The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-02-06
Johnson in Tail.

/ Johnson in Jail.
Rufus Johnson, murderer of Miss Flor.
ence w. Atkinson. near Moorestown. il
in the Burlington county Jail, awaiting
the punishment that he justly deserves.
He was brought here on Wednesday after.
noon.
On Tuesday, Prosecutor Atkinson went
to Baltimore with the necessary papers for
bringing the prisoner to New Jersey.
Deputy Sheriff Fleetwood and Detective
Parker were also on hand to guard the man
on his way north. Despite the efforts to
keep the movements of the party secret
every movement was known. The mo-
ment they left Baltimore a telegram an
nounced the fact At Mount Holly were
some Philadelphia reporters. and they an
nounced that the prisoner would reach
Philadelphia at one o'clock and take q
train to Mount Holly 80 minutes later.
This was correct, with the exception of the
last item. which was changed.
When the officers reached Broad street
station, Philadelphia, there was an automo-
bile in waiting. Through some mis-
understanding it was not at the place
where it was expected to be found, and that
caused delay, during which the statement
went forth that the murderer was on hand,
and it did not take long to collect crowd.
Indeed, there was more demonstration in
Philadelphia than there was at any other
place en- the route, and the officers had
some trouble in conveying their man to
the automobile Orders had been given to
take him from the train at West Phila-
delphia, but these directions, for some rea-
son, were disregarded.
However, the man was put in the car
and it was run to Market street wharf,
as fast as the regulations of the city would
permit Reaching the wharf the machine
was run on the DO at. 1t soon became
known who the passengers were and q
crowd collected. drop down on the bot
tom" said one of the officers, andJ Johnson
quickly obeyed, covering himself with
blanket. In that position he took the ride
to Mount Holly. and he was a thoroughly
scared man.
About 125 o'clock. The News received
a telephone message from The Camden
Courier that the automobile. with four men
in it and the prisoner lying on the floor,
had just passed that Office. This was the
first intimation that the train had been
abandoned. The news soon spread, and in
a short time there was crowd at the jail
awaiting the arrival of the party. At rs
minutes past two the big white machine
came tearing up Grant street, and stopped
at the residence entrance on the same street.
AS quickly ss possible johnson freed him.
self from the blankets, and without ut
tering q word rushed into the house.
He was taken up stairs and into the jail by
the back entrance, where he was soon
locked up in the murderer's cell. He
heaved sigh of relief and expressed salts
faction at being safe behind the bars.
All during the ride from Baltimore John.
son was very quiet and looked from the
car window. What passed through his
mind nobody knows, for he did not talk.
Possibly he was thinking of the times he
had gone over the same ground, but never
under the same circumstances, and that he
was now looking for the last time at a
country he was very familiar with.
He did not seem to mind the journey until
he reached Philadelphia, and then the
thoughts of going through Jersey and past |
the scene of the place where he began the
journey to the gallows seemed to I'LL him |
with terror. There was no fear of dem |
at Moorestown, but the chautfer |
thought it wise not to take any chances. |
so he turned ON the speed and fairly few |
through the quiet little town. So great |
was the pace that it is question whether
the two officers were not shaking more
than was the prisoner.
Arriving at Mount Holly the machine
was run through King street, up Grant to
the jail and the journey was over.
In the Office of the jail were several gen
tlemen, among them members of the press
In Mount Holly. Sheriff Norcross kept his
own counsel and laughingly turned aside
all efforts to discover when the man would
be there. and also ignored all suggestions
that the Mount Holly men might be given
3 chance to see the prisoner. About half
past two the sheriff turned to the party
and in quiet tone said. 1.-THE prisoner is
In the Jail. gentlemen. The Philadelphia
reporters seemed to have knowledge how
to act. whether given to them or whether
they gained 1t for themselves 10 not known,
but it is certain they were posted. for they
went around to the Grant street entrance
and saw the man taken into the Jail.
Prosecutor Atkinson at once notified
Judge Hendrickson of the arrival of the
prisoner, and received answer that the
grand jury should be called together at
once.