The Washington times., 1904-08-07
RELEASE FOR THE
JOHNSON BROTHERS
Makers of the Window -
Counterfeit Bill.
SERVED 7 YEARS SENTENCE
Release Part of Agreement Entered
Into by Attorneys 20 Gain
Possession Of Plates.

The release from the Federal prison
at Detroit of David and Edward john
son, makers and passers OF the Window
s. bill, one of the celebrated counter
feits of the couutry's currency. is the
final chapter in story of romantic
crime II is a tribute, moreover, paid
by the Government TO the excellence OF
the counterfeit and the ability OF its
makers
The JohusOus were released I'm accord
ance with a Communication OF sentence
signed by the President. which was de
signed TO carry out the terms of a com
promise agreement, made between the
Government officers and the prisoners
at the time of their arrest and trial
Ii was then agreed they should not re-
ceiye a scnterce Of more than seven
years, in return FOR which they prom
Used TO plead guilty and to surrender
the plates from which the counterfeit
silver certificates We're made.
Chivalry Of JOhnsOns.
There was another condition the
brothers eXacted-a condition typical of
the chivairy with which the males Of
that family OF aotcd criminals have al
ways treated their women. The sister
o. the Johusons was arrested at the
same time as her brothers and on the
same charge. There was evidence to
connect her with The passing Of the
queer" but not sufficient. probably. to
secure her conviction.
Her brothers insisted that she should
be released upon her own recoguizance
before they would consent TO the sur
render of the plates. 70 this condition
the Government agreed.
The Johnson boys came from lam
iiy OF criminals ard cOUuJCrTelJcl's.
Their grIndfathe- was noted man IN
his day. and their father one OF the
most expert manufacturers Of spurious
coins and paper money the country has
known. Charley Johnson, thel" elder
brother. gave the men Of the Secret
Service constant trouble, and Thomas
Ira Johnson. another brother, was the
eugraVeT of the Window certificate
which was responsible ultimately for
the arrest and conviction Of David and
Edward. Charley and Ira are both
dead.
4 Difference in View.
The judge who passed sentence upon
the Johnsons sentenced them to serve
nine years In the penitentiaTy, on the
hypothesis. probably. that they could
reduce this term by good behavior TO
period anDroXimately that contemplated
by the Governments agreement. Evi-
IDENTIFY they have succeeded in cOnvinc-
ing the President and Attorney General
MoUdy that this was not the correct
view Of the matter and that they should
never have been sentenced to more than
seven years IN the first place They
have served seven years less the good
behavior reduction
The men are advancing in years Da-
vid is about forty-eight. and Edward
nNe or SIX years older. How many
counterfeit bills could he traced 10 them
nobody knows. but IL Is practically GER
tain they have been engaged In the illi-
cit business all their lives Born iu that
atmosphere, they have never manifested
either purpose or desire 70 emerge from
their natural environment
That they viii be marked men for the
rest OF their d8vs passes question. Chief
Wilkie and the men Of the Secret Serv-
Gus. and there is little likelihood that
they viii ever be suffered 20 get beyond
the sight and ken OF this effective guar
dian of the public welfare and the Gov
ernments s credit.
Denies Ten PaTdons.
The President has denied ten applica-
tons for DE- a0H. and has exercised
clcmency in t1e following cases:
lie has granted q pardon to Lieut.
Patrick ". Houriean. T. S n who was
convicted by coUrt-martial IN 1850 Of Of
lenses against tho articles OF war for
the government of the navy, and sen
tenced d be dismissed from the navy.
which sentence President McKiule.
committed so as TO put him at the foot
o. the Lst ot l!eulcuauts tn the navy.
The present pardon does not restore him
10 has OLD position, but mas the effect
oi putting MIN al the head OF the list
q Hcuteldnts b. the navy.
tc has granted pardon TO restore the
civil rights or James G. Sanders. CON
EICtcd lI the Indian Territory several
years $50 fov selling intoxicating
liquors.
jlc has Commutcd 70 five years the
sentence o. Hardin Wood. alias Il.
Gilbert. who was convicted in tho stare
or Washington for passing an altered
Treasury note. and sentenced on Dcca-u-
ber l9 1890, 90 Imprisonment Tor seven
years. The communication is granted on
Tie ground that the punishment is ex-
CCsslEe.
The Term Was Reduced.
lie has commuted to imprisonment for
three years the sentence OF Jesse G.vo.s.
convicted H. the Indian Territory o.
horse theft and sentenced 10 imprisou-
ment for nve years. This con mutation