The herald., 1894-12-16

give this thing mp now we've got it and
and will have it yet
In answer to an interrogat,ry OF the
court: II didn't know that no was 20
ing to throw the switch. although he had
been to the lock BEFORE"
Resuming the thread of his narrative,
he continued. II followed back again
and on the way we met man we
thought was a tramp. Thompson cov-
cred him with O pistol and took him
back to the express car with us. MY
partner ordered the messenger to open
the door but he refused. We then put
a giant powder bomb on the side OF the
door and blowed hole in it. Thomp-
son told the messenger to come ont and
said IL there was any body el,e in there
had kill the messenger. Then he made
the messenger crawl in again and be
and followed. While he and the mes
aenger were getting the stuff. L walked
from one side OF the car to the other,
shooting out of the doors to keep the
people back in the cars 80 that no one
would get hurt or shoot US. After put
ting the money in the sack Thompson
said, BY God. Pm not going to carry
this over, and made them carry it to
the wagon, or near by" At this junot-
ure the court said:
II don't care for the details, Mr..
johnson. Was it on your motion that
tho train waa derailsd at the switch ?"
mo. sir; l didn't have any idoa the
train would be ditched."
Here the prisoner showed signs OF
breaking down. II didn't have any
intention of hurting anybody" he said
in q broken voice.
oil nd 20, =
sentence now?" inquired Judge Smith.
alphabetically.
"Yes, SIR" was the response, in sob.
bing accents.
"Mr. Alva Johnson" said the court,
"you have been accused" etc., reciting
the crime. 1.-The court has heard your
statement of the part you took in the
matter; have you any legal cause why
Judgment should be passed upon you 90
"No, sir; no legal cause" still sub
dued.
"Now," said Judge Smith, "the court,
in exercising it's discretion, takes cog
nizance of the fact that you have en-
tered plea Of guilty, thereby saving
the county the expense OF a protracted
trial, but the statute provides that the
puniehment in suoh case must be either
death by hanging or imprisonment for
life. In the exercise of that discretion.
therefore order that yon be imprisoned
in the state prison at San Quentin for
tho remainder of your natural Iife."
"Many Thanks" responded johnson.
az he broke down completely. The
tears chased one another down his
cheeks, and he began a rambling state
ment in praise of Mr.. Trask, until cut
short bv the court
"a great many things might be said.
but the less said the better," remarked
the court, and the 'lifer" took his scat
without a further word.
His wife maintained a stony, agonized
silence.
The CONDEMNED MAN TALKS.
Shortly after Johnson was returned to
his cell he talked for half an hour with
a reporter for the HERALD. He ap-
peared very downhearted and forlorn,
and almost wept "a he told the story OF
his confession. There were more reasons
than one why he told of his guilt and
doomed himself to life servitude.
Detective A. B. Lawson is credited
with having done more than any one
else to secure the confession, though
something before unknown worked upon
the conscience stricken man. His wife
owns fine ranch in the Little Tejunga
caf1on. and had he taken any other
course johnson claims his family would
have been left penniless. The attorneys
wan ted the rshch as council fees. The
accused man offered to give them any
thing-his hogs, cattle, wagons-all ex-
ccpt the home place. They refused these
for the defense, and there ia where
Johnsou's love for home and family
showed itself in its true light. He con-
suited his wife. She plead with him to
confess for she had bsen led to believe
that he would be hanged If he didn't
She at first had hopes of clearing him by
giving up the ranch and everything they
possessed. but allowed herself to be per.
suaded otherwise. Then Johnson, lured
on by the pangs of guilty conscience
and strong love for his wife and chill
dren, and for their future welfare, threw
up hope. scorned all idea of ever being
cleared, and prepared for the worst
Live or die. he would leave for them the
ol home place with all its effects, and
thus insure his beloved ones at least
some sort of living.
AS the condemned man reviewed the
story OF his life, and spoke of family ties,
OF a father who had turned against him
and OF the dark and gloomy future, tears
would course down his care-worn face,
only to be wiped away to make room
for others.
II would rather be hung" said the
self convicted man, rather than to have
gotten the life sentence. Death ia far
preferable. shall never live"
And here the condemned man hung
his head.
"But," he resumed, 81 must try to bs
q man, for perhaps some day I may
my family, God bless them"
He had hope. but was too overcome
to express 1t. His own life had been q
failure. Though he was not a criminal
by natural instinct, he had committed @
criminal act.-dark enough to blast his
conscience. wreck his whole life aud
disgrace his family.
ANOTHER ARREST TO BE MADE.
The sentence Of Johnson and the fate
OF Thompson will not end all there ia to
the Roscoe crimea. In Johnaon's con-
fession he swore that there was no
other person at the scene OF the rob-
berries. but admitted that there was an
accessory. He did not give the name.
but said that the man assisted Thomp-
son in making the bombs with which
the express car doors were blown open.
The officers have decided to prosecute
this man as an accessory before the fact.
and his arrest may be accomplished at
any time. 1t is thought that he ia at
present in Riverside.
johnson could not remember the
name of the Young man and Kid Thomn.