The evening times., 1896-12-25
HER WEALTH HAS VANISHED
Mrs. Minnie Johnson's False
Complaint Of a Robbery.
SHE DECEIVED HER HUSBAND
Detectives Investigate the Case of
the Woman Who Tainted When
Taken to q Bank From Which She
Claimed to Have Drawn Money
That Was Afterward Stolen.

has been employed at police headquarters
to cancel case of alleged pocket picking
which was reported to Inspector Holm
berger last Tuesday.
Behind this cross OF carmine lies story
which is causing not a little gossip among
the headquarters detectives, who have
heard its interesting details.
The Evening Times has already told how
Mrs. Minnie johnson, fashionably attircd
colored woman. who resides with her hus
band at No. 33 Defrees street, came into
the detective office on Tesday afternoon.
and complained that her pocket had been
picked ON Pennsylvania avenue car. and
her purse, containing $3.50, stolen. Also
how Detective Gallaher accompanied Mrs.
johnson To til eSecond National Bank. where
she tainted, and the investigation OF the
alleged theft was temporarily abandoned.
AZ n she had ...n remoredCo her nofnein
q cab and fully recovered from the fainting
spell Detectives Gallaher and Lacey were
assigned to the case and called to See Mrs
Johnson.
She Fainted Again.
Their visit, it / = said. caused her to faint
again, and She was anxious and willing to
witildra W / he complaint and drop the matter
Dut bItt ueltCuNts were NOT. bttu
instructed by their chief to thoroughly in
vestigate the case, and investigate it they
would to the very core.
Mrs. johnson stated that she went to a
bank on Seventh street. near the Postoffice
Department building, on Tuesday and drew
81 80. The money was placed in her pocket
book and she boarded a street car and visit ed
a relative in West Washington. On her re-
turn she got on an Avenue car and took the
purse from her pocket to pay her fare. The
81 so up to that time reposed safely in the
leathern receptacle. She saw the roll as she
produced the nickel to pay the conductor.
WAS any suspicious looking person sit
ting near you in the car at that titne?"
She was asked.
Mrs. johnson replied that a colOred girl
sat on one side OF her, while there was 20
one on the other side.
No Check Draw
The detectives visited the Second Ma
tional Bank on Seventh street, and other
similar Institutions, but found that 10
colored woman blythe name OF johnson had
drawn $3.50 on check, draft, or other
wise. They learned other things about the
case, and when they made their report
book was ordered to be cancelled. which
was done by Detective Clerk German. who
made big red cross across Mrs. Johnsons s
allegations.
She no doubt had a motive in trying TO
deceive the detectives, and 1t Is that motive
which is causing some gossip at head
quarters.
Her purpose in making the complaint
- 10 sI H..1n hnr hng nd
and here is the story that is being related
about the peculiar case:
Last August John johnson, a II industrious
colored citizen. married Minnie, whom he
had been courting for some time. He no
doubt loved her for herself alone, but
added to this she was reputed to be
wealthy Is well, and when questioned
about her riches Mrs. Johnson did not
deny that she had money TO burn. This
belief Of the prospective husband added a
golden lining to his cloud of love, and
the wedding came off in due time.
Mrs. johnson, it is further said, led him
to believe that her wealth was kept in
the big burglar-proof time vaults Of an
uptown bank. They had no occasion TO
draw any of the money, as both husband
and wife are hard workers. He has a
lucrative position, while she is employed
in steam laundry and earns good wages.
Wanted Her Money.
As the holiday season drew near, Mr..
johnson thought it would be good iGca
to extract from the ba nk some of her wealth
She reluctantly agreed, and in doing so
pricked the bubble which had been dancing
in the atmosphere of their Defrees street
home.
Mrs johnson. so the story goes. made
believe that She visited the bank and drew
ST so, with which she intended to spread
Christmas cheer. When the husband asked
to be shown the colors of the currency
which she did not have, the pckpocket
story flashed through her mind, and she
told him how she had been relieved OF the
cash or an Avenue car by a sly '.knuck."
Then the husband said the detectives
should be Informed of the theft at once. in
order that they might get quickly on the
. trail of the bad ''dipper'' and recover the
roll, if possible.
He accompanied her to headqua rters, and
heard her make the complaint. He was at
the bank when she tainted. and yesterday
he called at headquarters, and wasinformed
that after full and free investigation by
Detectives Gallaher and Lacey, the entry
had been cancelled and the case closed.
This is the story as it is being told at
headquarters, and the husband has no doubt
learned that the fortune he thought he
had secured by marrying Mrs. johnson, is
a myth more vapory and deceptive than a
picturesque mirage on the sandy plains OF
Sahara.