Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-14
MAKING As FINE ART
Champion Bigamist Of World Makes
Alleged Confession.
ONCE TILRCE WOMAN Halter
.'They Kept Me Broke" he says,
Claiming that Hts Vocation was
Not Rs Profitable az IL
Might Appear.
ONCE FIERCE WOMAN Halter

SAN FRANCISCO, Gal, July lS-Chrls-
tian c. johnson is reported to have con-
fessed that he IL. the mysterious John
Madison, wanted in many parts Of the
country for irregular matrimonial ventures
and systematic ~swindling Of women under
promise of marriage.
Juhnson's alleged confession, however,
which Is printed today in a local news
paper, is SO full Of Inconsistencies, and
so at variance with statements he has
made since his arrest in this city last
week, tha the police authorities are not
inclined to give it full credence. In this
confession Johnson declares that he has
been married to so many women that he
cannot count them offhand.
Love Making His Profession.
I'm 1906" he says, II quit my business Of
buying horses and from that day to this
1 have been making my living by marry
ing and making love to women, getting
their money and then deserving them"
One of his most amazing feats, accord
ing to mis- own confession was making. love
to ten women at one time in Oregon.
While he admits that he got money from
most OF them, and that his marriages were
part Of a get-rich-quick system, Johnson
declares that in every instance he spent
the money he received upon the victim
herself.
They kept me broke all the time. is the
way he expresses 1t. .
Converted from Woman Halter.
Johnson vas born in Germany and com
ing to this country in the T0s secured a
post with the United States government,
buying horses for the army on commission.
This took him all over the country. t
first he says he was a woman-hater, be-
cause he had been separated from a sweet
heart in Germany, who died later.
He married the first Of his many wives
in Springfield, Mass, in 1906, She was
Mrs. Mary Brown.
Il married only one woman under the
name of John Madison" Johnson declared.
Her name was Jones-if 1 remember
rlghtly-Edna Jones. 1 got ST. 800 from her,
because she said she Owed me 1 could have
gotten $4,000"
List of His Victims.
Eighteen Of the women whom johnson
married and deserted within the last three
years according to the confession were;
Mrs. Catherine Hoene, San Diego, CAL;
Mrs. Josephine Thetheway, Stockton, CAL;
Mrs. Sylvia Pollard, De Bennett, San Fran
cisco; Mrs. Henrietta Leopold. San Fran
cisco; Eliza Jones, Portland. oregon; Mrs.
Mary Brown, Springfield, Mass; Mrs.
Frances, Hepburn, Oakland, Cal; Miss
Minnie Gather, San Francisco: Mrs. Jose
phine Henninger. Oakland, Cali; Mrs.
Bidie King, Hat Springs, Ark; Mrs Eliza
beth M. Jackson, lola, Kan; Mrs. Mary
Frfck, East St. Louis, Ill. Catherine, "
hospital nurse, st. Louis; Mrs. Alice Rich
ardson, ct. Louis; Mrs. Catalina Baugh-
man. ST. Louis; Mrs. Minnie Allen, st.
Louis; Mrs. Bertha. King, Memphis, Tenn.
Mrs. De Leon, wife OF a sea captain,
Portland, Ore. "
From most Of these women Johnson says
he obtained money or iewelry.
starts to Serve Time.
SAN JOSE, Cal. July 13.-Christian c.
johnson, alias Anderson, alias Madison,
who in the supreme court pleaded guilty
to bigamy and was sentenced to serve
seven years. left today in custody of a
deputy sheriff for the prison.
Confession Is COrrObOrRted.
PORTLAND, Ore July ~18.-Investiga.
ton Of the alleged confession Of Christian
c.. Johnson seems to bear out the belief
that he is the mysterious 'John Madison
He is known to have been active here ir
1906 and 1907. and to rave made love &c
several women.
His alleged confession to marrying 'Elizs
Jones" in this city in 1906 is not exactly
borne out by the facts, unless there were
two women of the name of Jones. A mar
riage license was granted at Vancouver
Wash, on February 16, 1907, to one Johr
Matson to marry Mary Jones, but in sign.
. ing the doeumen he signed his name Johr
Madison. His age was given at 81 and
hers at 81. Madison deserted his wife after
securing a considerable sum OF money