Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-01-02
JOHNSTON IS
STILL ON EARTH
Man Who Married An Orleans
Girl
Turns Up In Fort smith, KS, Claims
70 Roll In Wealth. says lie Is
Going TO DO Things

mSmith Tunes. concerning A. =. johnston
who a number Of years ago married Miss
Jennie Lounsbury. Of Orleans, and later
Il he eft her and IL was reported that he
was dead
~ He was member of the Orleans Mac
u csbee Lodge. In December 1908 he ap-
psared in Beldlng, hired rig of 0. F.
Webster and left with it. selling the rig to
Lowell man for $40 90. Deputy Sheriff
Fales captured hun and he was given a
year in the State Reformatory at lonia.
The Times says; II you see man on
the streets dressed in little short OF prince
ly style you will know that the man is
Albert Johnston, who, some eight years
ago. showing up in Fort Smith as Enoch
Arden and created sensation by declar-
ing that he had disappeared for the pur-
pose Of allowing his wife to claim the IN
surance he carried in the Knights of the
Macca bees. and who had betrayed the
trust he placed in her by marrying Ben t.
DuVal, Jr. His appearance here, his
meeting with his wife and his sudden de-
parture from the city to escape personal
violence, created a sesaton st the time
Mrs Johnston, that was, and her moth
er came 10 Fort Smith to live, something
Ike Two years before the appearance of
johnston, ana it was supposed that she
was a widow. Sne claimed that she be-
laved that her husband was dead She
was married to Ben DuVall in the Episco-
pal church. Shortly after the marriage,
j Johnston. under the guidance of a report
er Of st Louis newspaper, came to Fort
| Smith. and by appointment. met Mrs.
J Jlhnston at the home OF the late Col Ben
T. DuVal, on Lexington avenue. The
meeting Mas d dramatic one. Mrs John
son admitted ner identity and heaemand
ei that sle go WITH hm. She declined
and thereupon Johnston stated he desired
t. be arrested on the charge Of swindllng
lodge of Maccabees out OF the insurance
money. He said that he and his wife con-
cocted a scheme WHEREBY he was to dis
appear. and. after a certian time, she was
to make an application for the insurance
and when she obtained it they we're to
come together again. He secured en-
ployment as motornan on one OF the
St. Louis street Car lines and he read Of
the mdrrlags OF his wife in the papers.
He at once sought newspaper office and
told his story. and one of the papers sent
reporter with MIN, paving his expenses
and giving him a return ticket. his at
tempt To coerce his wife to again take up
with him angered some Of the young blood
OF the city and they showed indications Of
hostility to him in the LOBBY of what is
now The Hotel So Itnern. AT the instance
of local newspaper man Johnston re-
turned to his room. 7 he St Louis news
paperman became alarmed lest his bring
ing johnston here he would get him in o
trouble. gave the man his return ticket
and tolo hlm he would have to take care
Of himself. Johnston became further a
larmed and made his escape 70 train by
means of the hotel roof. Mrs DuVal and
her husband separ ated, penulng a divorce
of his wife from her first husband. john
visited by Judge Eomonoson who Induced
hln TO Wit draw all opposition TO his wife
rsmar) Ing DaVal after aolvorce had been
procured ana 30 opposition to such divorce
me divorce was obtained and Ben DuVaI
and Mrs. Johnston we're quietly. married
and are nov lving happily together in
Shreveport, where Mr.. DuVal is IN busi.
ness.
Nothing more was heard of Johnston
until ] uescay. when he steI ped into the
office Of Juoge Edmonoson and made him
self known. Jonnston was dressed in al
most regal style ano looking like man oi
wealth. He said sue. leavng Fort
Smltn so nurriedy ne mad made $4,000
n the state and remarked ne would make
It interesting tor those ~ this city against
whom he hau gruoge because OF his
treatment upon the occasion OF his former
visit, and that some DAY ne would be the
governor or the state. he did not say
VI hen he would begin his campaign, per-
sstently keeping his proposed method
unoer his nat. He also said that he is al
present engaged ln promoting land deal:
in Mexico.
Johnston did not fail TO demonstrate
that he had plenty Of money and his pros
perity appeared TO have given zest to his
visit so vastly different are the circum-
stances to his first visit. He acted a'
though he wanted il distinctly understood
that when he took his departure it woulc
not be over house tops and in the dark Il
escape what he regarded as threatening
mob.