Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-04-29
CRIMINALS ARE LET LOOSE
Noted Counterfeiters Made /:
Bargain With Police
MADE WINDOW NOTES
David and Edward johnson, Celebrat.
ed Counterfeiters, Released After
Agreement With Secret Service
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Famous
Family of criminals.--Marked for
Life.

Washington.-The release from the
federal prison at Detroit OF David
and Edward Johnson, makers and
passers of the noted Window 81 bill,
one OF the celebrated counterfeits OF
the countrys currency, by the pardon
OF the President is the final chapter
in story Of romantic crime. II is a
tribute. moreover, paid by the govern
ment TO the excellence of the counter.
felt and the ability of it's makers.
The Johnsons were released In &C.
cordance with a Communication of SEN
tence signed by the President, which
was designed to carry out the terms
OF a compromise agreement made be-
tween the secret service officers and
the prisoners at the time of their
arrest and trial. 1t was then agreed
that they should receive a sentence
OF not more than seven years, in re-
turn for which they promised to plead
guilty and surrender the plates from
which the counterfeit silver certifi.
Gates were made.
There was another condition ex-
acted by the brothers. condition
typical of the chivalry with which
the males of that family of noted
criminals have always treated their
women. A sister of the Johnsons was
arrested at the time her brothers
were. on the same charge. There was
evidence to connect her with the
passing" Of the queer, but not suffi-
cient, probably, to secure her convic-
ton.
Her brothers insisted that she
should be released upon her own re-
cognizance before they would consent
to the surrender of the plates. To
this condition the government agreed,
as the plates were dangerous to leave
undestroyed.
The Johnson boys come from a
family of criminals and counterfeit
ers. Their grandfather was a noted
counterfeiter in his day, and their
father one of the most expert manu-
facturers of spurious coins and paper
money the country has known.
Charley" Johnson, their elder bro
Their, gave the men of the secret SER
vice constant trouble, and Thomas Ira
Johnson, another, was the engraver
of the Window certificate which was
responsible ultimately for the arrest
and conviction of David and Edward
Charley and Ira are both dead.
The judge who tried the Johnsons
sentenced them to serve nine years
in the penitentiary, probably on the
hypothesis that they could reduce
this term by good behavior to peri
cd approximating that contemplated
by the governments agreement. Evi-
IDENTIFY they have succeeding in con-
vincing the President and Attorney
General 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,
David is about 48, and Edward five or
six years older. How many counter
felt bills could be traced to them no
body knows, but it is practically GER
tain they have ben engaged in the ii
licit business all their lives. Born in
that atmosphere, they have never
manifested either purpose or desire to
emerge from their natural environ
ments.
That they will be marked for the
rest of their days, passes question
Chief Wilkie and the men of the Sc
cret service realize that they are
astute and dangerous, and there is
little likelihood that they will ever be
suffered to get beyond the sight of the
secret service as long as they live.