The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-24
A PRISONER IN STYLE
UNCLE SAM GIVES BANKER JOHNSON
a TOUCH OF HIGH LIFE.
The LoganspOrt Banker Brought Here
--Government Furnishes Him a Press
Agent and "a DOorkeeper.

The soundness of the famous pit of adj
vice. cit a plenty, while you're gittin!"
was strikingly illustrated yesterday in the
case of John f. Johnson. the Logansport
banker. Could one of the poor devils who
has been brought here and chucked into
Jail for passing a counterfeit dollar have
witnessed the enormous respect accorded
to this man, who has separated various
people from about 100000 of their money,
his soul would have burst with envy.
The party arrived in the city in Pullman
over the Pennsylvania from Logansport at
1875 yesterday morning. 1t was composed
of Mr.. Johnson, his wife and little daugh-
ter, United States Commissioner George
w. Funk, who came along as Mr. Johnson's
attorney and acted as press agent for his
client, and Peter NJ. Clark, United States
deputy marshal, who was de jure" man
ager of the tour but "de facto," a sort of
doorkeeper for the distinguished banker.
During the day Mr.. Johnson occupied the
best parlor in the Grand Hotel-the same
that was occupied by William Jennings
Bryan last year-where he received his
friends and relatives, and declined to see
the newspaper men, who sent up their
cards. He was in noWise dscourteous in
this, however, for he had instructed Com
missioner Funk to talk to them and ''see
that they were well treated" The commits
sioner did so, though he was a bit discon-
certed when his remark, HE has the most
remarkable nerve" was taken in a way
that he did not mean.
After the party had breakfasted at the
hotel the banker, Mr., Funk and Deputy
Clark went to the marshaPs Office, where
Marshal Kercheval was waiting for them
Cly 10 I'll,
main at the hotel until o'clock, in order
that his relatives might visit him, but Mr.
hefcheVaI referred them to Judge Baker,
VINO consented that he should be kept there
uIluef surveillance. During the afternoon
MT. and Mrs. George III. Prescott, of Terre
Haute, parents of Mrs. Johnson visited
them at the hotel and had a. long confer
ence with them. At clock after eating
a hearty dinner at the Grand, Mr.. Johnson
was escorte1 to the Jail and turned over to
Sheriff Shufelton. He was calm and quiet
all day, and those about him say that he
ures came out.
SPECIAL GRAND JURY SESSION.
The federal grand jury has been called
to meet June 4, but an effort will be made
by Johnson's attorney to have it meet
sooner, in order that the indictment may
be found, to which plea of guilty will be
entered. District Attorney Wishard has
been in Logansport in consultation with
Bank Examiner Caldwell ard will return
this morning. So far as known Mr.. John
son has Violated every penal clause Of the
hatlonai banking law and the indictmen.
Will be a long one.
Journal reporter asked at the Grand
yesterday afternoon to see Mr. Johnson
The clerk smiled in a confused sort of way
ana SAID he was not registered there. After
some iurther eXaslons the clerk said
There is Mr.. Funk over there" indicat-
ing the United States commissioner from
Logansport, who was entertaining another
reporter in the lobby, He will talk to
But I did not come to see Funk; came
Il don't think he will see you now. He
mas a good deal of business to attend to-
he SAID he wanted to see the reporters
treated Well, however, and Mr.. Funk will
talk to YOU
After some humble pleading a bellboy
was sent with card TO the deputy mar
Shal, but he misunderstood the directions
ana TOOK 1t into the very presence Of John
son himself. He returned quickly Says
busy!"
Then the reporter wandered upstairs. In
front or the star parlor where Bryan was
entertained he found Deputy Marshal
Pete" Clark sitting very meekly without
the door, while his prisoner was entertain
ing friends within. Pete" was nearly dead.
from loss of sleep. He had remained at
Johnsons house all the day before and had
sat up all night in the sleeper while his
prisoner slept in a berth across the aisle
"Of course he's paying the expenses said
Mr. Clark, when asked about it, 'and he
seems to have money enough. There isn't
any danger OF him getting away Why if
he was in China and they'd telegraph for
him, he'd come back" Pete was unable
to say whether it was admiration for the
dazzling boldness of Johnsons operations
or the fact that he had so much money
that inspired such respectful treatment by
the government.
THE NERVE ADMITTED
Commissioner Funk came up pretty soon
and took hand in the conversation. Il
L.
he Ellis father-in-law is with him now
and he has great deal of private business
to transact. Then I have to see him about
some things. He has the most remarkable
nervel He is just as calm and has not
broken down once"
1t was suggested that possibly he was
permitting others to walk the floor
mo, he has more friends among the bust
ness men of Logansport to-day than some
of the men who would not go on his bond.
After talking the matter over with his
wife yesterday he decided not to give bond,
though he could have done it as well as
not. One man there was indignant because
he had not been asked"
Some surprise was expressed at this in
asmuch as it was hardly possible to take
over half a million out of town the size
of Lcgahsport without touching nearly all
the business men in it.
'Oh, he did not get it all there" replied
But what became of all of it?'
'''He has none of it in his pockets; that
I know. His grandfather conducted large
grain business and when he died, though
he left much property, his estate was
heavily insolvent. The father assumed this
indebtedness and it worried the life out of
him. 1t has been said that John was left
with legacy of 100000 debts when his
father died In 1891 1t was not that much,
but it may have amounted to $l50,0OO, with
about $4,000 of available property. You
take that load and stagger along with it
in such times as we have had for six years
and it will eat up a whole lot of money.
But of course that does not account for
all of it, and my theory is that he must
have speculated heavily in the effort to
lift the burden of debt His life precludes
any other idea. He had no bad habits, did
not even smoke or chew He was never
away from town, but went from his bust
ness TO his home and from his home to his
business and was a hard worker at all
times.
''He has turned over all his property to
the bank about $125,000 worth and the as
sets of the bank, if properly handled, will
paw the depostors dollar for dollar without
an assessment on the stock. Those who
loaned him money on his personal security
are of course, losers.
IN MURDERER'S crow"