The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-23
NEW KIND OF CRANK
Discharged Butler Annoys
Mrs. Lewis, Of Hobo
ken, by His Atten-
tions.
NUISANCE TO NEW YORK FAMILIES
Followed Members of the Stevens
Family Only "To Ask a
Simple Question:"

The Hoboken police on Sunday evening
arrested a man who has busted himself
Kin annoying wealthy families both in Ho-
boken and New York for many years.
The man is August johnson, or count
Swedenburg," as, 1t is said. he sometimes
calls himself He is a tall individual
about As years old, with a smooth shaven
face and a slick talker. He wears d
silk hat, a dark suit of clothes and pa
tent leather Shoes. BY trade he is a but
Ter, or coachman, and in this capacity he
has found his way among the families
who are complaining against him. The
police say they have had dealings with
Johnson before and have classified him
as the butler crank"
Johnson was arrested on Sunday night
at the home of Mrs. E. P. c. Lewis, widow
of the late Col. E. P. c. Lewis. who was
former Minister to Portugal under Cleve-
lands first administration. Mrs. Lewis
lives in a handsome residence at No. 500
River street, Hoboken.
Johnson has been known by the Lewis
family for some five years. He first became
acquainted with the family while being
employed as a coachman by Mrs. Martha
p. Stevens Of Castle Rsolnt who IS Mrs
Miss Garnet, Mrs. Lewis daughter by
her first marriage. Johnson'S actions
toward Miss Garnet became very annoying
and on several occasions he was threat
ened with discharge for his conduct.
One evening while Mrs. Lewis and her
qr ughyer G we're offending end e. q b;n s9eiap asras at
Johnson appeared and became so unbear-
able in his conduct that Mrs. Lewis
s eaas sfrl hi st aTrsst. ais Laser he b %as fT relea Sel
employ.
After that Johnson made frequent calls
from the Af house, nP but insisted aas Ts on calling calling
on the pretence of seeing Mrs. Lewis
Sometimes he would follow Mrs. Lewis
a aea her %aa It Is ssId t. n f 5HFn; On M 2ns
Lewis to seabright where she had. gone
wit } her fan family Y to spend the summer
m mar Nrs u ndes e thpeate Of T n arr eanoy' og
Sunday evening, about eight O'Clock,
Johnson called at the Lewis home.
to the maid Who opened the he door, ns sai II
he walked into the parlor and seated him
formed Johnson that she could not be
seen. johnson, however. was persist
Il only want to ask her one simple
Mr.. E. A. s. Lewis. Mrs. Lewis son,
who IS q years old, then entered the
would not ct tax eHsa w 59hn him, ' and h he o m9 t
the latter to leave the house. Johnson
refused to go. Mr.. Lewis the1. called on
Policeman Rabold and hal Johnson
placed under arerst on a charge Of dis
orderly conduct.
AT Police Headquarters the man said
he was employed as a butler at the Put
nam House, corner of Fourth avenue and
Twenty-sixth street, New YORK. He had
IN his pocket q number of letters of rec
ommendation from parties for whom he
had worked.
Recorder McDonough learned yesterday
morning that Johnson was wanted in New
York for annoying a number of families
in that city. When the prisoner was ar
raigned ]. S. Anderson, a lawyer of No.
" Nassau street, New York City, had a
private consultation with Recorder Nc
Donough in the court room, and the
magistrate held Johnson for examination.
It was said that ANDERSON represented the
family of A. r. Duncan, the agent for
Lea PERKINS, Sauce, who has an office in
Park place, New York City. Johnson. it
is alleged, while employedfby the Duncans,
wrote letters to Mr.. Duncan's daughter.
He is also accused of swindIing Rev. DR..
John Hall, of the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain Church, out of $500. Ten wears
ago he had trouble with the Rhinelander
family.
In 1894, it is said, he was induced for a
consideration to return to Sweden, where
he was born, but. he came back a year
later.
He told Recorder McDonough that he
had learned that Mrs. Lewis wanted to
employ. a butler, and he went to the
mouse, he said, to apply for the position.