The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-09

He Was Frequently Arrested by the
Police for His Actions

Police for His Actions.
The police here had no end of trouble
with Johnson when he was preaching on
the streets. He was arrested time after
time for obstructfng the streets and was
several times fined in Police Court There
are now on the city clerks dockets unpaid
fines which were stayed.
Johnson's favorife place for holding his
open air meetings was at the corner OF
Washington street and Kentucky avenue.
where he would talk from a small pulpit
on wheels He had quite a following
among people who thought he was being
prosecuted by the police who were charged
in abusive circulars and from his wheeled
pulpit with being rogues. thieves and the
most wicked In the city.
He also accused the mayor and city Of
fcials of dishonesty and use of their Of
fees Tor furrherance OF crime. johnson
freely admitted in his talks that he had
once been a gambler, and was guilty of
shooting a man. but stated that he had re-
formed and was preaching the gospel as
he understood IL. He spared no one and
the ministers OF the local churches were
denounced. His followers. together with
himself. were about the only ones he did
not attack. He lived here of the money
collected at the street meetings, having no
other business.
POSED AS A MARTYR
When arrested he posed as a martyr TO
the cause of Christ, and thus secured the
sympathy Of many who did not know him.
The police were often censured for their
acts. but they answered auestioners by
stating that they undoubtedly knew more
about Johnson than most of those who
believed In him.
Last summer, after issuing circular
attacking nearly every class VI people in
the city and particularly the police, city
officials and ministers, Josnson was re-
fused permission 10 talk upon the streets.
and for few days a hall in the east end
was used. Then upon his promise that he
would cease his attacks upon individuals
and classes he was again permitted 10 hold
his meetings upon the street corners. Fall
ure to keep his promise led to his rearrest.
A short time after this about the
city and county In the role OF manager of
q medicine show. Little was heard of
him after that until he got into trouble at
Carmel.
Johnson took his wife and four children
to Carmel about Christmas and had since
been preaching there. Recently he had been
holding meetings in tent and his manner
Of preaching aroused a bitter sentiment
Last Saturday night the first trouble oc-
CURED at his tent. He demanded protection
and deputy constables were sworn in to
keep ordef during his services. There was
no other outbreak until Thursday night
when he had the trouble.
CAME TO THIS CITY.
Yesterday morning he came to Indian
apoIis and met Albert Cross a huckster
from Carmel. here on his weekly trip, who
one of his friends. Cross was one of
the deputies who had been sworn In to
keep order Last night he said Johnson
talked with him about the trouble and
stated that any Of his friends could arrest
him. but a member Of the gang never
could Cross says he showed him a small
penknife and another knife of a dirk pat
tern. which. he said, were all the weapons
he ever carried, but he was now better
prepared for trouble.
1t Is stated by the men about Showers
livery stable, where many Of the hucksters
put up. that Johnson said he had revolt
Cross corroborated Cross said Johnson
was determined in his manner and that he
did not hesitate to say what would be
done IL trouble was renewed when he
reached home He left on the Monon about
o'clock. well prepared to carry out his
threats.
Johnson first came to Indiana about ten
years ago and preached I'm the vicinity of
London. Brookfield and Moral. making his
home at Moral. He was there about two
years and then moved further south near
Boggstown, where he was arrested on a
charge OF stealing a horse. and sent to the
penitenttary. 1t Is also said that at Moral
he treated his wife cruelty and incurred
the displeasure OF his neighbors by his
preaching TO such an extent that the senti-
removal.
After he got out OF the penitentiary he
went to Covington. KY He came to In
dfanapolis about two years ago and began
preaching In halls and on the street
His wife and family live at Carmel The
children range in age from four to ten
years. His mother. Mrs. John Gibson, who
recently left Kentucky. lives about a mile
from London. Shelby county.