The San Francisco call., 1908-05-22
.jOHNSON'S SLAYER
JOINS WIFE IN JAIL
Robert Anderson Voluntarily
Surrenders to the Oak
land Police
Tells of Criminal Career of His
Victim, Who Is Said to
Be a FOrger

OAKLAND, May 21.-Robert Ander-
son voluntarily Joined his wife today
as prisoner in the city jail for the
shooting of George Johnson. alias
Moore, in the Central hotel at GIG
Twelfth street last night. He escaped
from the hotel Immediately after the
killing in which the woman was a par
ticipant. and spent the night in San
Francisco. This morning he walked
into the city hall, waited In the corr1-
dors until Chief of Police Wilson ap-
he and his wife are kept in detinue,
no charge being placed against them.
While in the jail this AFTERNOON An
derson told what he said was his whole
knowledge of the man he and his wife
had slain. The police believe that
Johnson was a bad check man and are
holding a sight draft on the Bank OF
Southern California. of Les Angeles for
S. Bushman. cashier; and is payable
70 Z. G. MAXWELL 1t is the poiice
theory that the check is bogus and
that Maxwell was one OF the names
under which Johnson or; Moore carried
on his supposed operations
JoHNs0N'S BAD RECORD
Among the stories which Anderson
related to the. police was that john
son, or Moore, had murdered. a police
man in Bonesteel, S. D., and had
StdODSQ a man IN Denver. lie also al
leges that former attempt on his own
life was made by Johnson in Ephraim,
Utah, when he lay sick in bed. Ander-
son shows three large scars, one on
third on his back, which he says
were wounds inflicted by Johnson with
a knife.
The quarrel which led to the first
alleged murderous atte mpt, according
TO Anderson, was over the same grudge
which led Johnson to fire at Anderson
last night. Anderson's sister, who was
Johnson's first wife, died suddenly, and
Anderson asserted that Johnson was
responsible for her death.
Enraged over his suspicious, alleges
Anderson, Johnson broke into room
in Anderson's farmhouse in Ephrnim,
and while Anderson, sick in bed, was
unable to resist, stabbed him three
times. subsequently, the men repaired
the differences, until yesterday the
animosity broke out afresh at the Cliff
house and the killing of Johnson en-
sued.
The farm Of which Anderson speaks
supplied the last means of support
SO far. Since his arrival in this city
Anderson had not been employed, nor
had Johnson. Anderson sold his ranch
short time ago and went to Salt
Lake City. where Johnson was w orkin g
as a plumber. Johnson moved to Wash
ington with his wife, who met j. w.
Hainey there. When johnson and his
companied them. Then all three came
to California withv the Andersons and
have been rooming at the Central no.
tel since their arrival.
Hainey was in the room with Mrs.
Johnson when the shooting occurred
and was then trying to check the quar-
rel in which the TWO men had become
embroiled at the Cliff house site. Then
Johnson entered, seized the revolver,
fired a shot which took Andersons S bat
from his head, and was In turn killed
by the assailed man and the woman.
Crying out that he was shot, Ander-
son seized Haineys hat from his head
San Francisco and stayed there during
the night.
DECIDES TO SURRENDER
Today he decided to surrender and
came to the city hall. He went into
the Office of Chief Wilson, found that
the chief was not in and seated HIM
self to wait. None of the police in
the rooms. knew him. After waiting
a while he went into the halls sand
lowed Wilson into the office, gave him
self up and then told the story. as the
police have it from him. He has Sc
cured an attorney and intends to plead
self-defense when brought to trial.
The check for S1,250 pm the Los An
effects. by the coroner's deputies. It
has no mark of a protectograph on 1t,
which the police argue indicates that
it was not issued by the bank, as no
institution would pass checks for such
large amount without the ordinary
precautions. Using it is a clew, and
following the lead given by Anderson,
police are trying to trace the move
mentS of the men.