Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-09-13
SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 49, 1908
SENSATIONAL ARREST.
Negro Preacher Admits Robbinq the
Misses Battle of $4,000.

Misses Battle of $4,000.
Atlanta, Sept. 12.-The $4,000 rob
bers in which Misses Battle, of Barneet
Warren county, lost a fortune they
Rad boarded up for years, had sen
sational sequel in Atlanta about moor
Friday when two city detectives anC
a bicycle officer arrested Rev. Sam
Tel Johnson, negro preacher, anC
found $4,000 of the stolen gold secret
ed in his house.
Johnson had been living high in the
city, owning two residences and 6
store. In his arrest not only has g
fortune been recovered, but the old ia
BILE about the warming of a serpent
mas been retold, as the Rev. Johnson
was reared and well cared for by the
two old maiden ladies, whom he at
tackled and robbed
BY his treachery to his benefactress
ss and his cowardly attack on them
when they looked to him for protec
ton, Johnson secured $4,000 in cash
and $1,000 in mill and railroad bonds
and stock. The officers have now in
their possession $4,000; the property
he bought with a part of the money
VIII amount to about $4,000; this
leaves $4,000 in cash unaccounted for,
and $1,000 in bonds and stock. The
prisoner has not SO far told where
She balance of the money and the
stocks and bonds have been hidden.
Miss Amelia and Miss Mary G. Bat.
tie, two old maiden ladies, who lived
quietly AMI peaceably by themselves
at Barnett, small town 113 miles
from Atlanta on the Georgia railroad,
were attacked on the night of Dec.
zS, 1871. While they slept, a negro
entered their home, breaking open q
door One of them tainted. The
other tried to give an outcry for the
purpose Of calling Sam Johnson to
her 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
rne negro choked Miss Battle into in.
sensibility. and proceeded to get the
fortune, which he must have known
was hidden in the room.
In chest, under the bed, tha old
woman had secreted $4,000 in gold and
greenbacks and stock in the Georgia
railroad and bonds in an Augusta cot.
ton mill to the amount of $1,000. The
money had been carefully saved for
many years, the time running back he.
fore the war.
When the robbery occurred a great
sensation was created and three or
four arrests were made on susnicton.
For nearly two years the robbery re.
mained mystery and all hope of re.
covering the stolen fortune had about
been given up.
johnson had, in the meantime. de.
otded to remove to Atlanta He CANA
mere last November, and was bera
only short while when he purchased
two corner lots on Murray street in
Sourh Atlanta. On one of the lots
he had dwelling erected on the install,
ment plan. Later he had another
dwelling and store built, all on the
instalment plan. That was a part of
Johnson's scheme to get everything ON
credit In order to create the impression
that he did not have much ready mon.
ey He opened up q store and claim.
ed that all the cash he was spending
was made by selling groceries.
He did not stop preaching. but ON
every Sunday he held services In one
OF the negro churches In South AT.
lanta. He was looked up to by the
people of his race as a prosperous
merchant and a shining light of ths
cloth.
Since the robbery Miss Mary Bat.
tie has died. Miss Amelia is not in
good health, having never fully recov.
cred from the nervous shock she re.
ceiVed when she was choked by the
burglar
The detectives are still at work ON
the case and It is believed that all the
stolen money and the stocks and bonds
Will be eventually recovered.