The Washington times., 1902-03-17
SLEUfH Used CORPSE
TO TRAP MURDERER
Detectives Story of "Glass-
Eye" johnson.
RECALLS OLD DISTRICT CRIME
Practiced Superstitious Dodge to Have
Suspect Confess His Guilt-Rubbed
Phosphorus Over Artificial Optic to
Bring About Desired Result.

A couple of New York detectives-one
of them a former Washington man. who
left the Capital about eight years ago
and has since made an enviable reputa-
tion for himself on the Metropolitan po-
lice force, we're in town visiting friends
a few days ago. They called at Police
Headquarters and met some of their old
cronies.
The talk, which had been devoted to the
methods employed by the cracksmen OF
Gotham, shifted after awhile to cases in
which an element of the unusual enters.
Finally one of the officers said
Did any one of you ever see a real.
live. sure-enohgh ghost?"
Nobody had. Several looked as if they
would have liked to claim the honor, but
lacked the courage When the detective
falls into the reminiscent vein he hates
to admit there is any experience he has
missed. but it seemed to be the unanimous
opinion that to claim an acquaintanceship
with a ghost would be too great tax on
credulity.
Tells the Story.
'Ill tell you what has happened to me.
though" said the former Washington Off
GER. I've had dead man render me
material assistance in catching his own
murderer"
Everyone looked inquisitive. but no
body spoke. The New Yorker lighted a
cigar with provoking deliberation and
proceeded.
1T happened in this very town about
year before left for the North. A col
ored man by the name OF Johnson had
been found dead near the NJ Street bridge.
in Southwest Washington. about o clock
one morning with a frightful cash across
his head
He had been a notorious character in
the District; had served time for several
offences. and was known as a desperate,
allaround tough citizen. His title,
Glass-Eyed' Johnson, which sobriquet
was given him on account of the fact that
his left optic, which had been gouged out
in a fight. had been replaced by one of
glass. The imitation was a good one. and
had it not been for an entertaining way
that Johnson had of taking the thing out
when he became intoxicated, his deficiency
might not have been suspected.
Suspicion of the murder pointed to-
ward one William Carboy. also colored.
There was absolutely no evidence against
Carboy but we were practically certain
that he was guilty. They had quarreled
several times over a woman. each had
threatened the others life. and Johnson
had been seen in the company of Carboy.
The upshot of the matter was that Car
boy was arrested and held on suspicion.
Tried Bluff Came
Il felt-as did nearly everyone at head
quarters-that there was little doubt of
Carboy's guilt. My play l saw. was to
bluff him into confession. This was
hard matter to bring about, for while the
negro was of the most ignorant type, he
possessed considerable cunning. He said
that he had left Johnson at 10 o'clock on
the night of the murder. went home, and
retired. AS johnson had evidently not
been dead more than an hour when he
was found. and as Carboy's mother. with
whom he lived, corroborated his story. his
tale was hard one to combat He had
sense enough to steadfastly stick to his
story and say nothing more.
"Johnson's body was in the morgue, and
it occurred to me that II | could confront
CarbOy with his victim I might get the
results | wanted. Then a very simple
scheme occurred to me and / determined
to give ii trial.
Gentlemen, you may not be we'll up
in negro superstitions. but IL you are you
know what beliefs some of them have.
Among others there Is one of which you
may perhaps have heard. that II muir
derer looks into the eyes of his victim,
the dead mans eyes will fash fire. 1t
was upon this chance that Carboy shared
this superstition that I based my hopes
for a confession.
Il procured a small quantity of phos-
phorus and painted Johnson's glass eye
with it. AS the dead mans eyes were OF
a dark brown, the stuff was not notice
able in the light.
ITO make a long story short, the other
officer who had been working on the case
and myself. waltzed Carboy over to the
morgue about 10 o'clock one night. Car
boy was nervous when he entered the
room. but held up a pretty good bluff
at composure. We had the corpse propped
up in a sitting posture on the table fac
ing the door. so that Carboy must look
directly in its face upon entering. We
got him in. and at a prearranged signal
my partner turned off the gas.
The effect was all that could have
been desired. When Carboy saw the bale
full fire In the corDse's eye he let out
yell that might have been heard to the
Monument, and fell fiat on the floor.
Really it was CHASTITY sight.
Carboy Confess.
ITO be brief, Carboy confessed the
whole matter then and there. He and
Johnson had been returning from a col
ored dance together on the night of the
murder. and on the way home had fallen
into an alteration. They came to blows.
Carboy had been worsted and Johnson
had passed on. Carboy followed him un-
observed and near the NJ Street Bridge
had picked up a small triangular iron bar
and struck him on the head with it.
causing almost instant death"
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