The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-10
Son-in-LaW of the Murdered
Man Taken Into Custody
at Fresno.
PECULIAR REMARK MADE TO
HIS FATHER.
Mrs. Schofield One Of the Mourn
ers at the Funeral of Her
Departed Husband.

FRESNO, CAL, Aug. 9.-Clark Johnson
was taken into custody in this city to-day
by Deputy Sheriff Timmins, who received
telegram last evening from Sheriff Lyn-
don of Santa Clara County requesting the
arrest of the man for compl city in the
murder of George w. Schofeld, the
rancher who was asssssinated near San
Jose on Saturday morning. Johnson is
married to daughter of the victim Of the
shooting and he is believed to have taken
part in what is supposed to have been
plot among the members of the family TO
kill the old man. The son-in-law left
Santa Clara County on Friday morning
and arrived here that evening on the SEQ
train.
Being a total stranger here it was no
easy matter to locate him. Deputy Tim
minis was assisted by Deputy Constable
Henry, and this m orning they ascertained
that man answering the description of
Johnson had arrived on the train from
the north on Friday evening. They made
a further search and learned that the
stranger had hired horse and carriage
ana driven to the home of his father near
Caruthers. The old gentleman's name is
Corbley Johnson, and he is ranching near
the West Side town. The two deputies
telephoned to Caruthers yesterday fore
noon and were told that Clark Johnson
had been there and that he and his father
had started for Fresno a short time before
The officers concluded to wait for the
arrival of Johnson in this city, and
shortly before noon the father and son
drove in at Henry's stable on street.
When Deputy Timmins stepped up TO the
younger man and told him to consider
himself under arrest the son looked at lis |
father and remarked:
~ knew this would come"
The prisoner then asked the Deputy
Sheriff TO read the telegram on which the
arrest was made. When this was done
Johnson expressed the greatest surprise
and said that that was the first he had
heard of the murder. His surprise was
the greater. he said, that he should be
accused of connection with the crime
Deputy Timmins reminded the prisoner
OF his statement that he had expected the
arrest. Johnson then explained that he
had thought of another matter.
When Schoheld went through insol-
vency recently he failed to make mention
OF horse in giving in the list of his
assets. Subsequently ne gave the horse
10 his daug hter, Mrs. Johnson, and it was
this crooked transaction, the prisoner
said, that came 10 his mind when the
officers took him into custody.
johnson was seen at the Jail this after
noon by The CALL correspondent, and
positively denied any knowledge of the
atrocious murder. He said that lie would
have no difficulty in proving an alibi. He
could easily establish the fact, he averred,
that be arrived IL Fresno on Friday even
ing. and was at his fathers home at Ca
rutGers when the assassination took place
the next morning.
MY father-in-law and I never had a
cross word" the prisoner stated to the
correspondent. "He was a somewhat dis
agreeable old fellow, and he entertain ed
q dislike for me. His reason therefor 10
not know. In fact, he didn't like any,
body, and l was only one OF many he ielt
bitter against. But l never paid any at
tention to the old man, and the result was
that we never had any Quarrel6. 1t was
only a fe days ago that | told my wife to
invite her father to our home whenever
she wished; that as far as l was concerned
he was welcome at any and all times.
lave of late been working as lineman for
the telephone company at San Jose, and l
came to Fresno to get other work.
THE fact IS that don't know anything
at all about the murder. l haven't been
told the full particulars and l have not
seen a news paper containing an account
of the tragedy"
The correspondent had THE CALL in his
pocket during the interview and the
prisoner asked if il contained an account
of the killing. Upon being answered in
the affirmative Johnson asked eagerly for
il. The prisoner was much agitated dur
ing the conversation with the newspaper
man. He fastened to Explain to him,
also that the cause Of his remark when
arrested that he had expected it, was the
transaction involving the horse.
"Schofield had gone security on $500
note. " volunteered the prisoner, ''and in
order to evade payment in the ability
the debtor to do so my father went
through insolvency.
The prisoners manner was strange, and
while it is certain tha he did not take
part in the killing, as he was here at the
time, there is a strong probability that he
knows considerable that he Will not tell
He is about 80 years old, and his looks are
hardly in in his favor.
Johnson hired from Henry's stable the
rig in which he drove to his fathers
ranch When he returned with the con-
veyance to-day he did not have money
enough to pay for the three days he had
it, but his father helped settle the bill.
THE FIDoW MOURNER.
Rdnoher SchoffeId's Body BOrHe to Its
Last RcSting PLrcc.