St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-27
SHORT IN HIS ACCOUNTS,
County Treasurer Johnson of Clay
County Making too Free With
the Public Money.
He is Arrested and Held for Trial
After a Full Confession of his
Crime.
Particulars Of the Second Mysterious Flight
Of Ex-MayOr Nevins Of Adrian,
Michigan.
The Indignities and Cruelties Inflicted by
Chicago Brute Upon his
Wife.
COUNTY TREASURER IN LIMBO.
j. C. III. johnson Arrested for Embezzle
ment.

ment.
Special to the Globe
MooRHEAD, Mimi, Feb. 26.-County
Treasurer J. c. H. johnson has confessed to
an embezzlement in 1888 of 80, 500, in con-
nection and in collusion with County Audi
tor Storla, deceased. The defaIcation was
brought to light through the administrator
of the estate of L. o. Storla, deceased. II
appears Mr.. Johnson went to the widow OF
Storla, informed her her husband was a de-
faulter to the amount of 81, 500, and advised
turn it in and save the good name of her de-
ceased husband. Mrs. Storla paid over the
money. The administrator of the estate,
Rev. Knute Bjorgs, became inquisitive con-
cerning this transaction and instituted an
examination at the court house to ascertain
| if deficiency existed, and if so whether
the $1,000 was duly applied to
pay it off What he discovered
was not satisfactory. He made complaint
to Mr.. Kurtz, chairman of the board of
county conn missioners yesterday. Mr.. Kurtz
summoned Mr.. Lloyd, the only other COM
missioner living here. They together pro-
ceeded to Johnson's Office to see about it..
At first Johnson exhibited the books, claimed
they corresponded with the auditors and no
deficit existed, but upon being cornered,
step by step,
HE CONFESSED
to the embezzlement of 81, 500 in 1888. He
told how it was taken, the manner of cover
ing it up, and said he had $1,000 he would
use towards paying the deficiency. He
would raise the remainder from his brother
to whom he telegraphed, and square it all up.
The commissioners thought it best not to ar
rest him yesterday, in order to cover as much
of the deficit as possible, but put him under
surveillance, the deputy sheriff keeping him in
sight all the time. To-day about II O'Clock
the commissioners decided they would
not wait longer, and accordingly
Mr.. KurtZ made complaint
against hiEl, charging him with the embezzle-
ment of 50. 500, the amount he confessed.
This complaint was made solely on the basis
of Johnson's confession. A warrant was
issued, Mr.. johnson was arrested and taken
before Justice Titus. The prisoner asked the
SA@hihntiOh w oS PoSePonCN w E"e"i Nol ,
March z. Justice Titus held him in $4,000
bonds, which Mr.. Johnson secured early in
the afternoon, Nels Larson, f. 0. LISTED and
Andrew Gunderson becoming sureties. The
prisoner was released. The commissioners
shut up the treasurer's Office. The chairman
telegraphed the public examiner requesting @
him to come to Moorhead, make an examina-
- a. o1, ,,,;fb
missioners as to the proper course under the
circumstances. It is expected Examiner
Knox will arrive tomorrow, when an inves-
tigation will expose the true facts in the case.
johnson was reelected last fall practically
without opposition. After the release OF
Johnson, on demand, the sheriff returned
the keys of the treasurer's office to him. The
county commissioners are advertised to meet
tomorrow at 10 a. IN.