The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-04
LEADS OFFICERS
TO HIDING PLACE
JOHNSON GIVES UP HIS DIES AND
OTHER COUNTERFErrING
APPLIANCES.
ON SHOCkOE CREEK
MAKES NEW CONFESSION AND THIS
TIME DECLARES THAT HE IS
ALONE WITHOUT CON-
FEDERATEs.
ON SHOCkOE CREEK

Taken at O'Clock yesterday after
noon before United States comnis-
sioner Melvin Fiegenheimer, John
Alien Johnson, who was arrested a;
Seventh and Franklin streets Satur-
day morning by Captain Mcmahon on
charge of passing spurious coin,
practically admitted the charge agaIns:
him and confessed TO his forrne~ cou-
victions. The hearing was short, and
ON the prisoners own admission he
was ordered held for the United States
grand jury, which Is called Tor October
7th. In the meantime johnson. aged
and broken and apparently willing to
hide himself from the troubles he has
encountered, was remanded hack to
jail, there to be held until he shall
be formally indicted.
Captain Mcmahon, and ii. L. Thorn
as. a United States se1re. service
agent stationed at Charlotte, X. c.,
who had worked up other cases
against Johnson, were the witnesses
against him Captain Mcmahon told
or finding counterfeit ceias in joan
SON s pocket. and Thomas told Il the
former convictions,
DscIosss His Outfit.
Before being taken before Commits
sioner Flegenheimer, johnson was WIS.,
tied in his cell by the captain OF de-
tectives and the secret service agent
He made an absolute confession to
them, and told them where he had
hidden the molds with which he had
manufactured and counterfeit dollars
At their request he guided them to the
spot. He took them to a place On
the bank OF Shockoe creek, near the
Chesapeake and Ohio viaduct, be-
tween Broad and Franklin streets, and
digging underneath pile of small
rocks he had reared. disclosed a set
of molds- The Set was compl tie. be-
iEE used for the manufacture of one
dollar coins. 1t was made of plaster
of paris, and appeared to ba com
plete in every way
Johnson then admitted to the Of
fieers. II is said, that he alone was
reepe nsible. and that he alone had
manufactured the spurious coin, Be
fore he had said that they were made
by another in his presence and that
six worthless dollars were given him.
In his story of rday afternoon,
the counterfeiter said that he coined
the counterfeit near Raleigh, n. c.
On March 24th. of this year, he was
released from the Federal prison at
Atlanta. and went back to his home
near Raleigh.
Back to Old Tricks.
He said that he loafed a short while,
and then worked In cotton mill and
on a farm. Then he returned to his
Illegal trade, and began the coming
of the queer" lie stated that he
got rid Of several or the way to Rich
niond. He had Elk when he arrived
here last Friday, and had disposed OF
two when arrested The remaining
four were found in mis- pocket when
he was searched in the Second police
station. ---
Johnson ls ffty-fiFe years old, but
is gray and grizxled beyond his years.
Life has apparently cealt hardly with
him, and he seems willing to sur
render. At the time he was arrested
he had looked too long on the wine
which Is red. and wepi when the hand
Of the law was placed on his shoulder.
lie gave the name of Allen. When ask !
ed IL he was a member of the famous
outlaw gang he spoke up sturdtfy, and
said that none of that gang would
have loosed their tears.
According to the records, he has
been convicted four times before for
counterfeiting. II will probably GO
harder with him this time, this being
the fifth alleged ofrense.