The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-28
DIDN'T BRING BACK JOHNSON.
Detective ScuIIy Failed 20 Get the
FroEtovn Outlaw.

Detective Scully returned yesterday
from Columbia. s. G. where he went 10
return Ben Benjamin. an escaped convict
from the penitendary there. He did not
bring back William johnson. who IS want
I'd here for shooting an old negro named
Houston in the fort some time ago
The parties who have Johnson arrested
think that he Is the man wanted AZ Nc
bile. Ala. for a horrible rape committed
their Aug. Il. and for whom there is a
large reward. The Mobile authorities do
not think so. however. and that Is where
the trouble comes ia. Jonnson's captors
have gone 70 heavy expense and they
don't like 10 let him go without some show
OF getting their money back They Of
fered 10 let Detective scully have John
son il he would reimburse them for their
expense. but this generous proposition
was declined.
The Mobile rape was committed on the
night OF Aug. Il. and Johnson was ar
rested near Columbia on the evening OF
Aug. 15. He was arrested by a Mr.. Powell.
who found him lettering around his farm.
as suspicious character. and brought
20 Columbia where he was jailed by
Magistrate Troy.
Both Mr. Powell and the magistrate
We're satisfied that Johnson must be a
bad man, and they had a lot OF circulars
sent out with his picture and descrip-
ton. When Chief McDermOtt saw the
picture he recognized Johnson. although
a different name was given I'm the de-
scription. He wrote the Columbia author
tiles and received a reply, which left
no doubt in his mind that the man ar
rested in Columbia was Johnson.
In the meantime, Johnsons captors had
heard Of the Mobile rape and concluded
that the description fitted Johnson. They
wired the sheriff at Mobile, but the lat
ter, after learning the time OF Johnson's
arrest, wired back that "a was impos-
sible for Johnson 10 be the
man wanted by him as the rapist could
not have reached Columbia from Mobile
In the time which elapsed between the
crime and the arrest OF Johnson. He in
formed them. however, that IL their pris-
oner was the rapist. they would find
blood spots on his shirt. An examination
OF Johnson's clothing was made and some
spots which looked as IL they might have
been made by blood were found. John
sons captor went TO an expense Of $50 to
have a chemical analysis OF these spots
made and the chemist declared them to
be blood. This Information was wired
the sheriff at Mobile but has not con-
WINGED him that the prisoner at Columbia
and the Mobile rapist are one and the
same person.
The parties who are holding johnson
have expended about $50 so far. including
kilograms. Jail fees and the chemical anal
ysis. They will be glad to let anybody have
Johnson az the price OF their investment
Chief McDermott is not paying such
rates for the return OF prisoners just now,
and he will wait until the Columbia peo-
pie get tired Of holding Johnson when he
will have him arrested on the Georgia
warrant. 1t seems that under the South
Carolina law a person arrested on suspi-
cion, as in Johnson's case. can be held
for twenty days.
Detective Scully saw the prisoner, recog-
nized him as johnson and talked with
him