The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-06
JOHNSON'S BAD RECORD.
The Alleged Negro Detective Shown
Up Ina Bad Light.

Names OF the Hen Charged With
Counterfeiting and Not Mason and
Morgan-They Bear Coed Characters
at Their Homes-Johnson Wanted In
Brunswick for Larceny After Trust.
The case against the alleged counter
feiters known as j. +. Mason and J. Frank
Morgan took a decided turn yesterday.
The names of the men are not Mason and
Morgan at all, but James Plunkett and j.
F. Glover, as attested by their own state
ments and the af1idavits Of others who
have known the men for years.
The appearance Of the case now is that
George Johnson, the negro detective who
made the case against the two men, is the
real counterfeiter. ANY way, as shown
by yesterdays examination before United
States Commissioner Norman Beckett,
johnson is a very hard citizen, and likely
to serve in the penitentiary Of either the
state or the United States for several
years upon several charges.
Officer Goodbread, of Brunswick, APP
peared at the examination yesterday
afternoon with the intention Of placing
johnson under arrest on the charge of lar
ceny after trust in that city. He agreed,
however, to await the result Of the coun-
terfeiting case here.
THE PRISONERS STORIES.
The examination before Commissioner
Beckett was for the purpose of hearing
additional testimony of the two men in
the case. The interesting portion Of the
evidence was brought out by r. NJ.
Hitch, Esq, their attorney. The
men confded TO their attorney
shortly after their arrest that their
real names were Plunkett and Glover
ana gave him the places of their birth
and the names of parties by whom they
were well known and by whom they had
been employed, with such details as CON
WINGED him of the sincerity of their state
ments. These parties were written 10 by
MIR. Hitch aad replies were received CON
tirming the statements and attesting 10
the previous good character of the men.
Plunkett, VINO first gave his name as
Morgan, was placed upon the stand. He
said that his home IS Alexandria, La.
He said that he and Glover worked for S.
y. Woodward, of Bay Hill, Sumter
county, Florida, last winter, They
started north several weeks ago in
search of work. Neither of them had
any money.
CAME TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
At Everett City they fell in with John
son, who told them that the government
wanted 600 men to work at Fort Pulaski.
near Savannah; that he was going there
to work, and if they would come with
him he would guarantee them a Job.
johnson said they would get $50 a month
and their board. The men readily ac-
cepted Johnson's proposition and agreed
to come to Savannah with him. Johnson
said he had enough money to buy some
thing TO eat along the route AS an evil
dence of this he gave Plunkett dollar
and instructed him to go to Doc Ponder
q negro saloOnkeeper, aud buy something
10 eat for the party. Johnson said it
would look better for Pluukett, being
white man, 10 make the purchases
Plunkett said he noticed nothing wrong
with the money until Ponder declared it
was a counterfeit. He then returned the
money to johnson, who said that Ponder
was foolish. They left Everett City, com
: ing toward Savannah. The two white
men had less than dollar piece and all
the money that was spent, Plunkett said,
was furnished by johnson. They were
very much surprised when they were ar
rested.
JOHNsON's MONEY.
Glover confirmed Plunketts statement
IN every particular. He had lived in
Mecklenburg county North Carolina,
and Troy Tenn, he said. He said John
son only gave out dollar of his money at
time and they had no idea that he had
any amount OF counterfeit or any other
kind OF money with nun. Johnson's
Stories OF their having s.}25 in counterfeit
money besides set Of molds and ex-
pecting to receive $500 more at Savannah
By express, were denounced as pure
fiction
Mr., Hitch introduced letters from
prominent men, city and county officials
anc others OF the places in which pluuk-
etJ and Glover said they had lived, tcsti-
flying TO their GOOD character. Several of
these were in the shape of sworn aftida-
Wits. A letter from MIR Wood ward, IA
prominent orange grower ard lumberman
o. Bay Hi. Fla, for whom the men
Claimed 10 have worked, was introduced.
tcstitying to their good character and
speaking highly Of them generally.
JoHSsON's CHARACTER.
Mr. Hitch then introduced some testi-
mCny Of different character affecting
Johns0n's character and yeracity. When
johnson was previously cross-cxamined
by the attorney he stated the names of q
number Of parties for whom he had said
he done detective work nc made these
statements with Observation-Disclosures
These parties were all written to by
Mr. Hitch, ana their replies were unani-
mOusly unfavOraDle TO johnson. He was
spoken Of in the most mcomplimentary
terms as liar and scounGrel and thor
ourhlY unprincipled IN every way. Gov.
JlliMan secretary replied that johnson
had been employed in the secret service
OF south Carolina Just TWO days and that
he was thoroughly uutrusJworthy Chief
Beach, Of nswick, talegraphcd imme-
dlately upon receipt Of thelolUer, request
ing THAI johnson De held, and saving that
be was wanted there for larceny after
trust.
AFRAID HE'D GET AWAY.
For fear that johnson would escape
him Chief Beach sent up Oficer Good
bread 10 be present at the examination
with warrant for Johusou's arrest in
case he should be released here. Officer
Goodbread was placed upon the stand and
testified that be would not believe him
uion oath. Several parties IN Washington
county for whom Johnson said he had
worked, replied that he appeared there
several months ago, shortly after the
commission Of several roDberies. and was
put to work upon the case as detective.
He secured considerable money on the
claim that he was upon the trail OF the
robbers, and then disappeared
Poe Ponder, who keeps the negro "free
ana easy' at Everett City. was placed
upon tho stand 20 corroborate Johnson's
story OF the attempt of the men TO pass