Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-30
JOHNSON'S STORY.
Perhaps His Escape Was Due
to a Mistaken Sentiment.
The Ladies Who Became Inter
ested in His Case.
He Unf0lded to Them His Pathetic
Tale Of Woe.
He Was a Victim of Booze-How His
Father Became Aware of His Sit
uation = Some Interesting
Details.

Some unwritten history has just come
to light in connection with the case Of
Charles L. johnson, alias George john
son, charge of felony against whom, it
has been alleged, was compounded, and
the criminal railroaded out of the state.
/ The new developments add some ro-
nance to the case, and if the story is
| true, 60 to show that The compounding
of the felony was prompted from motives
of genuine if mistaken philanthropy,
and not with sinister intent, as appeared
on the surface.
A morning prper, in report of the
case, made the following assertion:
'Two mysterious women put in an
appearance and spent several days going
from one to the other among those in
terested in the prosecution, and to each
one they told pitiful story as to how
young Johnson was the much-beloved
son OF wealthy Kansas gentleman,
whose heart would be broken if his son
was sent to states prison and branded
as a felon all his life. They wound up in
each case by asking that the burglary
charges be dismissed and that the thief
| be permitted to plead guilty to petit
larceny so that the father might be
allowed to pay the fine in good hard
coin and then take his son back home.
These women made themselves quite
numerous, but, strange to say, no one
seems to know who they are, where they
came from or what has become of them
since the case was settled. To one in
quisitiye detective they stated that they
| reside on Boyle Heights, and that John
son did some gardening for them before
he become Los Angeles burglar, and
! they took great liking to him."
The two mysterious women" above
referred to were Mrs. Vosburgh,
respectable widow, living at 1916 Palm
/ street, and her daughter, Miss Lille,
we'll known in social and musical circles.
Their efforts in behalf of young John
son were prompted by entirely disinter-
| ested motives.
1t appears that Mrs. Vosburgh is dis
posed to be philanthropic. No tramp
ever comes to her door that is not given
something to eat and piece of moth
erly advice. 1t happened in this wise
| that she came to be connected with the
johnson case.
A few weeks prior to last Christmas
young man applied at her door for the
privilege OF cleaning up her yard. 1t
was plain to her at once that the
| stranger belonged to the genus tramp,
and that he was under the influence of
liquor and suffering from hunger, but
withal he was genteel, and showed by
his bearing that he had seen better
days. Here was chance to impress a
moral lesson. She informed him that
she had no work she wished done, but
that if he wanted something to eat he
was welcome. He was conducted to the
kitchen, and while he was regaling the
inner man she extracted his story from
him.
The young man told how he was the
pride of kind, indulgent and wealthy
parents. He was sent to Princeton col
| lege, where he remained three years.
until expelled for playing a practical
joke on member of the faculty. Later,
he was engaged to be married to lovely
girl, but a quarrel arose between them.
went to the bad. The drink habit grew
on him until he became disgrace to
his friends and family. He drifted
away from home, and finally became
common tramp. Twice he promised to
reform if his father would send him
money to come home, but each time his
appetite for drink overcame his good
Intentions, and his fathers money only
sunk him deeper in the mire.
His story was told in such frank
manner that Mrs. Vosburgh was dis
posed to believe it, and her heart was
moved with pity for such blasted hopes
| of once fond parents. She resolved to
save the young man before her if possi-
BILE. Accordingly she asked him to write
once more to his people, make full
confession, and give his pledge that he
would make one more effort to reform.
She supplied paper and ink and the
! prodigal composed beautiful letter to
his sister. He left it with her to mail,
thanked her profusely and took his de-
| parture.
The kind lady then wrote a letter to
his father, partly to satisfy her curiosity
as to whether the young scamp had told
a true story, and particularly to urge the
old gentleman to give him one more trial
if the circumstances were as related.
A week or two passed, and letter
came addressed to Charles L. johnson,
care OF Mrs. Vosburgh; ; also at the same
time large express package. This
satisfied Mrs. Vosburgh that Johnson's
story was true, and that his folks had
sent him Christmas present. 1t was
Christmas eve, and she was very anxious
to deliver the package and letter, but
where was johnson?
Knowing him to have been a drunk
ard and vagrant, she thought it pos
! sible to learn of his whereabouts at the
police station. 1t was then that the
"two mysterious women" appeared on
the scene in public. Mrs. Vosburgh
and daughter visited the police head
quarters, and there learned that man
giving the name of johnson had been
arrested short time before for stealing
harness, and was then in the county
Jail. They went to the jail, and sure
enough, there was their tramp johnson
was abashed, and admitted that he might
have stolen the harness while under the