Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-01-07
ROBBED AND BOUND.
County Treasurer johnson, of Vlroquas
wis.,, Gives UP "a, 900 To bandits.

County Treasurer johnson, of Viroquas
WIS.,, Givcs UP "a, 900 to Bandits.
VrRoQUA, Wis, Jan. 2.-After being
forced under threats of death to SUR
render between $4,000 and S. 900 TO
two masked men who entered his Office
in the cour house about o'clock Satur-
day night, County treasurer John @.
johnson was gagged and bound and
locked in hisv ult, where he was found
in an almost exhausted condition by
searching party of citizens about II pm.
When Mr. johnson failed to respond
to an invitation to take tea at his
brother-in-law's Rev. Mr.. Aschun, Sat
urday night, it was thought strange.
His wife returned home about o'clock,
and finding that he had not been there,
caused inquiry and search to be made.
The city was thoroughly gone overland
the county buildings ALSO
"A second time Mr.. Johnson's Office
was searched. A humping on the out
side of the vault door brought faint
response from within. Mr.. Johnson's
younger brother, who worked in the
office, opened the door of the vault
There on the stone floor lay the
county treasurer gagged and bound.
He was weak and exhausted and it
was some time before he was able to
tell the story of ,he robbery.
Mr.. Johns n was serving the last day
of his second term of county treasurer
and was prepared to turn the Office
over to his successor. Not an hour
before the robbery he had closed
his final settlement with the
finance committee of the county
board. The gentlemen of the com
mittee and other county officers left
the courthouse shortly before 9. Mr..
johnson and younger brother who
was temporarily assisting him in the
Office remained to close up some work.
When they were ready to leave the of.
fee, about 6:l5, with hats and overcoats
on, the treasurer said he must remain
long enough TO acknowledge the re.
ceipt of some money, which was later
found half completed. The younger
men went out and over to the city. MIR.
Johnson says his brother had not more
than left the building when he heard
footsteps coming through the hall
and n pull at his Office door, which was
locked. Thinking his brother had re-
turned for something he stepped to the
door, unlocked it, and found himself
confronted by two masked men with re-
volvers drawn, who commanded him
to keep his head shut or have it blown
Off" Mr.. Johnson complied with the
demands of the intruders for look
at the cash. He was forced to I'M
lock the heavy vault door, then
the larger safe, and the combination
on the safe deposit box within.
This done Mr. johnson was near.
ly strangIed by having haudller-
chief forced in his mouth and
another put over his head and tightly
tied on the back of his head. His
hands We're drawn behind his back
and securely bound with strong cord.
The money, somewhere between 81, 900
and $1,000, was hastily removed aud
slowed away in the overcoat pockets of
the pluuderers. Five hund->d dollars,
which by oversight had not been
placed in the safe when the treasurer
closed up, was in an open box in plain
sight and remained untouched. The
booty bagged, the desperadoes closed
the vault door on johnson and made
their exit from the office, locking the
door and taking the key with them.
Mr.. Johnson described the men as
one large and one medium sized. They
were SO completely disguised that he
could not recognize them, but both
wore brown overcoats They said but
little to MIN and spoke in disguised
tone and accent No tangible clew has
been obtained to the robbers as vet