The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-09-17
ROBBER RUN TO EARTH.
"Rey." Johnson, coIored. In Grip OF
Law for Stealing $15,ooo from
Women who Aided Him.


county, Ca. lost fortune they had
boarded up for years. had q sensation
al sequel In Atlanta, Ca. about noon
Friday, says Tie Atlanta Constitution,
when two city detectives and bicycle
call officer arrested Rev. Samuel
Johnson, a negro preacher, and. found
$4,000 of the stolen goods secreted IN
his house.
Johnson had been living high Id the
city, owning two residences and
store. In bis arrest not only has
fortune been recovered, but the old
fable about the warming Of a serpent
has been retold, as the Rev. johnson
was well raised and well cared for oy
the two old maiden ladies whom LIE
attacked and robbed.
By his treachery to his benefac'
tresses and his cowardly attack on
them when they looked to him for pro-
lection, johnson secured $4,000 in cash
and $1,000 III mill and railroad bonds
and stock. The officers have now ID
their possession $4,000; the properly
he bought with a part Of the money
will amount to about $4,000; this
leaves $4,000 In cash unaccountsd
for, and $4,000 in bonds and STOCK.
The prisoner has not SO far told where
the balance of the money and the
stocks and bonds have been hidden.
Miss Amelia and Miss Mary c. Bat
tie, two old maiden ladies, who lived
quietly and peaceably by themselves
at Barnett, Ca, a small town 11S milss
from Atlanta on the Georgia railroad,
were attacked on the hight OF Decem-
ber %, 1901. While they slept, a Ie'
gro entered their LONE by breaking
open a door. One of them tainted.
The other tried to give an outcfy for
the purpose Of calling Sam Johnson 10
their assistance-the negro who was
then in the very act Of robbing her.
The room was dark and the old ladies
could not see who the burglar was.
When the attempt at outcry was made,
the negro choked Miss Battle into m
sensibility, and proceeded to get The
fortune, which he must have known
was hidLen in the room.
In a chest, under the bed,. the old
women had secreted $4,000 in gold
and greenbacks and stock in the Geor-.
gia railroad and bonds, In an Augusta
cotton mill to the amount Of $1,000.
The money had been carefully saved
for many years, the time running
back before the war. Some OF the gold
was dated in the forties. Many OF the
coins wsre not only old, but very rare.
The Misses Battle had been impor-
tuned several times to rut their money
in q bank, but they refused to do so.
Sam Johnson was on the place." they
often said, "and would protect them
from any thieves"
When the robbery occurred great
sensation was created and three or
four arrests were made on suspicion,
Among those taken in custody were.
two white men, but they were subse-
quently released.
For nearly two -ears the robbery
remained a mystery and all hope Of
recovering the stolen fortune had
about been given up.
Johnson had, In the meantime, de
cided to remove to Atlanta. He came
here last November and was here only
a short while when he purchased two
corner lots on Murray street In South
Atlanta. On one Of the lots he had
dwelling erected on the installment
plan. Later he had another dwelling
and store built, all on the installment
plan. That was part Of Johnson's
scheme to get everything on credit in
order to create the impression that i.e
did not have much money. He opened
up a store and claimed that all the
cash he was spending was made Dy
selling groceries.
A search was made Of the store and
home Of Johnson, and hidden behind
rafter Of the negro's house was the
little tin box which had been taken
with the money from the Misses Bat.
tie. It contained $4,000 in gold aad
greenbacks, and the gold coin was
readily identified.
johnson made confession to
representative of The Constitution.
He admitted that he had kept all the
$4,000 In cash Which was stolen, but
held out that two other negroes were
the leaders in the robbery. He does
not explain why his pals did not get
some of the money. His story about
having had help is not believed.