Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-17
Nebraska
Johnson GIVES UP WEAPONS
Condemned Man Hands Over Knife
and Iron Pipe Had secreted.
GRUDGE AGAINST Ex.wARDEN
Declares He Had Been Denied Privi-
leEes In Prison Accorded to
Others-NO Malice Now
20 Officers.
CFrom a staff Correspondent)

LINCOLN. Neb May 16.-(special)-
Thomas johnson. the Omaha negro muir
derer, created a stir at the state peniten-
tiary when he voluntarily turned over to
Warden Delahunty a two-foot piece Of gas
pipe and a sharp knife which he had Sc
GREETED IN his cell some time ago. with the
lnife. johnson told the warden as he
handed them over. he could have taken his
own life or with the iron pipe he informed
him he could have slain The unarmed guard
who stood watch over his cell
Major Moore, janltor Of the state house
was one OF the party OF men and women
who called on johnson Sunday at the pen
itentiary. Warden eDlahunty was present
''Heer Is a knife" said Johnson with
which could have taken my own life
any time, and here is a gas pipe that I
could have used to kill the unarmed guard
that has been coming to my cell"
Johnson pulled the knife blade out Of a
crevice near the door sill of his cell and
reached under his colt to get the gas pipe
The pipe was filled with wood apparently
to make It more solid. johnson turned the
implements over to the warden and re-
marked that he no longer had any malice
toward any one. He turned his discharge
from the Spanish-American war over to
Major Moore and gave directions in regard
TO writing to his sister in Chicago VIII,
his seven-year-old son ia living. The con-
denned man does not want his old father
to learn OF his fate. eli said he did not
care what OILS done with his body after
the spirit has left it. but II he had monAy
he would have the body shipped back TO
his birthplace in Georgia for burial John
son expresses no desire to consult a spirit
ual adviser. Several years ago, after he
had served term in the Nebraska state
penitentiary for burglary committed in
saloon In Omaha he appeared at the home
OF Major Moore in Lincoln and represented
that he had arrived from Chicago. He
boarded there four weeks and Joined the
oolored Baptist church. During his stay
there he appeared to be a quiet and even
pious man.
JOhason's Complaint.
johnson complains bitterly of the treat
ment he received under the administration
OF Warden Tom Smith and Deputy We'll
ton. From remarks made by him in the
presence of several colored men and
women In his cell suhdayhe had become
desperate snd may have had In mind the
murder of some of his attendants of off
GERS of the penitentiary. He is we'll pleased
with the treatment he has received under
the administration of Warden Delahunty.
administration is that attendants would
take other prisoners out for exercise in
the open air and refused, on account of
lack OF time to take him out of his cell
For three months johnson says he sat in
hot cell without treatment due to a hui
man being.
Governor Aldrich is convinced that
johnson Is guilty. ]. L. Haley, attorney
for johnson called agin on the governor
this forenoon and asked him to commute
the death sentence to life Imprisonment or
to issue reprievee and allow the applica-
ton for pardon to be considered by the
advisory board of pardons when that body
comes into existence on July T. The COVER
nor refused TO interfere with the death
sentence. AS the advisory board cannot
relieve the governor of the responsibility.
he does not care to postpone the decision
which he would have to make after the
advisory board hears the case.
Dental Society Meets.
The Nebraska State Dental society,
which is composed Of almost 400 Of the
600 dentists in the state, convened In this
city today, with about one-third of the
membership in attendance. Grand Island,
which made fight last year for the state
nesting, intends 70 repeat the clash this
year and is said to be prepared TO win the
1919 convention. Hastings, which has
launched campaign to secure ali the
conventions possible. Is said to be in the
race and intends to be as successful as il
has during tibet past two weeks. Omaha,
which has alternated the convention with
this city for several years. has also en-
tered the fight, and It's representatives
feel confident or winning out in the three
cornered fight.
Ready for Guaranty Tax.
Secretary Royse OF the state banking
board. Is sending out blank forms and in
structions to the banks OF the state in re-
gard to the filing OF statement Of the
average daily deposits for the first six
months Of the present year. on these
statements the amount levied against the
different banks for the guaranty fund will
be denoted. and the sum will be set aside
accordingly by the banks under the pro-
visions OF the guaranty law. The transac-
ton will be nothing more than a book
affair. and Will mean only the transferring
of the amount fthe assessment from the
net earnings to the "depositors' guaranty
fund" as II will be known. This fund. of
course. will be payable TO tho state bank
ing board on demand. Secretary Royse
further says in his letter that where a
bank does not have a sufficient amount Of