The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-28
JOHNSON WAS BROKE.
And That Was Why He Com
mitted Burglary.
VAN yALKENBERG GETS A YEAR
Oaggett Pleads Not Guilty to the Double
Barreled Indictment-Other Arraign-
ments-Sent to the Reform School.
"I did it cause I was broke, sah.n

This was the unique excuse given by
prisoner in the Third district court yester-
day when asked by Judge Zane why he
burglarized the Rapid Transit saloon. OF
State street. The prisoner was Fred
Johnson, an ebony-hued negro, and the of
tense was committed on January II last.
When asked for his plea Johnson promptly
ackno wleGged that he was guilty, and ex
| cused himself on the ground stated above.
In answer to further questions put by the
court, the prisoner stated that he was
twenty one years of age, and had resided
here since 1890. He was a porter and had
been employed in that capacity at the
Grand, st. James and Cliff hotels, and also
at the saloon.
"How did you get in the saloon?n asked
the court.
Il walked in through the back door," re-
! piled Johnson.
BREAK down the door?"
| mo sab, it wasn't locked"
well, if you plead guilty you are liable
to be sentenced to from one to twenty
years"
Use guilty, that's ALL" insisted the
prisoner, and Judge Zane sentenced him TO
two years. Imprisonment in the peniten-
tiary.
VAN vALKENBURG GETS YEAR.
R. B. Van Valkenburg is printer, but
he won't work at his trade for some time.
According to VANS story, il would seem
that in January 18th last, he acquired a
large Jag and then forged p. H. Lannan's
name to check for S24.60, and cashed it at
the Gaiety saloon. When arraigned yes
terday, he entered plea of gnilty to the
charge of forgery and stated that he was
drunk at the time
Assistant City Attorney Eichnor was
asked what he knew about the man, and
he replied that Van Valkenburg was en-
ployed at the Tribune when this otfense was
committed. He had previously been con-
victed in the police court Of obtaining
money under false pretences, and was let
off with a light fine.
In answer to further questions put by the
court, the defendant stated that he was
thirty-one years of ago and was from Mis-
souri, where his parents resided.
Judge Zane-Well, man OF your age and
of the intelligence which your trade would
imply that you possess ought to know bet
ter than to do thing of this kind.
The Defendant was drunk, your honor
laid out. 1 think had been drugged.
Judge Zane-Well, you will be confined
in the penitentiary for one year.
,, SECOND INDICTMENT.
, A second Indictment, charging Van Val
kenberg with similar offense, was read
but at the request of Prosecutor Stephens
it was passed. Mr.. Stephens said that he
r would keep the matter in mind, and SEE
n how the prisoner conducted himself in the
. penitentiary before proceeding with the
second case.
DAGETT PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
n William Daggett then came forward tt
. plead to two indictments. The first
II which was found on December 18th last
% charged him with attempting to eXtort
5 gold watch and chain and S25 from John J
t Hull by means of verbal threats; that tn
, defendant, who was an officer, told Hui
" that he was wanted for crime and threat
~ ened to arrest expose and disgrace him I'm
s less Hull gave him the property mentioned
r The second Indictment, which was re
turned on November Both last, charges
Daggett with assault with intent to com
nit robbery, committed in this city on o.
If tober 3lst upon John j. Hull.
&c In both indictments Daggett pleaded nc
s. guilty.
lie COON DENIES IT.
- Charles S. Coon, a young man who
~ charged with fornication alleged to hav
% been committed with Matilda Petersen, G
Hunter precinct, on August 18TH las
pleaded not guilty.
DOUBLE BARRELED CHARGE.
Peter Nielsen, forty years old and bearde
es like Tnrk, pleaded not guilty to two il
10 dictments charging him with forging tn
q: name of Q. A. Palmer to checks for sma
8, amounts, and John Nj. Cannon was az
te pointed to defend him.
IN ANOTHER JIM TIE PENMAN.
3 w. F. Aldrch is sandy-haired youn
man who looked somewhat out of plaC
among the group of prisoners from tt
county jail. He was well dressed, ar
bore himself with the air OF GENT
man. 1t is said that this your
of mans father is prominent az
wealthy resident of Denver, and TIL
former escapades of his son have cost hi
a great deal of money. Aldrich is und
two indictments for forging the name of
r. Britton to checks with which he d
frauded w. G. Young and William ONea
o., The defendant pleaded not guilty to DO
charges and when asked if h. had an ATTIC
. ney. he replied that he had not, but e
ing pected his friends to employ one for hiI
3 Probably he expects his father to come
the rescue once more.
ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO MURDER.
! William M. johnson, the engineer at
-. Mary's academy, who a short time a.
=. beat Adolph Meinicke in such fright
manner, pleaded not guilty TO the charge
y assault with intent to murder
AN ALLEGED BURGLAR.
n John Ferguson, a middle-aged nj
5 whose dropping mustachios and imper
OF gave him military air, pleaded guilty
burglarizing the Sandy coop. on DECENT
=