The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-06-10
BEH JOHISjH is 4 PRISONER
HE IS SUSPECTED OF AT LEAST
A PART IN THE WISE FAM
lily MURDER
POSSIBLE MOTIVE FOR CRIME
johnson Had Caused the Arrest of
Wise and Feared Retaliation
Minneapolis Girl Brought
Into Case.

ANOKA. MINI, June e.-(Special.)- ben
johnson was arrested for the murder Of
the Wise family at O'clock this after
noon at his home in Constance. this
county.
Ben Johnson's father runs a little store
at Constance, and this is where the ar
rest was made. A warrant was issued
and read that they were IN search of a
forty-four-caliber Winchester rifle, stol-
en- April %, from John I. Giddings, and
1t was believed one Ben johnson was the
man guilty of shooting the Wise family
with It,"
Deputy Sheriff Merrill served the no
tice, and the search began. 1t was kept
up diligently from II a. m. till D. m.
when Walter Merrill found rifle by
means of a pitchfork, which he thrust
into some hay about ten rods south of
the house. The gun was a forty-four-
caliber Winchester. contained an empty
cartridge and was rusty and dirty.
Ben Johnson, the accused. stood by
looked very much perturbed, and made
the remark:
Queer things will happen. will find
out who put that there"
The evidence which first implicated
Johnson was tracks leading through a
rye field from Wise's mouse, which sher-
Hff Merrill and Detective Murphy fol-
lowed some days ago. They lead to
where a buggy had been, end buggy
tracks were traced through the woods
for two miles near where Johnson lived.
WOMAN IN CASE.
datao+f1,a-
the murder, and found he knew some
thing about it. From this they began
their clue. Two letters addressed to So
phia Christin, Minneapolis, figure quite
prominently in the arrest. They were
signed Ben" The first one urged her
not to forget that they were at Thorn
sons, one mile from Wise's, at $3.50 that
Sunday night. He remarked that he
thought she could save him, and that as
he was in bad tx he wished she would
pray to God night and day for him.
After questioning Of Johnson by the au-
thorities few days ago Johnson made
flying trip to Minneapolis on a wheel
supposedly to see Miss Chrlstin.
The girl in Minneapolis is also said to
nave admitted he came down to see her.
POSSIBLE MOTIVE.
Back Of this is an old quarrel. II was
over the fact that Johnson caused W'ise's
arrest, charging him with stealing some
lumber. Since then Johnson had been In
fear OF his life, and twice had reasons
to believe that Wise was after him with
the intention to do him harm This Il
| alleged as cause fer the murder, as John
son thought he had to do it to save his
own life.
Why any one should shoot the children
is question unanswered.
When the reporter went back to the
| house q woman there asked him If there
was anything found. She was told yes.
a gun, when she said:
"Oh, God, that's bad"
She seemed to want to lay the placing
of the gun there OH a woman In Mime
apoHs.
ANOKA EXCITED.
Anoka was much excited this afternoon
when it was learned that an arrest had
| been made After Johnson was in Gus
tOdy he was taken before Wise, who is
in dying condition, and questioned Sc
Yerely.
He shows signs of weakness and IL is
thought he will break down entirely
He was taken to Minneapolis early this
evening
The county commissioners have offered
a reward Of S1,C0 for the apprehension
and conviction of the murderer.