The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-20
HE WAS ACQUITTED
JOHNSON, THE ALLEGED COUNTER
FEIFEE, PROVEN INNOCENT.
He was Arrested by Sheriff Royse for Coin
ing False Monies but Ii Seems He VA
the Victim of Some Smart Aleck De-
tective Who Wanted to Gain Notoriety
Court Takes q Whack at the Ducks
Who, in Playing Detective. Lead Men
into Violation of Law-He Thinks They
are Worse than Criminals.

In the case of the United States
against c. ". Johnson. in the United
States district court. a jury returned
yesterday with verdict of not guilty.
Accordingly the defendant was dis
charged and his bondsnen released.
Upon the verdict being read. the de-
fenSant broke down and wept.
This case has attracted wide attention
and consumed a part Of two days in this
court. The government was represent
ed By the United States district attor-
ney and Johnson was ably represented
by Adams & Adams of this city. Judge
Williams presided with absolute impair
tally. In fact, ne is one Of the faire<t
judges that ever tried a case here. The
defendant Johnson now resides in Win
field. Kan, and before his arrest In
August, 1894, had always borne a good
reputation and his family likewise His
brother. John Johnson. who attended
the trial. is one of the largest stock deal
ers in Western Kansas
The novel features OF this case are
that in August 1894, johnson. then Hy-
ing in this city, went fishing near the
Oak street bridge of this city and was
approached by a stranger by the name
Of Smith. who inquired for work where
upon arrangements were made by
which johnson was to go With Smith
that evening down TO Hayesville, Smith
TO furnish the horse and buggy Short
~ after leaving Smith, il appears, an
other stranger approached Mr. johnson
and also inquired for work and accom-
panied Johnson down to where he lived,
and upon being informed by Mr.. John
son that he lived there, climed that he
was dry and wanted a drink of water.
hence Johnson invited him in and gave
him drink. The stranger immediate
~ left and likewise Johnson. who went
up 10 the city and met this stranger
again, who claimed 20 Johnson that he
had left small package at his house
and would like for him 10 bring IL TO
Hayesvilie that evening and leave 1t
at the shoe shop. Hence Johnson accom-
panied Mr.. Smith that evening 10
Hayesyille. and likewise took the pack
age with him. Upon arriving they fish,
ed for a while. whereupon Mr. Smith
induced Mr.. Johnson TO quit fishing and
go see the blacksmith for hlm-that he
wanted to do some plating in making
watch case out of some material he
had in the buggy. This request was
promptly refused by the blacksmith.
johnson and Smith started for Wichita
dilu We're SilOrlly afterwards arrested
by Sheriff Royse. Charlie Simmons and
W. w. Hayes, who. it is claimed. hand
cuffed them and searched Johnson and
found this package which had been
left by the stranger in his house. which
proved after an examination to be a
pair of moulds for counterfeiting, and
they also claimed TO have found coun-
terfeit half dollar upon the person Of
Mr.. Johnson 1t appears further that
Mr.. Royse secured the horse and buggy
for Smith to take Johnson down to
Hayesviile that evening, and knew
when these parties left Wichita for
Hayesville. and that he had an under
standing with Mr. Smith TO make the
arrest at Hayesville, which was ac-
cordingly done. Mr.. Smith supposed
that the government gave $50 reward
for securing q conviction of counter
feiting.
Judge Williams instructed the jury
TO the effect that il they believed that
q job had been put UP to induce Mr.
Johnson to commit n crime that the par
ties who put up the job did a greater
injury to the cause of justice than the
crime charged in the indictment. and
instructed the jury at length upon all
points of the case, which were complete
and able.
Mr.. Johnson left last evening for his
home in Winfield to join his wife and
three children.
Mrs. A. NJ Ford has returned from