New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-14
RUSHED TO JAIL FOR LIFE
Neiuhbor Confessed AbduCtIng
and Numbering Little Girl.
WAS IN TERROR OF LYNCHERS
Told Story of Crime, Was lmme
diately Sentenced and Hurried
in Auto to Penitentiary.

Madison. Wis. Sept l3-John. otherwise
known ~ "Dogsklu." Johnson to-nght
confessed 10 the abduction and murder OF
little Annie LembcrGer, the sevcn-year-oid
child whose body was found In Lake Mon
ona last Saturday. lie was tmmediateN
sentenced by Judge Anthony Donovan 10
life imprisonment
4 few minutes after his confession ana
sentence johnson was taken IN an auto
mobile by Sheriff Andrew Brown and hur-
ried through side streets and across tie
country to the state prison at Waupun
The greatest secrecy was maintained BE-
cause OF fears that Johnson might be
| lynched.
Johnson was taken into custody Satur-
dav on suspicion. but after being questioned
he was released The officers had him
under surveillance all day. and IN the even
| ing once more placed him under arrest.
Although the police strongl" suspected
Johnson of knowing something about the
crime they could not fasten guilt upon him
absolutely on the strength of their sus-
picion. however. he was taken into court
to-day, pleaded not guilty and was placed
under d $1,000 bond. the preliminary exam
inati1n being set for September -. The
prisoner was then taken back to his cell
He was plainly frightened. and hurried on
ahead Of the officers
Toward evening Deputy Henry Page was
called by Johnson and told he wished 10
make a confession. chief of Police Shaush-
Messy was informed Immediately, and
promptly sent for District Attorney r. y.
Nelson The County Prosecutor. the CHIEF
/ of Police and other officials soon gathered
at the courthouse. and IN FEW moments
| the prisoner. before Judge Anthony Dono-
van, confessed 20 the crime.
/ Emerson Ella. an attorney. was appointed
/ by the court 20 defend the prisoner. but
/ there was no defence to offer in face OF the
confession. and within a few minutes the
| prisoner was sentenced by Judge Donovan
10 spend the remainder Of his life IN the
| state peuitoutlary al Waupuu.
/ Johnson had brooded i'm his cell At the
police station all day following his ar
raisumeut i'm the morning lie had aban-
doncd his aTectation Of insanity and paced
/ restlessly back and forth. Apparently he
| listened in terror Tor the first sounds OF an
aycnginG mob. and AT last, IN a paroXysn
| Of fear. he sent for John Foye. the turn
| key. and declared he was willing to 'ac-
! knowledge his Gult.
Threw Girl Into the Lake.
In the presence of chef of Police
Shaughuessy. District Attorney Nelson and
Turnkey Foyc. Johnson said the deed was
! tho result of q sudden impulse. lie had
watched through tho window tho little girl
/ and her sister mdross at bedtime on nu-
merous occasions and ON the fatcful night
/ shortly after the children had fallen asleep,
no raised the sash and snatched little An
ME from the bed dragged hor through the
window and struck her unconscious. 50
! there would Doc 100 cutlery. lie then took
her TO the railroad bridge and after Beat
/ ing her until lie was extinct, threw the
| body into Lake Monoua.
/ Johnson would not make q detailed con-
| feSsion. IIc wanted 10 bc ON his way TO
| Waupuu 90 avoid mob violence, which he
feared. and promised 10 make a written
and fun confession after hc had been
! lodged iu prison.
! Medical testimony 90 tine inquest was
conflicting ass 10 whether The child had
/ been attacked before being thrown into the
! lake
/ johnson already has served 4 term In tho
/ peuitouuary. and several years ago was
placed BOO tho Mendoza Hospital for the In
/ sane for attacking a little girl a Browns
| vile. Wis
! Ever since SATURDAY Johnson had boon
I sweated and subjected 10 hours of Cruel
7 ling examination. AZ first De- refused 10
admit that me- had sIled the girl and main
tanned mo had been az bis home throughout
/ the night.
This was further substantiated by his
/ two daughters who We're positive. they
| said. that their father had been at home