The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-08-28
A F|END|SH PLAN
TO ASSASS|NAIE
Congressman Ben johnson
in Washington.
TRY TO SILENCE KENTuCKIAN
On District Bills-Attempt
Made to Burn Import
ant Papers.
SPEAKER CLARK Is ANGERED


to assassinate Representative Ben
Johnson, chairman of the District
of Columbt4 Committee, and thus
remove his opposition to bill IA
vored by certain interests in Wash
ington, is revealed in an affidavit in
the possession of Speaker Champ
Clark and Mr.. Johnson. This was
learned to-day.
The affidavit was sworn to in the
Speakers ONCE recently by a reput-
able citizen OF Washington, who,
riding. on an F street car. heard a
man say that he had followed Mr..
johnson for three nights, just pre-
ceding, for the purpose OF smuggling
the Kentuckian from behind and
killing him. The Speaker, who Is a
close friend of Mr.. Johnson, in
stantly had his informant prepare
an AFFIDAVIT, giving the name, street
address and remarks of the alleged
would-be assassin.
This information, given the cor
respondent OF the Courier-Journal
by a high source, comes as culmi-
nation of the troubles which have
beset Mr.. Johnson in his fight
against certain crooked interests in
Washington. Some weeks ago. in
the presence of the correspondent
of the Courier-Journal, the Ken
tuckisn summoned to his office the
custodian OF the House ONCE build
ing and told him certain papers
bearing on matters in District Of
Columbia Committee had been sto-
len. The custodian then remarked
to all present that Mr.. Johnson had
previously reported several robber-
les among his papers.
On August IL someone set fire to
the closet where Mr.. Johnson keeps
his important committee papers.
Apparently to prevent quenching
the blaze, the door of the closet, af-
ter the fire was lighted, was locked
and the key carried away.
AS was related at the time, en-
trance was gained to the room in
which the closet is located by cut
ting hand-hole in wire door
which opens on balcony and then
turning a lock on the inside of the
wire door.
The news of this peculiar fire,
which Mr.. Johnson extinguished by
Hattering down mahogany door
with sledge hammer. set his inti-
mate friends to discussing the per-
sistent attempts that have been
made to render Mr.. Johnson's COM
mittee work inefficient and to des-
stroy his character.
Frequent plots have been laid to
entrap him, but all failed, the corri-
doris about his Office doorway hay
ing been filled with shadowers.
He and the members of his fami-
ly have been followed. Upon his
suddenly opening unused office
doors from the inside, strange men
have almost fallen into his room,
their eyes glued to the keyhole.
? Discussions OF this kind brought
out the fact of the planned assassi-
nation. The man named as the al
legged prospective murderer is, with
a number of other residents of the
district, directly Interested In dis
trict bill. which Mr.. Johnson has
been fighting.
In the affidavit the man is re-
ported to have said that with Mr..
Johnson out of the way, the bill
could be passed. Friends of the
Kentucky Congressman, becoming
cognizant OF these startling disclo-
sures. have urged him to seek pro-
lection in the courts.
His reply has always been: "I'll
take care of myself without calling !
for help" and he has always done
SO. Speaker Clark is enraged over
the attempts against Mr.. Johnson.
and is backing him earnestly in his
fight against certain District inter-
ests.
This work has steadfastly gone
on. 1t was Mr.. Johnson who Sc
cured refund Of over $4,000 to
the Government from the District
in connection with public institu-
ton. and exposed the fact that the