The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-07

But whoever it may be, he's a gilt
edged artist all right"
I'm half inclined to think that Prus-
sian Mark Ulrich and Pete Mccarthy
might have worked q combination stunt
and made them remarked Murray. re-
feTring to two noted masters of the
Illicit banknote craft.
mo, no." said the Troy man posi-
lively; neither Mccarthy nor Prussian
Mark had anything to DO with making
these. They look like Hills, and next
10 Ed Johnson Hill is the best man in
the world today"
After some trouble Murray succeeded
in locating Hill and was convinced that
the master workman in question was
not responsible for the Canadian plates.
He was aware that it must have taken
several years to manufacture them, for
crooked engravers can only work at
certain hours of the day. in a certain
light, and the plates from which had
been printed the counterfeits in his pos
session were masterpieces OF art. With
Hill eliminated from the suspect list
Of the makers Of the Canadian plates
there remained Johnson. mentioned by
the Troy man, and Murray began to
recolIect the tales he had heard regard
ing this parsonage.
johnson was an Engiishman Of cul-
ture and good family, who had married
an educated young woman of his own
nationality. He learned the trade OF an
engraver, and the young couple emf
grated TO America. where he worked at
his trade and maintained a good Tepu-
tatiOn until the civil war broke out.
/ Then some enc made a fortune out OF
500. $50 and $40 counterfeit bills, and
/ the suspected Mr. Johnson was report
/ ed to have been mixed UP in the trans
/ action and said to have returned %
/ England Murray decided to trace
/ johnson. as he had done in the case OF
Hill. In pursuance of this determine
| ton ne paid visit to Chicago and in
/ terviewed vet another old-time ex-
/ c0unterfeiter who was living there and
with whom he had became acquainted
/ in 1867. From this man ne learned that
[ the last trace Of the famous Johnson in
/ that section Of the country was in In
/ dianapolis several years before.
Murray was well acquainted in H.
/ oianspoiis. and thither ne went in an
/ endeavor 10 pick up the trail of John
! son. He called upon United states Sen
ator Mcdonald and learned that fam
ily named Johnson had lived there
/ about six years before in elegant style
in a big mansion, with horses, car
ria ges. coachman, footmsn and large
! retinue of servants. They lived lux
/ uriOusly and spent money freely. unit
/ trouble came in the form of an accuse
[ ton that they we're CoUnteTfeiters. TIT
Law firm of Mcdonald & Butler was re
tanned as counsel by the Johnsons. VIII;
we're said to have paid the attorneys I
se5. 900 fee. and they manag ed to ge
clear. But the scandal affected thei
social position in Indianapolis. am
shortly afterward the whole family lef
the city.
The johnson family consisted of tn
father and mother two handsome girl
and FIVE boys. The daughters were Jes
sic and Arnie. both clever, accom-
plished girls and the boys were named
/ respectively. Tom. Charlie. Johnnie
Elijah and David Henry. Murray ha'
been personally acquainted with tire
OF The latter. From friends of McDon
, aid and Butler he ascertained tina
when the Johnsons shook the dust o
Indianapolis from their feet they ha
moved to Cincinnati. Murray hastene
to Cincinnati and found that the sus
reefs had lived there in Sixth street
: and had also occupied a house in Gov
ington. KY, for q while. They had LEI
there several years before and ver
T; said to have moved to Hartford, Com
? On to Hartford went the indefatigsbl
0 pursueT and found a house where the
had lived in extreme privacy. seldoT
having been seen on the streets. III
{ trail then led from Hartford to a larg'
Z ancient mansion near Fail River, Mass
7 but from this spot they had vanished
' year before. leaving not the faintes
S clue behind by which they might ,
2 traced.
$ Murray went to New York again an
0 called upon the ex-counterfeiter wit
: whom he had conferred at the con
0 mencement Of the trust.
. DO YOU know old johnson - he IL
l. | Quired.
n Yes replied the former "cooney
man; but it is years since / last ss-
: him. He is a mighty clever chap. bt
n used TO go on some terrific drunke
n sprees. and his family had troubles
!. their own keeping track of him.