The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-12-06
COL. Johnson ARRESTED
AGUINALDO'S CHIEF NABBED BY
GENERAL OTIS.
Smith, the Painter, Worked the Case
Comes to Honolulu for Safety-Re-
markable Story.

Colonel l.. NJ. Johnson, of Aguinal-
dos staff, an old honolulu man, is un-
der arrest at Manila, and will he tried
by United States court martial in
about two months for high treason.
Colonel johnson is charged with
smuggling 10000 stands of small arms
and four Krupp guns into the island
of Luzon for the use of the insurgents.
A more remarkable part of the sto-
ry is that G.. e. Smith, the Honolulu
painter. caught johnson and secured
the evidence that caused his arrest.
1t was this way: Smith left here in
the Colon last summer. Being under
height he could not enlist at Manila
and was sent to Hongkong, partly on
business and partly to be returned
home. There he got wind of some
thing out of the ordinary.
Catching the steamer OXus he left
for the northern part of the island of
Luzon. There he found what he was
after-the filibuster steamer with the
arms. He met Colonel Johnson. got
into his confidence and secured a fund
of information that would do credit
to a Pinkerton.
ltH CdIllt ii lllOSI PA-
perience. Unarmed he set out afoot
to cross the hostile territory of Luzon
to Manila. He secured food from the
country Filipinos and lodged around
the insurgent posts. Reaching Mani
la he laid the matter before General
Otis.
The information was conclusive. The
Mccullough was dispatched to Batan-
geae bay, where the filibuster steamer
Abbie was lying. The capture was
complete.
l.. NJ. johnson was arrested as the
principal in the operations, and a ma
tive Filipino as interpreter and first
assistant to him. Both men were TAX
en- to Manila and locked up.
johnson is chief of .Aguinaldo's
staff. The arrest caused considera BILE
feeling at insurgent headquarters. 1t
was feared that an attempt would be
made by Aguinaldo to resume his Of
flee, and for some days there was a
sharp lookout for an attack.
There were open threats among the
Filipinos against the life of Smith.
lie was given guard to Manila by or.
der of General Otis. 4 part of the
time he spent on the L. S. S. Balti-
more for safety from assassination.
lie was shipped back to Honolulu by
the Scandia as a precaution. Here it
is certain that he is safe.
Smith arrived this morning. He is
neatly dressed and looks well. Many
questions concerning his exploit and
the arrest of Johnson, which will soon
be international talk. he declined to
answer: but the full story is told in
letters and papers received from Ma
MIA today.
After the arrest of Colonel Johnson,
Smith was engaged by General Otis in
the secret service, at big salary.
Admiral Dewey also took him into his
confidence and gave him certain as
signments upon which he is still en-
gagged.
johnson will be tried in about a
month before military court at Ma
Mia. The papers had first to go to
Washington and will have to arrive
back from there before the case can
go on. Smith is the principal witness.
His testimony will probably go in the
shape of certified deposition.
Of Smiths remarkable escapade,
the Freedom, a military paper pub
lished at Manila, says:
He saw Krag-Jorgensen rifles un.
loaded there by the thousands and
turned over to the insurgents, and
two (there were really four) fine ma.
chine guns of the very latest pattern
and make. He was on hand when the
insurgents were instructed in theiI
use, and CLEANED the fact that three
million dallors was behind the scheme
to furnish the insurgents with gun,
and ammunition. Young Smith lost
no time in getting away from that
place, and with considerable risk, he
hurried across the island and report
ed what he had seen and learned al
army headquarters"
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