Evening star., 1899-03-06
EFFECT OF VOODOO SCARE
John W. Johnson Accused of Profting by a
Woman's Fears.
Told Her He Could Restore Her Sweet.
heart-His Arrest FOl1ows-De-
mands Jury Trial.

John W. Johnson, otherwise called Will
liams, tall coiored man whose appearance
was not indicative of prosperity, was
prisoner in the Police Court this morning.
There were six charges of larceny and ere
charge of carrying concealed weapons pre-
ferred against him. Mrs. Sarah Smith, col
ored, who was at one time employed as
domestic in the house of a cabinet officer,
was the prosecuting witness in the larceny
cases, while Officer E. J. Duvall alleged
that he found a revolver on him at the
time of his arrest.
In the informations for alleged thefts
various amounts are charged, and Mrs.
Smith claims that she was induced to give
Smith about $500 at various times. The
prosecution does not claim that the man
took the money from the woman's trunk,
or that he picked her pocket. A ''voodoo"
trick is alleged to have been played on
her, and she claims she parted with most
of the money because she feared she would
die if she did not comply with his demands.
Johnson is grocery merchant n South
Washington, and Mrs Smith alleges that
she parted with money enough to keep his
business for long time.
When the cases were called to the atten-
ton of the court Johnson concluded he
would let jury settle the question Of his
guilt or innocence, and for this reason
continuance was necessary.
Mrs. Smith, it is stated, is a widow, and
she has known johnson for several years.
Her story of Johnson's alleged wrong
doings, she claims, is based on his effort to
restore her sweetheart to her. According
to her charge johnson called on her several
months ago and volunteered the delicate
office She did not consent to his PROPOSE
ton, although she says he told her he
could get her lover back cheaper than any
body else could. Notwithstanding her OBJ
jections she said he returned later on and
told her he had bought vault from some
New York people, and, among others, he
had put her name in it. The putting in of
her name, she alleges, he told her was
secret. Under the workings of the vault,
with the aid of a certain kind of gas, love
matches could be made, and he was certain
to restore the love of her sweetheart and
bring them together again.
Later, she says, he told her that 4 leak
in the vault had been discovered, and in
stead of bringing together lovers, people
whose names were in ii were dying. Unless
he could get money enough to keep the con-
cern supplied with gas she would surely
die. This, Mrs. Smith declared frightened
her into borrowing money, and on one oc-
casion, when the payment had to be made
exhaustion as soon as she had paid the
money.
Following this scare, she alleges, the news
from Johnson got a trif1e better. He had
seen the New York people, he told her. and
after getting her name out of the vault it
was necessary to bury the vault to save
her life. II order that this might be ac-
and borrowed $50, which, she declares, she
promptly turned over 10 Johnson.
Policeman Luther, who heard of the af-
fair, made the investigation which resulted
in Johnson's arrest. The cases may be
heard later in the week.