Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-11
MYSTERY CLEARED Up
Man Supposed to Have Been
Murdered Found Alive at
Jefferson.
-------
Discovery Clears Up His Mys.
ferrous Disappearance From
Omaha in 1896.
Scandal Accused His Former
Employer OF Numbering Him
for His Money.
Special to Times Republican.


Jefferson, Jan. lie. ]. Carlson, of
Ithica. Nebraska, who was in Jeffer-
son during the earlier part of this
week developed romantic story. He
was here on visit of inquiry his OBJ
ect being to remove a suspicion of
murder which has rested for some time
John Nordstrom, of Saunders county,
Nebraska. Mr.. Carlson found Martin
NJ. Johnson, the supposed victim.
quietly residing on farm east of
Jefferson and is thus enabled to set
his friend Nordstrom right before the
home community in Nebraska which
has freely accused him of making way
With Johnson. The story, which has
all the movement of a play, is as fol-
lows
February 2s. 1896, Mr. Martin NJ
Johnson, who owns a small farm adj
joining Jefferson on the east, disap-
peared from Omaha, and no trace of
him could be found. He was known to
have had quite a sum of money and
suspicion was at once aroused that he
had been murdered. He had worked for
a man named Nordstrom, near there.
Nordstrom moving the year before to
Saunders county, settling near Wahoo.
johnson farned near Omaha another
year, and then, being solicited by
Nordstrom to come to Wahoo and rent
q farm, he sold off his effects and it
was supposed, departed for Wahoo
with team and wagon. That was
the last seen of him. Inquiry later
showed that he had not reached Wa
hoo, at least did not take possession
of the farm. The Omaha papers took
it up and published long articles about
the missing man. and from these, busy
bodies set scandal agog fastening the
murder upon Nordstrom. AS no evil
dence could be adduced for his con-
viction he was never arrested, but
suspicion still pointed to him as
murderer.
For more than five years friends OF
Nordstrom. who believed him innocent,
have followed clues to establish the To-
cation of the missing man. Thru the
Swedish counsel, at Omaha, reward
of 5000 was offered for johnson, or his
body, If dead. About month ago it
was learned that Il Martin NJ. johnson
lived at jefferson, and Mr.. Carlson's
coming was to personally investigate
whether it was the missing man or not,
and. If SO, to clear his neighbor of the
unjust charge. Mr.. Carlson had a long
conference with Mr.. Johnson (whom he
bed never known before and from the
talk. and descriptions he had with him
Of the missing man, there is no room left
TO doubt the identity.
Mr.. Johnson. who by the way. is n
single man, and having no relatives in
Omaha is very much surprised that he
has been the cause of such a sensation.
He left there in broad daylight, crossing
to Iowa, coming to Jefferson and work.
ing here for a year before purchasing
the place he now owns. He is a gentle
man of quiet and retiring disposition
and having no friends in particular near
Omaha, he wrote to no one as to his
wharea bouts. Before leaving he paid his
debts, and, concluding he could do bet
ter here than in Saunders county, he
came east. Not having papers from
there he was never aware Of the great
sensation he had caused in his move.
Mr.. Johnson admitted freely that he
was the man, not only to Mr.. Carlson.
but to Postmaster Turrill, who had some
correspondence with Mr.. Carlson be-
fore the latter came east. In order to
clear up the unintentonal wrong done to
Mr.. Nordstrom, Mr. Johnson Will leave
for Omaha the latter of this month, go
ing from there to Wahoo. in order that
all parties may be thoroughly satisfied
that he is alive. Mr.. Fred Peterson, ar
acquaintance of his in Omaha, will ac-
company him to Wahoo, in order that
the identity may be more complete