Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-09-14
Iohn J, Johnson, Next Door
NeighbOG Makes a Clean
Breast of AtrOCiOuS Crime to
Clear His Conscience.
IMMEDIATELY SENTENCED
TO PRISON FOR LIFE
Madison, Wis., Mystery Sur
rounding Death Of Little Girl
Cleared After a Week Of Dill
gent Work By Officers,
tBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire

tBy Morning journal Special Leased wire.i
Madison Wis Sept 13.-John j.
Johnson, otherwise known as Dog
skim" Johnson, this evening con-
fessed 10 the abduction and murder Of
little Annie Lemhergcr, : years old,
whose body was found in Lake Mon
ona last Saturday morning. He was
Immediately sentenced 10y Judge An
hony Donovan to life Imprisonment.
few minutes after his confession
and sentence Johnson was taken in
an automobile by Sheriff Brown and
a deputy, through side streets and
across the country at a rapid rate to
the state penitentiary at Waupun.
The greatest secrecy was maintained
lest Johnson be lynehed He was talk
en- into custody Saturday morning on
suspicion. hut after he had been Ques-
toned ne was released Officers kept
him under surveillance all day and in
the evening arrested him again and
held him under suspicion Although
officers suspected johnson Of knowing
something about the crime they could
not fasten guilt on him.
on the strength Of suspicion he was
taken into court today lie pleaded
not guilty ana was placed under
10000 bond. the preliminary exam
nation being set for september u.
The prisoner Was then taken back
to his cen, hurryiug in a frightened
manner ahead Of the officers.
Toward evening Deputy Henry Page
was called 10y Johnson. who said he
wished to make a confession chief
of Police Shaughncssy was at once in
formed of the prisoners desire and
sent word to District Attorney Nelson
The county prosecutor, the chief of
police and other officials soon gath
cred at the court house and in few
minutes the prisoner was before Judge
Donovan johnson then confessed the
brutal crime. Attorney Emerson Ella
was appointed by the court to defend
the prisoner. but in view of the con-
lession. it was only few minutes be
fore the prisoner heard his sentence.
Johnson brooded in his cell at the
police station all day. following his ar
mgnment in the morning Abandon
ng his sham of insanity, he paced his
cell restlesSly asking aHNiouslv II there
was danger Of mob Then he read
his hblc while walking
Finally, APPARENTLY overcome by emo
ton, he threw the bible in a corner Of
the cell and called the urnkey, de-
cariue that ne was willing to tell all
In the presence of Chief of Police
Shaughnessy. District Attorney Nelson
and Turnkey l'oye, Johnson said that
the deed was the result Of sudden
Impulse He had watched through
thc bed room window, the little girl
and her sister undress at bed time on
Inherent occasions. On the fateIul
night about 10 o'clock. shortly after
the children had fallen asleep, he rails
ed the sash and snatched little Annie
rom the bed dragged her through
lhe win low and knocked her on the
mead with his fist rendering her un-
conscious. SO there would be no outcry.
lie then took her to the railroad
oHdse and after beating her on the
nead until life was extinct, threw the
Oody into the lake
Johnson said he did not want to
nuke IL detailed confession because he
wanted to be on his way to Waupun
avoid mob violence. He said he
MOOIU a. "a ,f
VT ne had been lodged in prison
testimony at the inquest was con
mclins i'm that one physician was of
ue opinion that the child had been
u'mlnally assaulted while another ex-
pressed an opposite view.
LlIe Imprisonment in Wisconsin is
"' 'naNtmim punishment meted out
To murdcrcrs.
'onhSon once served a term in the
ry"'eullary and several years ago he
.'S put IN the Medota hospital for the
"'aNe' after he had assaulted a little
sui at Brownsville, Wis.
'onnson lived but few doors from
"V Lemhcrger home.
lhe father Of the murdered girl told
PoiiCc that he and johnson had
@ quarrel once, but hesitated to
"Ee the crime to him. IL was
MI because no other solution was
''u that the police held Johnson
ed ""o, saturday Johnson was subject
po h"Ufs of gruelling examination
b,, maintained he had been at his
r,., throughout the night. This was
dn,n S0hstantiated BY his two
ha, hut'i~ who were positive they said
m, ulcir father had been at home
M wife, however. admitted that
umo ln'Eht have been away for a
m.., u'ulng the night. and this adj
John led To the second arrest of