The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-11
A CAREER OF CRIME.
Story of Ihief's Eventful Life.

| Story of a Thief's Eventful Life.
The New York police have just caught
again thief whose life is thus sketched
by the "Sun:"
johnson began life as boUkkeep
turned gambler afterward, then became'a
house burglar, and finally bank sueak
thief. AS gambler he became famous
in game of poker in which he is alleged
to have lost $50. 600. This money WAS the
resultcf series of rnbheries for one CT
which Johnson was arrested and convict
ed. 1t was In 1859, and the victims We're
firm of silk manufacturers in Readt
street. He did five years for this. and
then wenn to Bethel, Conn.,. where he
broke into. the Hstteras Bank and stole
$50, 600. He was arrested for this before
he had chance to seorets the money and
its recovery resulted III clemency being
shown the prisoner. Five years in Jail
was bis punishment for this When he
got out johnson gave up bank breaking
and began the sneak work which made
him famous. He went into Philadvl-
phia bank one day. armei with long
and very thin bit of steel wire the end
Of which was formed into hook.
Standing in the line at the paying teller S
window, he inserted the wire under the
brass rail, and, with the hook, hauled
out big bundle of $50 bills. Three
times he did this without being detect
ed He was at work on a roll of 500
bills when the cashier looked around and
saw the bundle moving. He grabbed it,
and before johnson could escape porter
had him. When he was searched S14, 600
of the banks money was found on him.
When asked why he hadn't escaped with
that when he had a chance, johnson
replied that Ii WAS the most exciting
fun he had ever had in his life, and he
simply couldn't stop. For this theft
johnson got three and a half years,in the
Eastern Penitentiary in Pennsylvania.
After his release he came to this city.
At o'clock one morning he went into
down town bank with the other en-
ployees, swalked tintot the bookkeeper' q
cage, andTtaking down that official s
linen duster and DOMINIC it himself
went to work on . set of books. When
the bookkseper came in few minutes
later he told him that he hau been dis
charged, and:that he tJohnson) had been
Engaged in his place. Ths bookReeper
demanded an explanation from the pIesi-
dent Of the hank, and the president de-
MED that he had dismissed him. To-
gether they went out and saw johnson
who acted like AN idiot, and was allowed
to 60. Later in the day the cashier
missed $15, coo. johnson was not pun
ished for this, although arrested many
times afterward for other crimes.
"a i1or lodi woo uynr1ad n 1oh n.
son on the Adams Express Company.
When the cashier at the lower Broadway
Office went out to lunch johnson walked
in. donned the mans office coat and
skull cap, stuck a pen behind his ear,
and took his place. A dozen of the clerks
in the Office spoke to him while he was
there, and never suspected be was other
than the cashier, as he kept his face close
to the desk. He stayed there for fifteen
minutes and then walked out with SIC, :
900 in his pocket. He was arrested later
but for lack of evidence WINS not convict
ed. Later johnson walked Into August
Belmont's office and In plain sight of
twenty clerks took bundle of bonds
alued at s25, 900 from the desk and
walked out again. Two days later be
was arrested, shut again no one could
identify him and he was discharged.
In 1871 johnson, while lettering
around the Fifth Avenue Hotel, saw a
lodRer hand the clerk package, remark
ing as be did SO that 1t contained valua-
bIes, and that he wanted it locked up in
the sefe. The clerk put 1t in the safe and
shut the door, but did not look it, In
apparent sight of the three clerks behind
the desk, Johnson walked through the
gate, opened the safe, took out the pack
ago, and started away. He would have
escaped but for the fact that he STUN bled
over q waste basket and attracted atten-
tion to himself. For this affair he did
ten years in Sing Sing prison.
When johnson had no money he was
an inyeterate borrower, and could always
out giving any rsecurity. 1t is said of
him that one time when some people
were pressing him for money lent them,
he asked "Don't you think that as long
as the world is full Of sleepy bank clerks.
Chaunoey johnson is good for his debts?
In a week I'll pay all of you and have
money left over"
A few days later tin box containing
securities and cash to the value of $780,
600 was stolen from the Marine National
Bank. No one ever know who took it. 1t
simply disappeared from the bank one
morning. At the end of the week FJohn-
son had kept his word to his creditors.
He was arrested, only to he discharged,
as there was not the slightest evidence
against MIN. Two mOnbnS laGer JODDSOu
and O crook named Henry Newman fol-
lowed an officer of the Central National
Bank from his of1ice in Wall street to tho
bank. The official had $l25, 1000 worth
OF bonds in his pocket. johnson walked
right into his private office with him,
and when the banker laid the bonds on
his desk and turned to hang up his coat
johnson nipped them and shot away
without even heinR saen. He was arrest
81 1c+a rx.,tn @ loo
OF evidence.
Dozens of other crimes similar to these
are credited to johnson in the long
review of his life in e1-Chief Byrnes's
book on criminals.
His years have told on him recently
and purse snatching and pocket picking
have been more in his line.
WIT AND WISDOM.