The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-05
A HAPPY DETECTIVE.
CAPTURED HIS MAN AFTER AN EIGHT
YEARS SEARCH.
Capt. W. l. overton. ofColumbia Brings
In Manuel Johnson, Colored, Charged
With Murder The Oficer's Well.
Earned Reputation.

Capt W. !. overton, Of Columbia.
Tenn, manager OF the Southern AS
sociated Detective Agency at that place.
Drought in last night negro named Man
uel johnson, who is charged with muir.
der committed at Campbell Station, Tenn.
in 1880.
Capt. Overton is somewhat famous as n
detective, having arrested the notorious
Dick Little, the Muscle Shoals bandit
who robbed Paymaster Smith, and the
equally notorious Bill Ryan, who partici-
pated in the Glendale robbery. These
men belonged to the james gang, and
these arrests were the entering wedge that
broke up the gang.
Capt Overton has been on the trail of
johnson for long time and has finally
succeeded in bagging his game. "He is
one Niger | wanted and was bound TO
nave, said Capt. Oyerton TO an APPEAL
reporter. 81 have been after him a long
time. made a trip to Missouri in 1882.
have made q number Of trips to Arkan-
sas Tor him, but some one always posted
HIM and got him out of the way. He was
either In dugout hid in the swamps or in
a canebrake. This time | slipped in on
MIN and secured him before any one knew
VINO l was. lie was working this
year Tor MIR. |. Smith, eighteen miles
west. oil Osceola. He has worked
mere ana there Tor several years.
The crime2 That was committed in
1851. johnson was section hand, and
being ordered one day by the foreman 10
hn
told him to come in and get his time and
leave the road II he refused 10 obey orders.
johnson went home and get his pistol, and
returning killed the foreman. He was
convicted OF murder in the second degree
and sentenced to twenty years.
while an appeal was pending there oc-
Cured an election for Sheriff that was
quite hotly contested. The friends of one
OF the candidates, in order TO court favor
with the colored voters, fixed ND 81 600
bond for him and had him liberated. The
other side feeling the effects OF this stroke
OF policy, run the negro of and then raised
Il storm about ex-convicls being bailed ont
OF the prisons 10 help the first side. that
the tables were turned and the men who
made the bond were defeated. There was
a flaw in the bond, however, aud il never
was collected.
Reward Not now. There was re-
ward of S20lneNred for a while by the |
bondsmen, bWWhen they found thew did |
not have TO lose anything they withdrew |
the oiier. have spent lots OF money on |
him and am glad I've got him. There are |
seventeen witnesses, all white but one.
and they are every one alive. Ills case is a |
bad one"
q Manuel Johnson, the prisoner, Is a me- |
dium sized darky, about fifty years old.
built and well preserved. lie |
was dressed In the ordinary rural Sunday
suit OF the colorod man aud was smartened
up bit extra by his good wife before
leaving, TACT which shonc conspiouousy
IN the amplitude OF bisimmaculate "biledh |
shirt, which giistened in the gaslight. lie
was perfectly at sea and apparently hope
less.
To an APPEAL reporters interrogatories
he replied: my name Is Manuel john
son. am about forty-cight years old. |
was arrested In Mississippi County, Ark,
by two citizens, named Brun Kinney and
Mart Holloway. They were deputized 10
arrest me. The man killed was named
Mr.. John Booth, a section foreman. 1
was working under him on the railroad.
and one day he sent me out 10 set
out n flag. When ! came back he told
me 10 tighten some nuts, and / had no
wrench 10 do Il with. lie said had walked
over n wrench on my way TO set out the
lag around the curve. Itold him | had
not gone that far. and he cursed and
lbused me- Aiterward he rushed at mo
md jumped on me and / killed him.
hot him with pistol. only shot him
'nce, was arrested and sentenced 10
wenty years. My case was appealed and
got out under 81, 900 bond. / jumped
NY bond and left the county. The killing
vas at CampbelPs Station, twelve
niles from Columbia. When / left /
walked TO Corinih, Miss. then paid my
way 10 Memphis | met man here
FAMED Jack Collier, who knew me, and
&c was getting up hands TO pick cotton for
'iaj. Ferguson and | hired 10 him. |
worked five years for Mai. Ferguson aud
wo years for his brothcr.in.law. My wife
nd children came 10 me there. have
our children, my youngest Is four weeks
id. ! was scared all tho time that
vas there and expected that they would
ONE and get me all the time, and |
'urned out not long ago and was only n
enter. Yes, Il is bad on mo 10 have
o leave my family now. | don't
now what they will do with me. The
ailroads are against me. and they are
baking the fight 30 convict mo. The
fhite citizens there are my friends, and
Il .asHIau l.