Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-01-06
Vernon County 5 treasurer Gag
ged, Bound and Robbed
ia His Office.
The Thieves Secure Between
S4,UCO and $1,000 iii
Cash.


Niroqua, Wis, Jan. 1.-The bold rob-
blng of County Treasurer johnson in his
office last night, has been the sole sub.
Ject of interest on New Years day here.
No tangible clue has been secured to
the masked men who forced Mr. John
son to give up $1,000 of the county S
funds Mr.. Johnson has been confined
to his bed all day. He has been unwell
for several days with a severe cold and
his confinement in the cold vault, gag
Sed and bound for four hours, has ag-
gravated his condition.
On the discovery of the robbery last
night couriers were sent ON all direc-
tons and the wires used in hopes of APP
pretending the bold highwaymen. Off
GERS Of the law are doing all in their
power to obtain clues. Chairman Emo
of the county board is expected to ar
rive in the city tonight. He will doubt
less cause a thorough investigation Cf
the conditions surrounding the robbery
and offer a liberal reward for the detec-
ton of the thieves.
John G. Johnson, the treasurer, was
serving the last day Of his second term
and was prepared to turn the affairs
of the office over to his successor to-
morrow. Not an hour before IT, y rob-
berry he had closed his final settlement
with the Finance committee of the
county board The gentlemen of the
committee and other county officers left
the court house shortly before o'clock.
Mr.. Johnson and a younger brother who
was temporarily assisting him in the
office, remained to close UP some work.
When they We're ready to leave the
office about 6:15, with hats and over
coats on. the treasurer said he must re-
main long enough to acknowledge the
found half completed. The younger man
went out and over to the city
Treasurer Johnson says his brother
has not more than left the building
when he heard footsteps coming
through the hall and pull at his office
door, which was locked. Thinking his
brother had returned for something he
found himself confronted by two
masked men, with revolvers drawn,
who commanded him to keep his head
shut, or have it blown Off" Mr.. John
son promptly came to the conclusion
that he was not ready to surrender
that important part of his anatomy,
hence a full compliance was made with
In dc nf tIn i,,fy FL,
look at the cash. He was forced to
unlock the heavy vault door, then the
larger safe and the combination on the
safe deposit box within.
This done, Mr.. Johnson was nearly
strangled by having a handkerchief
forced into his mouth and another put
over his mouth and tightly tied on the
back of his head. His hands were
drawn behind his back and securely
bound with strong cord. The money,
somewhere between $1,000 and $1,000,
was hastily removed and slowed away
in the overcoat pockets of the plumber
ers. Five hundred 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 re-
manned 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
We're so completely disguised that he
could not recognize them, but says they
both wore brown oxercoats. They
said but little to him and spoke in q
disguised tone and accent.
When Mr.. Johnson failed to respond
to an invitation to take tea at his
brOther-in-law's, the Rev. Aschim, it
was thought strange. His wife return
ed home about 8 o'clock and finding
that he had not been there, caused in
quiry and search to be made. The city
was thoroughly gone over and the
county buildings a second time looked
through before a thought Of foul play
was suspicioned.
A humping on the outside of the
vault brought faint response from with
in and the young brother hurriedly
found the combination. There, on the
earthen floor, lay the treasurer, weak
and exhausted. He was unshackled,
assisted to his Office department and
soon removed to his home.
Nothing since the lynching of Grand
staff, who murderer the Drake family,
has SO thoroughly aroused the COM
mr1nity, a son of California Johnson,
deceased, one of the first Scandinavian
settlers of Vernon. He is 80 years Of
age. The brother, who was his assist
ant, is q years old. They are nephews
of Hon. Alley Peterson, and have
large family connection In this part of
the state.