The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-01
CHARGED WITH
CONTEMPLATING
Geo. H. Johnson, a Well Known
Printer, Arrested Yesterday.
COMPLETE OUTFIT CAPTURED
Small Satchel Containing Molds and
Metal Found at Prisoners Home
Clever Work of Deputy Mar
shall Vaughan and Police

George II. Johnson, a well known printer,
was arrested late yesterday afternoon on
the charge of counterfeiting and when con-
fronted with the evidence of his guilt
readily acknowledged that he had been en-
gagged in the unlawful business for some
time, claiming, however, that it was mere
" as an experiment. The arrest was made
by Deputy United States Marshal j. N.
Vaughan, who was assisted by Officers
Culpepper and Shirley, of the police
department, and proved one of the clever
est cases ever worked up by local officials.
Suspicion against johnson was first
aroused Friday afternoon when 1t is claim
ed that he passed several counterfeit
nickels in a barber shop in Twentieth
street. The matter was reported to the
police and Officers Culpepper and Shirley
went to work on the case, but were unable
to locate their man who, although well
known in the city. has only recently re-
turned after several years absence.
Yesterday morning the officers reported
the case to the United States authorities
and Deputy Marshal Vaughan was detail
ed to assist them in working it up.
1t was learned that Johnson had been
employed at Roberts & Sons, and as Sat-
urday is pay day for the printers in the
establishment, 1T was thought that he
would show up for his money.
Late in the afternoon Johnson's wife
called at the office stating that her hus-
band was sick and was given his envelope.
who were on the lookout, followed the
woman and saw her board Highland Ave-
nue dummy. AS the dummy pulled out
they boarded the last car and got off at
Zinszer station near Lal1eview park, where
Mrs Johnson also stopped. In order to
avoid suspicion they started in an opposite
direction, but kept an eye on the woman,
who entered a house a short distance from
the station. They Immediately followed
and found that the house was. occupied by
Johnson and his family. johnson was
placed under arrest and a search warrant
produced under which authority the house
was searched.
The officers were not long in discovering
the evidence of Johnsons guilt, which was
found in a small satchel in a closet in one
OF the rooms. The satchel contained about
fifty counterfeit coins, mostly nickels, also
ten nickel melds, a quantity of lead, brass
and anthony and a crucible and ladle, in
fact a complete outfit.
When the satchel was opened johnson
acknowledged that he had been engaged in
making counterfeit coins for a year or
more, but stated that he was merely ex-
perimenting and did not make them for
the purpose of defrauding.
The household was thrown into a state of
great excitement by the arrest and there
was quite an affecting scene when the off,
GERS left with the prisoner
johnson was brought to the city and
taken before United States Commissioner
Cornish who con,mitteed him under a $500
bond.
The preliminary hearing will occur to-
morrow morning.
Johnson is native of Alabama and for
merly lived in Opelika where he published
a daily paper and is said to have enjoyed
an enviable reputation.
Several years ago he removed to Bir-
mingham and for a time was connected
with the Sunday Morning Star labor or
gan. Through certain publica tons he be-
came involved in a shooting scrape, for
which he was arrested and kept in jail for
several months. After his release he left
the city and wrote a book entitled might
Not Right; Or Eighty Days in the Birming-
ham Jail"
Johnson returned to the city about three
months ago, coming from Atlanta where
he experienced "hard luck" according to his
own story.
His family consisting of wife and sew
eral children followed shortly after, and
were duly installed in the South Highland
home where they have since resided.