Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-15
LONG POND M0ONSHINERS.
JOHNSON SURRENDERS HIM
SELF TO THE AUTHORITIES

He Walks Into the Court Room and is
introduced by His COunsel-What He
says About the Shooting at MeBride's
Store.
Thomas johnson, one Of the alleged
moonshiners, 0! Long Pond, Montgomery
county, walked into the United states
MarshaPs office at l O'Clock yesterday,
aud asked for Col. Wade. The Marshal
was up stairs. and Johnson climbed the
circling steps to look for some one TO
whom he could surrender. Mr.. 5. b.
Adams, his counsel, introduced johnson
to the court officials, whom fall OF
mama would not have surprised more.
Ever since the raid through the Long
Pond country, on Oct. %, johnson has
been very much wanted by the authori-
ties. He was said 10 be the leader OF the
crowd that fired on Deputy Collector
Clements, Deputy Marshal Wall, Rose,
and the negro guide from McBride's store,
at midnight OF Thursday, Oct. %.
The still for which the raiders were
searching was supposed to be located In
some secluded spot on Johnson's farm.
When the first exaggerated reports were
sent out that one or two Of the raiders had
been assassInated, reward of $1,000 was
offered for Johnson and his companions
on the night or the shooting. Tom MozO,
who was at McBride's store when the
shooting took place. and VINO was tried
and acquitted two weeks ago on a charge
OF completely In the affair, testified in the
United States Court that besides himself
there were present at the store, Johnson,
Carmichael, Wilder and a man named
LupO. The authorities, therefore, never
doubted tnat johnson was not the leader
Of the party.
While he was in Deputy Clerk Erwin's
room and before he had given bond john
son was interviewed by NEWS reporter
The accused is a young man apparently
under 80, Of stout build and wears heavy
mustache with the rest OF his face shaved
smooth. The NEWS representative init
mated to johnson that he was hardly the
kind Of a man that would be taken for a
mOOnshrer, and rather a different looking
person than was expected.
you imagined that l was an old, rough
looking customer, eh?' he said with a
low chuckle.
"If you was to come up in our country,
guess you would find some people that
are civilized" he added in quiet, pleas
ant tone.
In reply to questions, johnson stated
that he had not appraised the officers that
he proposed to surrender, but he came in
voluntarily and gave himself up. He adj
mitted that he was at McBrlde's store the
night of the shooting, but he said that he
did not fire.
Il am an industrious man." he con-
tinued, "and have wife and two chill
dren. This Is the first time / ever had
anything 10 do with a court, except as a
juror. never had a case in court myself,
and was never even called as q witness.
AS for my having a still, don't know of
one anywhere around in our part of the
country"
Johnson IS man OF very good appear
anee, and is said to bear an excellent
reputation in Montgomery county. He is
in comfortable circumstances, being re-
ported to be worth six or eight thousand
dollars. His bond was fixed at $4,000,
and was signed by Col. JOhn W. MOrri-
son. OF Mt. Vernon, Montgomery county,
and johnson himself qualified.
II. w. Carswell, Esq, of the Mt. Vernon
bar, accompanied Johnson to Savannah.
1t is supposed that MoZo's acquittal en-
cOuraged Johnson TO surrender. The de-
fence will try TO show that ne did not do
any shooting, but that all Of the firing was
done by Wilder and Carmichael while
johnson was in the store. Mr.. Carswell
stated that Carmichael and Wilder are
dangerous men and do not belong in
Montgomery county. johnson, he SAYS,
happened to fall in with these two on the
night of the raid wholly by chance.
About year ago Wilder had a still
twelve miles from Long Pond, but it was
broken up and Wilder went to Florida
where he remained until three months
ago.