Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-04-18
A Prominent Sporting Character Of Fort
Worth Deserts Trust
ing Wife,
Taking Along Several Hundred Dollars
and Some Jewelry as
Memento.
The Truant skips, but is Ensnared BY
Detectives and Walks
into Trap.

riBut OOuincfcihl DeteCtlVe agency
arrested Jas. X. Johnson, on war
rant charging him with Ascending
with S2l00 In money and valuables be.
longing to his wife. The prisoner was
taken In the Occidental SELDOM and at
first evinced disposition TO resist ar
rest, but the GOODNESS OF tho detective
disarmed him, and on being allowed
the option of going TO jail or the Office
OF the agency he chose the latter,
where he now remains under guard.
THE HISTORY OF THE CASE
10 singular and interesting. About
four years ago Johnson, who is con-
siderable traveller, met the lady who
Is now his wife In Pensacola, Fla. She
was the sole owner OF one of
the largest and most prosperous
cigar stands In the city, and had
Whether inspired by this. or Cupid,
her TO convert all her possessions into
cash and leave her home to abide
with him among strangers. They So
journed awhile In Memphis, and from
thence came to Texas, landing after
their travels In Fort Worth. johnson
is by profession gambler, aud per-
suaded his wife TO stake him in his
"businees" ventures. When she mar
ried him she had $500 In clean cash.
Soon after their arrival In Fort Worth
she lent her hueband $500, and the
balance, which had been reduced 70
$2l0O, was deposited in the
First National bank to her
credit. Last fall the pair
concluded to move to San ANGELO,
Tom Green county, and the confiding
wife permitted her husband TO draw
out her cash balance at the First Ma
tional, which he proceeded to deposit
In the San Angelo bank in his own
name. AS soon rs che discovered this
fact she protested, and he promised to
change the account, but subsequent
developments show that IL was never
Kept. About the fret OF this
month the couple moved back
back TO Fort Worth, and shortly after
their arrival the morning OF the STU
Mrs. johnson discovered that her
leige lord was missing. This fact
might not have grieved her bevond
endurance had not an unpleasant
coincidence developed In the absence
also OF her $2l0O and fine gold
watch and chain, besides
other jewelry. She Immediately
sought the COPYRIGHT Detective
agency for assistance. johnson in his
light had left her penniless, but the
kind-hearted detectives took the Gaze
in hand and provided for her wants.
Before ASCENDING Johnson circulated
among his friends report that he was
GOING TO CANADA,
| and thence IL was generally thought he
had fled. To his wife he eaid that his
next move would be to California, and
she was sure that he had gone TO the
land OF heliotropes and orange bios
CONS. About midnight on the Sth
she appeared at the detective agency
with the story OF her woes, and imme-
diately telegram was sent TO Eel Paso
to intercept her husband II
he should be en- route for
California. The answer came back
that thorough search of the train on
which he was supp sed to be passen-
ger did not reveal him Electric mes
sages were then sent flying all over
the country, and finally intellige nee
was received that wheel of fortune
and a trunk belonging to johnson
were at Abilene. Soon this clue grew
warmer by an order for the shipment
Of this properly to Wichita Falls. The
detectives at once suspected that their
man was nj Harrell, the destination OF
the Fort Worth d Denver. and they
had the sheriff placed on guard TO
catch him when he should call for his
baggage. IL seems that Johnson had
friends in this city, who In
formed him of the movements OF
the officers, for he warily Kept out of
their reach. Finding that this effort
had proven frultless, the detectives se-
cluded Mrs. johnson and caused IL to
be reported that she had LEFT the city
and returned to her old home In Pen
sacola Fla. The trap proved success
full. Johnson, thiaking that the only
person from whom he apprehended
danger was gone. threw aside all eau.
ton and unsuspeotingly walked right
into the moose which was prepared for
him: He came in from Wichita Falls
on ThursdAy's train and carelessly
patroiled the city yesterday. resulting
In MS arrest, as stated previously. AT
frat he was very indignant, protesting
that IL was
ONLY A FAMILY MATTER,
and quoted law by the bushel to Capt.
Price TO show that husband had the
right to do as he pleased with his
wife's money. He maintained a stiff
upper lip until confronted with his
wife. whom he still supposed TO be In
Florida, when he wilted completely.
The meeting was not so afiecLi0nate as
It might have been. Mrs johnson
frantically besought her truant hus-
band to return her money and Jewels.
but he declared that they had passed
out of his possession He stated that
be dropped 1915 OF the $500 borrowed
from his wife In Fort Worth gam.
bling house before going TO San
Angelo, and that the other had since
gone In similar manner He says
that he deceived her about
having the 5000 when they returned
here. OF all the jewels which he
took wedding ring alone remained
In his possession, which he affections
ately returned.
A GAZETTE reporter called on John