The evening world., 1895-09-16
Robbery the Motive.


Robbery the Motive.
Somerset County has not been so dis
turbed in a long time over this latest
murder. 1t was of the mos, brutal kind.
and the only motive so far AS known,
was the robbery of s4s which shk was
known to have had in her possession.
The girl was here attending the fair
on Saturday last, and then told her
acquaintance that five months before
she had married an Old man named
Rogers. basket maker, of Newark.
For years before that time she had
been employed as a domestic with Cal
win Carle. of Neshanic.
on leaving the latter's service he owed
her something over $50. and it was to
get this sum that she came here Satur.
day
johnson and his wife are known
great evanEelists and have lowered. in
tellectuallI. above their colored breth-
Zen. He is a most looking
individual. VINO might be taken for any
thing but preacher.
His wife Is neatly SIX ieot tall, and
strongly built, The shanty which they
occupy contains two small rooms. 1t
stards on the brink OF hill overlook
Il
a mile from the Rar.tan River. and the
woods near which the body of the muir
derei grl was folnG.
J"Ens"n's Ftimsy story.
When she arrived at Somervllc. she
met johnson and wanted him - have a
drink. lie SAWS he did not want It, but
she insisted. so both crossed the street
to Treats Commercial Hotel. near the
depot. The girl had glass of vine. and
he had soda. From Treats the couple
went to Cawlcy's Hotel. and more
drinks were ordered.
johnson told The police Yesterday that
he saw two white men winking At mis-
companion. ana that when he left they
followed her
He said Ia wanted to bring home a
half of veal and therefore could so no
further with her. The last he saw of
her, he said. she was walking down
Bridge street with the white men close
behind. lie gave the time rs 1915
o'clock.
When the girls body was found yes.
terday morning the marks of man.
fingers were on the throat and the Skin
had been scratched with tinsernails He,
clothing had been torn into rags. show
ing the desperate fight the girl hat
made for her life. The little beadet
pocketbook containing the money was
missing.
\ thorough search in the vicinit,
showed that the woman had beer
knocked down about fifty yards away
and the body dragged feet-foremost l,
the spot where found. Bits of the WON
ans clothing We're picked up in ever!
direction.
The Preacher COntradicted.
From the first the officials did not be
lleve Johnson's story. Several persons
said they saw him late as II o'cloci
Saturday night with the young girl.
Coroner Brady and State Attorne
DUNCAN investigated further. The
founl a fiagman employed by the Cen
tral Railroad of New Jersey, who sal
he saw the woman and Johnson a y 3
o'clock Sunday morning. He knew tn
time because ne had tagged a train
few moments before. 1t was tn
woTan's voice that attracted him. II
knew Johnson because the latter wa
carrying a ba, on his shoulder an
wore overalls and a jumper. That
the dress Johnson was seen in early IN
night before.
When States Attorney DUNCAN got
MS oilINt NllIs HlIE, ne nfll a cor
ference with Coroner Brady and JustiC
Sutphin. The lawyer then made an aft
'davit, and the warrant was issued Tn
Coroner with a detective and an Ever
irg World" reporter, were driven to II
scene. followed by the other official
Their arrival was quickly known, an
a score or more colored men and wome
swarmed around.
His Wife Calls Tor Vengeance.
Johnson's knees trembled when III
handouts were placed on his wrists, bl
he said nothing. His sister, who wa
present. began crying and wringing h,
hands. All the others did likewise, g,
'cept the mans wife. who called dow
vengeance upon the white prosecutors.
MY husband is a dominic" she erie,
HE would not commit murder for "a
We took that girl in here as Christian
and now this is what we get for It,"
All the members of Johnson's fami
were then questioned separately. and q
told different stories as to the time
his arrival home on Saturday nigh