Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-06
UNCLE SAM AROUSED.
He Will Protect One of His Servants
Against an Ugly Report.
THE CHARGES WILL BE SIFTED
And Those Responsible for Cansrd Must
Answer.
THE JOHNS CASE IN FAYETTE COUNTY

The United States Government has de-
termined to take a hand in the political
campaign in Fayette county. The Gov
eminent, however, will not interfere in the
contest up there until after next Tuesday,
when the contending politicians will have
disposed of the case so far as they are
politically concerned.
When Deputy Collector P. A. Johns
was nominated by the Republicans of Fay
ette county for Sheriff he was opposed by
members of his own party. The opposition
did not disappear when the campaign
opened and when the party lines were
drawn closely. On the contrary, Candidate
Johns found members of his own party
leading the opposition against him. He
worked industriously in his own behalf
and was confident of winning until week
ago when a report was circulated that
Johns had collected money from speak
easy keepers in Uniontown, and had appro-
priated the same to his personal uses.
Investigated by the Government.
The report was generally circulated and
it finally reached the ears of Acting Col
lector Mitchell. He reported the case to
the department and an investigation was
ordered Two officers were sent to Union
town from Washington to complete the in
quiry.
The officers first devoted themselves to
locating the origin of the report They soon
found the authority for the charges against
Mr. Johns, and they found that the charges
had been based on two receipts each for So,
which Johns was alleged to have given a
Uniontown citizen for money paid him.
The record of Mr. Johns movements, sworn
to before he had become a candidate, were
found, and it was established that Johns
was not In Uniontown the day the receipts
were alleged to have been given. The re-
ceipts, however appeared to have been given
by Johns.
On Thursday last the Government officials
returned to Pittsburg and reported to Act
ing Collector Mitchell just what they had
found. They returned to him the receipts
alleged to have been given by Johns as
we'll as the certified records Of his move
menta
Johns Makes a Denial.
Johns was ordered to report to Collector
Mitchell on Friday. He did report. He
said he had never given receipt for any
money paid him for the Government, and
he insisted that the receipts held against
him were forgeries. He admitted that the
signature was remarkably like his own, but
he was anxious to have the signature SUBJ
mitted to the examination of experts.
Yesterday Collector Mitchell called in
three handwriting experts. They compared
the signature on the two receipts with over
200 of Mr.. Johns signatures appended to
reports to the Collector. In fact, they put
the writing to the severest possible test and
each in turn decided that the signatures had
been forged and that the forgeries had been
committed by clever hand.
IT have investigated the case thor
oughly," Collector Mitchell said last night.
''The evidence as strong against Mr.. Johns
at the outlook, but the best authorities we
can find say he is innocent. We know who
is responsible for the charges against him
and will certainly institute proceedings
charging the party responsible with cou-
spiracy and forgery