The morning call., 1895-01-20
OPIUM ON THE ALAMEDA.
1t Was Found by Sam RuddeI and
His Deputies.
A Confession Which Involves Charles John
son as the Smuggler-OffeialS
After Him.

1t was busy day for Deputy Surveyor
of the Port Sam Ruddell and his assistants
yesterday. 1t all came about through the
discovery of quantity of opium which
was found hidden on the steamer Alameda,
which arrived here from Australia and
Honolulu on Friday.
1t was not so much the value of the
seizure which was made as the evidence
which it furnished against man whom
the Government officials have been trying
for long time to get ''cinch on" The
man in question is Charles Johnson and he
has for years, according to the customs Of
ficials, been looked upon as an opium
smuggler of the cleverest kind.
Johnson is a fireman on the Alameda,
and has been watched for a long time not
only during his employment on that YES
sci, but while he was on other steamers.
1t was pretty well known that since he has
been on the Alameda Johnson engaged in
the business of taking opium from this
port to Honolulu, which, a sort of reversal
of the usual mode of smuggling. But
when it is considered that the taking of
opium into the islands is entirely prohibited
there is every reason to believe that even
if person, so inclined, paid the regular
price for it here, and could smuggle the
same into Honolulu, there was considerable
money to be made from those who really
wanted the drug.
According to what evidence the customs
officials have Johnson took quantity of
unstamped opium from here down to Hon
olulu on the last trip of the steamer, but
he found no opportunity of landing it..
There was nothing left for him to do than
to bring it back here again, so they say,
and try again. In order to better carry out
his purpose, Johnson took John Clifford,
who runs the donkey engine on the
steamer, into his confidence, and left in his
care trunk containing the drug.
1t was this trunk that Deputy Ruddell
and his men secured yesterday morning
on the steamer. They also got Clifford to
confess that Johnson had left the trunk in
his care. 1t contained thirty five-tael boxes
of opium. Soon after the seizure had been
made Johnson appeared on the steamer and
demanded the trunk from Clifford. He
told Johnson what had become of it, and
thereupon the latter became enraged, and
accusing Clifford of betraying him, said'
that he would kill him if the trunk was
not produced. Clifford reminded him that
perhaps the customs officers would return
at any moment, whereupon Johnson de-
ferred the killing act and departed.
There is about 500 coming to him from
the steamer, and soon after he sent mes
oCISCl dOhu III Tic hUuuSII ndu
business in the meantime around and he
saw to it that the money was not sent.
The messenger escaped before he could
be Intercepted as to where Johnson was
located.
All yesterday afternoon and last night a
dozen deputies were securing the city look
ing for johnson, but up to early this
morning he had not been found, either at
his home or at his usual haunts. Deputy
Ruddell is confident of his capture, how
ever, as he has every avenue of escape COW
cred. He believes that he has a good case
against Johnson this time.
The man who they are seeking for was at
| one time on the German tramp-steamer
Romulus, collier which ran between here
and Nanaimo, and a year ago last Septem-
Der there was strong suspicion that he
was smuggling opium on her. A watch
was kept, with the result that while the
steamer was lying at the Oakland
long wharf boat was discovered
leaving her with bundle of opium which
had been thrown over her side. Several of
the customs inspectors say. that thew
recognized Johnson as the man who
lowered the opium into the boat. Alter
that Johnson was ON the steamer Aus
tralia, and from there he went to the
Alameda