Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-07
PLAYS DESPERATE.
Charles johnson Gives the Pc.
lice a Fight.
STEALS CIGARS IN A RESTAURANT.

men Co OvefpoWoe Htm-Bound Over for
Larceny.
Charles johnson is a white-haired
little man weighing probably one
hundred and forty pounds and has
not the appearance of a second San.
dow. But he has an abunnance OF
strength or else the six husky gen.
tlemen who tussled with him at DO.
lice headquarters last night are very
weak physically. They finally over
powered the little fellow and he was
dragged back iuto q cell, where he
remained until today, when he was
bound over to the circuit court under
bonds of 5000 for larc,n johnson
could not furnish bail and was re.
manded to Jail.
johnson played desperate yestcr.
day. He is a bridge laborer and
came here New Years day from
Chicago to secure employment with
the Phoenix company, which is re.
constructing the Rock Island bridge.
he was put to work. Saturday he
intimated a disposition to quit and
Superintendent Taylor accommo-
dated him. Since then johnson has
either been mentally deranged or
else feigning such in an endeavor 10
create as much disturbance as posi-.
BILE. Several times he has been over
on the bridge work interfering with
the men. 1t became necessary for
the guard to order johnson away.
Begins n Night Campaign.
Last evening he commenced a sort
OF desperado's campaign along Sec
ond avenue. Starting in the neigh.
borhood of Twentieth he entered
stores and caused what trouble he
could and proceeded westward.
Reaching the Crown restaurant he
entered and inquired if he could get
a good union made cigar. Mr..
Arndt replied affirmatively and
handed out several Havanas from
which the customer could pick his
choice. They all suited johnson and
taking all the he cigars started toward
the door. He was asked to remit.
but replied that the cost of the
cigars amounted to very little and
Mr.. Arndt didn't have much to lose.
The restaurateur objectedand lump.
ing over the counter pursued John
son down Second avenue. The thief
entered Bengston's drug store and
asked for some paper in which to
wrap the cigars. Mr.. Arndt here
again prevailed upon johnson to re-
turn the goods. whereupon he began
rolling up his sleeves apparently to
give the restaurateur a fight. In
the meantime the patrol wagon had
been summoned and Officer Carnes
took the hostile johnson in charge.
When johnson heard the patrol roll
ing up he made a desperate resist
ance. But Mr.. Carnes grappled
with and succeeded in holding BIS
man.
Screams and Fights.
johnson put up mean fight and
left evidence of his handiwork on OFF.
Ger Carnes' nose. which was separated
from a piece of it's skin. Then
johnson was hustled down to head
quarters. where he refused to be
searched. and was only relieved of
his effects after several of the police
men and aldermen were nearly ex.
hausted. 1t was necessary to throw
johnson down on the floor and while
couple held his head and Others his
hands and feet, one of the officers
went through him. He proved the
hardest customer the police have had
to deal with for some time. johnson
had the cell bed overturned this
morning and everything disarranged.
He also made all the noise possible
by whistling and yelping. One would
think him crazy. but he is not. Nor
has he been drinking. He is inst
mad over losing his situation.
When he appeared before Maeis-
trate Schroeder, dressed in a bIue
sweater and overalls, he chuckled
and said he wasn't guilty. of larceny,
as he displaycda battered-up looking
hand. Asked about his conduct.
johnson replied: "Oh, anyone is
apt to have their blood riled occa-
slonally;" and the squire did the