The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1893-05-06
JOHN ALLEN JOHNSTON
SURRENDERED TO The POLICE
YESTERDAY RICHMOND.
ne mas Been Leading a Hard Life Since
lie Shot John X. Upchurch and Pre-
ferred to Surrender Himself Than tn
Flee from Justice.

RICHMOND, Va, May Especial
A weary looking, burned, little
man, with every appearance of
dllapidated air of misery
depicted On his features, walked
into the Office of Chief of Police Poe
this afternoon at 3:15 o'clock, and
calling Clerk Washington into the
hall, informed him that he was a
fugitive from justice and that he
wanted tc deliver himself up to the
authorities. The self-accusipg
stranger said his name was John
Allen Johnston, and that he was
wanted in Raleigh for shooting a
United States Marshal, named John
Upchurch. The wretched man said
that he had been fleeing from the
officers for weeks and that
he could stand it no longer
as he had suffered terrible privation
while attempting to elude the law.
he made another statement while
telling his sad story which inter
ested the general clerk more than
everything else, and this was to the
effect that a reward of $500 was
offered for his apprehension. Mr..
Washington lost no time in going
to his desk and charging Johnston
with being fugitive from Justice,
after which the willing prisoner was
sent to the second police station.
Meanwhile a telegram informing g
the authorities of Johnstons arrest
was sent to Chief of Police Heartt
at Raleigh, and b. o'clock the
following answer was received here:
"Hold Johnston. Officer with requi-
sition papers will leave here to
morrow. G. D. Heartt, Chief of
Police"
The prisoner seemed thoroughly
broken down when taken to the sta
ton house. He talked freely to the
representative Of the News AND
OBSERVER and said: "For five weeks
have been hunted by the officers
OF North Carolina, and day and
night | have been forced to flee.
Duling all the time [ have been
away from Raleigh I have only
slept in bed two nights. and some
days L nearly starved. 1 just felt
| couldn't stand such life. came
to Richmond from Petersburg today
and got here this morning" In re.
sponse to question as to what was
the nature of the offence
with which he was charged Johnston
said: 81 was charged with passina
counterfeit money and knew the
ottl3trs were on the lookout for m
One night while walking along with
a companion on the suburbs of the
city, what is known as East Raleigh
the marshals jumped upon me with
out moments warning, and one O
them without explaining what b,
wanted grabbed me. a struggl,
followed. and jerked out my pisto
and shot him in the side Just below
the heart. Ii the bullet had hit on,
inch higher [ would have killed
him. L did not know who the mar
shals were, but after woundiny th,
man fled and took to the woods
J As L ran away shot was fred a
me. After hiding for some tim
L went to South Carolina, anc
was IN Charleston for som
time. From South Carolina
came to Virginia and first went T.
Norfolk; of course I'm sorry
shot the man continued the pris
oner, and know I'll have to 90 t
prison for it, but anything is bette
than the life I've been living.
had been drinking a good deal ius
before the thing happened and
all occurred almost in minute.
didn't know who the officers wer
at first.
"What about the charge againt
you Tor passing counterfeit N oney
queried the reporter.
81 did not exactly pass it," re
piled johnson, who didn't seem dis
posed to discuss the matter. /"
simply gave some to a man who re
fused to take it. %
The prisoner did not answer thi
, question directly, but from his mar
ner the only inference which coul
be drawn was that he did
"Where did yon get it from, wa
the next query Johnston mad
no reply to this Interrogation.
The prisoner said he was unmal
lied, and that be lived ii Raleigh
La reply to question he sal
!, he did not do any work en-
his brown hands, which are rathe
small and somewhat tattooed wit
!; India ink, seemed to indicate tha
he had hitherto avoided hard labo
The prisoner told Mr.. Washihgto
that he had "done time" in Alban
for counterfeiting and to the NEW
! AND OBSERVER reporter he admitte
that ne had been in trouble before
, He IS about thirty years old and ba
hight blue eyes and a blonde CON
!, plexion. When taken into custod
: he wore short beard.