Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-29
FUNNY BUSINESS.
How a Burglary Case Was
Squelched.
A Rich Father Saves His Sin
ming Son.
A Felony Charge Changed to
MisdemeanOr.
Some Features of a Criminal Case
Which Need Explaining The
Facts So Far as
Learned.

A rather peculiar transaction in Grim
inal procedure was the disposition re-
Gently made of the burglary charges
against George Johnson, alias Charles
L. Johnson, the harness-thief. The de-
fendant committed number of thefts
of harness in the city, on several in
stances breaking into stables. He was
very reckless in disposing of his booty,
and the detective force soon had an ac-
curate description of him. He was,
therefore, ultimately captured by Detec-
tives Johnson and Insley, while the haf-
ness was recovered by Detectives Auble
and Bowler.
The charges against Johnson for bur-
glary were preferred by two of his vic
Tins. one being the Rev. Mr.. Gillen, of
Boyle Heights. On December 10Th the
prisoner was held under $1,000 bail for
trial in the superior court. The case of
burglary against him then seemed very
strong. j. Marion Brooks, ESQ.,, had
been retained to defend the prisoner,
who, at the time, had no evidence on
his side of the case.
Mr.. Brooks declared yesterday that
when matters were in this condition,
Johnson's father, W. w. johnson, a
wealthy dry goods man of Wichita,
Kansas, appeared on the scene. The
new arrival went to Brooks's Office and
announced that he had changed his
lawyer and wanted to pay Mr.. Brooks
what was due. The counselor's bill
was $100 and was paid.
Walter Bordwell was the new counsel
for the defense. A strange circum-
stance about this was that Bordwell was
one of the people whom johnson had
robbed. The aged father, who had come
here to protect his wayward son, man
aged to gain the sympathy of Bordwell,
as we'll as of the Rev. Mr.. Gillen and of
a couple of charitable ladies of Boyle
Heights. Every influence was
then brought to bear on
the district attorneys Office, and
finally the matter was fixed up. Depu-
ty District Attorney McComas moved in
Judge Smiths court on Tuesday that
the charge of burglary be dismissed.
This motion was complied with. In the
meantime Detective Auble swore to two
complaints of petty larceny before
Justice Owens, the prisoner was brought
down, plead guilty, was fined $3.50. and
twenty minutes afterward was on the
train bound for Wichita.
This way of railroading burglar into
freedom, instead of the penitentiary,
has caused all sorts of peculiar comment
among officers at headquarters, as well
as among citizens in general. There
are many people who do not understand
why 80 thorough villain as johnson
certainly was should be allowed to es-
cape just punishment, for no other rea-
son than that rich father figures in
the case. Some of the talk has insinu-
ated that bribery had something to do
with the whitewashing. On the other
hand, there can be no doubt but that
the pitiful plea of old man Johnson
had great influence in the case.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT 1T.
Deputy District Attorney McComas
was asked by HERALD reporter for a
statement, and said: "Rev. d. H. Gillen
came to me regarding this johnson case,
and said the prisoners father had ar
rived here and would be broken-hearted
if his son was convicted as felon. 1t
was also represented to me that john
sons father was poor man, and would
have to lose what little he had to de-
fend his son. 1t was also stated that
johnson was not confirmed criminal;
| that this was his first offense. Further
more, that he was confirmed drunk
ard, and when suffering from the appe-
tite for drink would do anything to
secure liquor. Walter Bordwell, the
attorney for johnson, eaid he had
stolen a set OF harness from him, but he
would make no charge against him, on
account of his father. E. S. Field and
several ladies from Boyle Heights also
called to intercede for the young man.
| Mr.. Field said Johnson was a gradu-
ate of Princeton college, and was af-
| hicted with an uncomfortable appetite
for drink. He had known his family in
indianapolis, and knew them to be per-
fectly respectable; he also said that he
knew this was Johnson's first offense.
| I spoke to Auble about the propriety Of
entering charge of petit larceny, and
suggested that johnson plead guilty.
His father stated that if he could save
his son from being branded as felon
he would take him east at once. john
son, the father of the accused, was rep
resented to me as being a poor man with
drunkard son. Amy one saying that l
received any money for settling this case
is ---- liar. acted solely from
motives of humanity"
Deputy District Attorney Phibbs said !:
"Rev. D. H. Glllen and Walter Bordwell
both called on Mr.. Diehl and myself and
made strong plea in behalf OF young
Johns OH, saying that he was con-
firmed drunkard and would sell
the clothes off his back to
get liquor. We suggested that
he might apply for pardon
to the governor, and would aid him in
securing 30 far as was compatible with
our duties. Old Mr.. johnson was broken
down, and plead eloquently to save his
son from being branded as felon, say
ing that he wanted to take him east and
strive to reclaim him, as this was bis
first offense. We acted solely and en-
tirely from motives of humanity"
! Judge Smith is very much worked up