Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-02
LAWYER AND BURGLAR.
A Strange story OF Crime and Death
Half a Century Ago.
From the BOSTON Journd

From the R0St0N Journal
Every son of New Hampshire who is a
student of the history of his State will
keep in remembrance John Farmer, A.
NJ, who died at Concord, where he re-
sided many years, in August, 1898. DR..
Farmer-concerning whom a memorial
volume WAS published short time ago
by John lie BOsquet-was a distinguished
antiquarian and diligent etudent.
He wrote and compiled many val
liable works and accomplished
much that has been of incalculable SER
vice to the historian. Among the unpub-
lished manuscripts there is a well-pre-
served boOk--in elegant penmanship-of
nearly 400 pages, the title of which is
Memoirs Of Lawyers. Councillors, and
Senators in the State of New II ampshire."
This manuscript, which represents an
immense amount of labor, contains val
liable information concerning nearly 1000
persons, and is held in such value by the
present owner that but few persons are
privileged to examine it. II there is any
one page in the book that is of more inter
est than another it is page 116. 1t reads
like romance, and is as follows:
Joseph Haines johnson, Lyme, 1916;
read law In heene, removed to Cincin-
natl, where he became one Of the most
wealthy and respectable wholesale mer-
chants IN that city, where he sustained a
high standing ana had an intelligent and
well educated family. His fortune was
estimated at 100000. The circumstances
of his death were remarkable. and are
thus given in the Eastern Democrat: One
of the clerks of large wholesale store
was reused from his sleep at midnight by
4 OOisa the TInnpr story M madi-
ately proceeded to ascertain the cause.
There was an open hatchway from the
garrett to the cellar, and down this
he heard something fall. SuppOsing
that some goods had been thrown
down, he awakened a companion and
they watched the premises so that no one
went out till morning, when the cellar
was examined and the body of man
found quite dead and much disfigured.
He was armed with knife and pistols
aud disguised in wig and false whiskers.
Depending from the hatchway in the
third and fourth story was found a cord
fastened by hook, from which the thief
had evidently fahen in the attempt to
descend. The body WAS buried, but the
Mayor ordered il co be taken up and pub
liciy exposed, in hopes that some one
would recognize it and perhaps lead to
the discovery of his accOmplices. 1t was
at length recognized by gentleman who
stopped to visit it, and afterward by some
OF his family, who were brought to view
the body. The house of the de-
ceased was Immediately taken pos
session of by the police, and was
found TO have been perfect receptacle of
stolen goods, possessed Of every conve-
nience for carrying on the trade A range
of stores four stories high had been owned
and occupied by him, and were provided
with vaults for the purpose Of conceal
ment, and with subierranean passages
leading to other houses, over which, no
doubt, ne had the control. Tue stacks Of
chimneys had been converted into chan
nels for the conveying Of goods in and out
without exposure 10 the public eye. Goods
were there found which had been stolen
four years before, and some which could
have been taken only short time before
bis death. Thus persisted Joseph Haines
Johnson. His death happened about
September, 1893. The young gentleman
who first found him was engaged to one
Of his daughters"
The penmanship Of this old manuscript,
written with quill, Is elegant, ON I'M
ruled paper, and the names at the begin
ming of paragraphs are neatly under
scored by the aid Of a ruler. There is no
printed work IN the State that contains
so much varied and reliable information
concerning the prominent men of New
Hampshire for the first half OF this CEN
fury, and certain IL is that no man is
equal TO the task of collecting such an
array of facts.