, 1891-02-14
How, Where and by Whom It was
Perpetrated.
1t was a Murder for Money, but
Didn't Pay We'll.
A Farmers SIeepless Friend Fer
reted Out the Crime.

-AN NAAN1A Nah AHG oOAu
ton of the mystery surrounding the death
of Carl johnson, who was murdered in
his lonely cabin near Nevada on the night
of December l6, 1889.
The crime attracted widespread atten-
ton at the time owing to the horrible cir
cumstances under which the deceased sue
cumbed. Carl johnson, an aged Swede,
owned a valuable ranch on the Golden
road. He was a widower although ad-
vanced in years, and lived by himself IN
a solitary cottage situated in the center of
two hundred acres. HIS nearest neigh
Dor was Gus Baller. a son-in law, whose
wife and family were accustomed to call
upon the old man and maintain his hum
bic abode in some sort OF respectable
shape. The isolation did not suit John
son, who had boarded up considerable
money, and he vearned for a life of
pleasure among boon companions and
fellows of a sOciable nature who could sing
a song, canoe a jig or crack a Joke at all
times. Imbued with this idea johnson
drove into Denver one day, and meeting
Albert Nelson, the restaurant keeper, who
was a distant relative, told him of his in
t%entions After a protracted conversation
Nelson agreed to buy the farm aud pay for
it, -, 500 cash and the balance in notes,
Several days were consumed in the trans.
action, AMI during that time johnson
sought the associations that were SO dear
to him. He wandered down 70 a Swedish
boar ling house on Blake street. and three
days flew on fabricated axles. He played
cards, drank freely. and, in his cups,
Dragged that he had more money than
any man who ever Travelled in the same
set. Finally he returned to Nelson's, and
losing confidence in his own capacity, re-
quested his relatives to deposit the money
in some bank. II am afraid to take it
home" the poor fellow remarked, as
though a presentiment Of his terrible fate
had already closed his life. Accordingly
Mr.. Nelson opened an account at the
Commercial National bank, and deposited
the purchase money to Carl Johnson's
credit. Then the old man drove home
and was never seen alive after he turned
into q lane leading to his home. He died
after a terrible struggle, as attested by the
walls, ceiling and floor, which were be-
spattered with blood and daubed with
hair. which had been pulled from the
heads of the assassins in the death strug-
gle.
No pains or expense was spared to run
down the cowardly murderers-Albert
Nelson alone offered $500 reward, while
Jefferson county promised an equal
amount for the arrest. Detectives in
dozens swarmed through the country IN
various DISCUSSES, but ION of them were
of greater utility than drawing expense
accounts. Men were thrown GU among
n%eighboring ranches seeking employment
as farm hands. They all spoke Swedish,
and many of them fingered near for a
a month in hopes of finding the long lost
clue None were successful. and one by
one withdrew until the criminals believed
the chase had been abandoned. They
grew reckless and allowed their tongues to
waR.
They reckoned without their host. fol
there was a silent Nemesis hot on theil
trail. Albert Nelson. the peaceful restau
tlreur, was after them. Awaiting himselI
of the political campaign he ven amongst
the Swedish community and dragged the
lowest levels of his countrymen. Attired
in rough and uncouth clothes he wan.
dered through the slums fraternizing with
oil olaseao ,f oonJ;no, J.I--
quarreling and making up with them un.
I'll he got them talking with unbrilled
tongues and befuddled brains. Nelson
preserved his senses and was an acute
listener. Weeks OF this pastime passed
before anything OF interest happened, and
then the information came in a bunch.
The assassins were with him. He
could have called a policeman and had
them arrested on the spot, but then there
was no evidence to convict them. Nelson
renamed cool and next day conided in a
friend who was not associated with any
detective agency, although engaged in
police work. Three men and one woman
were Swallowed for five months, aud today
the last one of the villains will be drawn
into the meshes of the law.
A woman had given the first informa.
ton. She was the putative wife of George
Blew. Her narrative was simple. HeI
husband and two thugs had been enjoy.
ing themselves at the exrcnse Of old mar
johnson, and when the latter bid them
farewell they formed a plot to follow hin
home and surprise MIN aft r he had gone
to bed. They did not contemplate muir
der, their design was to gag him and bind
him in bed, secure the 81, 800 and then
fly the country. The first night they
camped at Arvada and the following
evening, under cover of darkness, ap-
preached the house standing alone on the
kill.
1t was fortunate that they escaped with
their lives, for the old man fought SC
sturdily that he almost killed his assail.
ants, who stole away in the gray morning
bruised and bleeding from their encoun,
ter. All the booty they found after ran,
sacklng the cabin was about sos. Their
identity was traced by the rope which
bound the deceased, which was a piece Of
bell cord, such as used on freight trains.
One Of the men who had shared the old
mans orgies in Denver was a brakeman
on the Colorado Central and the bell cord
almost fastened the crime upon him,
The woman's statement about the three
-