The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-29
HERE'S A BAD INDIAN
Blind Charley Johnson Is on Another
Big Drunk.
HE IS HARMLESS WHEN SOBER
Several Policemen Kept Busy for
Time, and He Had to Be Put
In a Straight Jacket at
Headquarters.
From the Buffalo Express.

II when SOBER, Out Wntn ne
gets drunk and invariably goes on the
warpath. This happens often. the po-
lice say. He has been arrested time
and again. Every time he is arrested
he fights like a wild cat. 1t is the truth
that some bluecoats who know him are
afraid to tackle him.
Johnson is known to hundreds of
Bunalonians. Not by name. but by
sight lie is the Indian who sits I'm
front of Lafayette square with the
label ,"I am blind" on his hat. and
gives n public exhibition of reading by
the sense of feeling. Seated on a stool
in pleasant weather. he may be seen
with his apparently sightless eyes
turned upward and his fingers tracing
the lines of big Bible with raised let
tiers. quoting aloud the contents there
Of In the summer time he sits there
for hours. and great beads OF what APP
pear to be sweat are seen on his fore
head. Passers by are moved by the
pitiable spectacle. and they contribute
literally. 1t is common talk among
his associates that he makes as much
money as two mems wages every day.
IL he saved IL. he might be well off,
but his love of firewater is stronger
than his providence, according to the
police, and he spends It as fast as he
gets IL.
Last evening Johnson was very
drunk. Consequently he was on the
warpath. He lives i'm rooms on the top
floor of the Spaulding's Exchange. at
the corner of Main and Exchange
streets, with a woman who calls her
self Louise Johnson. She. too. was
drunk last evening. The couple made
so much noise i'm their rooms that the
other tenants protested. This brought
the wild warrior from his room bent
on mischief. Uttering the worst curses
he has learned since he left the reSer-
walton. and hurting the vilest epithets
at the neighbors, he rushed downstairs
with the avowed intention of killing
every man and woman I'm the house
The neighbors knew his disposition
and his fighting proclivities and giant
power. for he is a siX-footer weighing
nearly 200 pounds. They retreated to
their rooms and locked the doors. He
pounded on them, and the women
screamed for fear that he would burst
in the doors. one of the male tenants
slipped down the stairs and run TO Po- |
lice Station No. /.
The blind Indians on tear again |
Send some policemen over right away |
or he'll kill someone" he said.
Sergeant Dill did not need to be told |
anything more. He knows the man. |
The reserve men were out so he hur- |
ried over to Main street and directed |
Patrolman Dan Kinnane to arrest |
Johnson. Better call the man off the |
next beat and take him with you" he
advised. kinnane called officer Elan
nagan and the two went To the Spauld- |
ing's Exchange. At the door they were !
met by the man who made the com
plant.
Are there only two of you?" he |
asked, in evident alarm. you'll need |
more help than that" and he ran away |
TO look up some more policemen.
Il Inn fIuffa LII
on the force. and they're not afraid of |
any human being. Kinnane used to be
an attendant In an insane asylum out |
West, and he has fought with some of
the widest maniacs. They fearlessly |
mounted the stairs.
"Whoop, Whoop! I'll kill every one
of your they heard an angry voice 1
shout before they had gone up many
steps They recognized.it as Johnson's |
voice. Then came the sound of vio-
lent poundings on door. accompa-
MED by torrent of curses and bad
names. At the top of the third flight
they encountered the insanely drunken
Indian.
What's the matter with your" asked
Kinnane.
None OF your business" replied
johnson. glarlng at them.
DO you know who you are talking
tor
Yes; policemen" was the reply
which was proof that Johnson is not
entirely blind.
Wen, you1l have to come along with
us"
Not much. It'l will take more than
two To handle me- was the Indians
reply i'm contemptuous tones. He
stepped back and squared off to the POI
liCemen.
kinnane and Flanagan grabbed him
The next moment they
realized they were coping with a bad
man. Johnson yanked himself away
and threw his hands and arms around
like whirlwind. The policemen had
TO duck and dodge like prize fighters.
They drew their clubs. but they
couldn't for a minute get near Johnson.
so vigorous was his onslaught Then
they separated. Flanagan slipped be-
hind him and caught him by the
throat. kinnane saw the play and
grabbed the Indians hands so that he
could not break Flannagan's hold.
kinnane had a hard time OF IL. but
he managed To hang on TO those power
full hands long enough for Flanagan
partially to shut off the Indians wind.
Even then the drunken man would not
give up until he was getting black in
the face. Then he gurgled: 'Iemme
GO I'll go long"
Flanagan released his hold and the
Indian went peaceably downstairs be-
tween them. IL was but a couple OF
hundred feet across the patrol box
on the corner. He went that far with
out further resistance. But he was not |
yet conquered He was merely watt
ing 10 get his wind. They rang IN the
patrol barn and sent a fast call. Then
they put the prisoner in the box and
waited for the wagon TO come.
crowd gathered. as usual. While
the spectators were gazing curiousIy al
no man IN tho box and rho
men were standing just outside. not
expecting further trouble. the prisoner
gave wild yen and sprang out into
the middle Of the crowd and struck ont
right and left, dealing vicious blows in
sh directions one man was knocked
down and several others We're struck
The crowd stampeded. Before John
son could follow up the stack. Kim
name and Flanagan We're upon hin,
again. As the quickest way TO control