Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-28
CAPTURED.
JOHNSON, THE MURDERER, SAFE IN THE
PENITENTIARY.

Eugene johnson, the murderer Of Rev.
j.. p. Thatcher, has been captured and is
now safe within the walls of the Mounds
vile penitentiary, where he will remain
until his examination before Justice Ed
wards, at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning
The capture Vas made about half-past eight
O'Clock Friday evening, by Samuel Dorsey
and Hanson Riggs, two Marshal county
farmers, through information given by Mrs.
John NJ. Flanagan, who lives about n
mile off the Waynesburg road and four and
One-half miles from Moundsvile. The muir
derer, who had neve crossed the river into
Ohio, despite the persistently circulated
and universally believed rumors to that
effect, called at Mrs. Johnson's house about
half-past seven o'clock and asked for some
thing to eat. The woman told him she
had nothing to give him, and a few mo-
ments later, when her husband came home,
told him of the visitor she had had, and
pointed out the way the murderer had gone.
This information Mr.. Flanagan conveyed
to Mr.. Dorsey, the two men having had a
previous understanding about keep
ing n lookout for the murderer. and
Dorsey got Mr.. Riggs and started on John
sons trail, posting Flanagan and his two
boys along the road TO keep watch. McSSrS,
Dorsey and Riggs came up with johnson
on the road near Mr.. RJohn Garrett Jone>'
house, and Dorsey ordered Johnson 10
throw up his hands. Johnson said he was
unarmed, and gave up without resistance.
He complained of being hungry and Mr..
Dorsey gave him his supper, after which
MesSrs. Dorsey, Riggs and Flanagan took
Il wagon and drove him To MOundSvillc
driven rapidly through town 10 prevent
the prisoner being seen and recognized.
About midnight, Ia prevent any possible
attempt upon the life of Johnson, he WIS
removed from the Jail to the p~cnitcntiary
building. where he will remain for the
present ut least.
AREGISTER reporter, through the kind
ness of Colonel W. +. Wilkinson, had an in
tervicw with the prisoner, shortly after he
had hada consultation with Mcs>rS. Dove
nerand Criswell, his attorneys. In answer
t0qucstiOns he detailed with some minute
ness his flight and experiences up 10 the
time of his capture. After firing the shot
which killed the Marshal, johnson said he
went into the house, picked up his coat and
hat and put them on, and then,
taking his shoes in his hand, .hc went down
the railroad from the camp ground and over
to the river. Making for the fringe of will
l,n., ,l,,,Y tI. sl,i.a hn trAa..l..I alnIln
the river bank nOrthward for half a mile.
Every once in u while he would peep over
the edge ofthc bank and could seq people
running in all directions. When oppo-
site the Cockaync farm he saw four
men enter the willows behind
him, ana ut the same time saw
three or four horscmcn riding rapidly along
the county road. Thinking he had been
discovered, and that the h0rScmen were
e%ndcavOring Ia enter the willows above him
to cut of his further advance, Johnson
said he took u favorable opportunity and
crIwlrd into 4 field OF oats, through which
he proceeded on his stomach till he reached
the county road. The roId was deserted
when ne reached il. AMI h dashed across II
and made his way up the hill to
the woods. lie then proceeded directly Ia
the poor house farm, which he reached
about , o'clock on "Wednesday morning.
Here he hid in the hay, remaining in con
ccalmcnt until . o'clock Thursday night,
the building being in tho meantime
searched by Il number of men, two Of
whom, Kinscy Hughes AMI James Dorsey,
walked on the hay over his body, one OF
them stepping on his foot.
When he left the barn, on Thursday
evening, he took the main road, with the
idea of walking TO Wcllsburg by Il round
about way, but only proceeded aS
far as the residence of II
man named Griniths, reaching that
point soon after midnight Friday morning.
He hid in the barn, and three men, George
and Wylie Griffith and George Jones,
worked near him until 1 o'clock in the
evening. When the men left, Johnson
crawlcd out of the straw in which he lay,
and went To the house of Jacob HcnShaw,
where he got some food, it being the first
he had eaten since the fatal shot was fired.
lie then continued along the roId until he
reached Mr.. Flanagin'S house, where the
facts narrated at the outset Of this article
transpired,
Johnson seemed to hc perfectly cool and
collected, and answered questions directly,
save when they came in conflict with adj
vice given by his counsel. lie sud he did
not consider il dangerous Ia bc confined i'll
Jail, and only came Ia the pcnitcntiary ut
the suggestion of the Sheriff and Detective
Hagcrty. When asked why he shot
Thatcher, he said
"A man has n right to protect himself
EMr. Alex Johnson, father Of Gene, was
also interviewed, but nothing 0fimportancc
was gained only that Mr.. Thatcher when
shot by Gene exclaimed, johnson, catch
me! hold me! Lay me down and 20 for a
doctor as quick as you can" He claimed
that he knew nothing about what was 90
ing on when he went to Genes house. He
is now in Jail and will have his cXamina-
ton tomorrow with Eugene and his wife.
johnson claimed to know nothing about
the nature of Mr.. Thatchcr's wound until
he was taken by Mr.. Dorsey and MIR.
Riggs. He then inquired rs to the nature
of the wound.