet their "a
: bravely,
81 They seem to think mob will tai
= them away from the officers at VI
Buren, or Ozark and hang them to~da
but they say they are just as ready
!. 90 one time as another, and that
% don't matter how or how soon tn
20. The boy gave one long sigh al
said he would not care 80 much if
a was not for the disgrace it Wou
). bring upon his family and that
would break his poor old mothe
heart. He said he had . Christi
mother aud that she had always Civ
H. him good advice, but that he wal
8 wild boy and did not like to stay
4 home or like to work, but said he n,
could grub for s. month and
happy, and if he could only recall
past. (Boys, remember this).
n. The elder one Of the Johnsons a,