The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-05-02
PORTLAND NED"
ESCAPES ARREST
NOTED YEGGMAN WALKS OUT
OF GOVERNORS OFFICE.

Office, While in an Adjoining Room
IN Officer Awaited With Warrant
for His Arrest for Robbing Post
Office.
Columbia, April 26.-"Portland
Ned. alias James johnson, the yegg-
man, who was paroled yesterday af-
ternoon, vanished from the inner Of
fee Of the Governor this morning and
left deputy United States marshal
with another warrant for him guard
in the outer Office. The famous
craftsman deliberately and cody took
advantage of the Governors absence
and walked out of the door which
leads into the inner Office and disap-
peared.
Just Walks Away.
Portland Ned" who served a sew
en-year sentence in the Federal pris-
on in Atlanta for robbing a postof-
flee at Enoree. in Spartanburg coun-
ty, and who had served two years of
a ten-years' term in the State Peni-
tentiary for the same offence when he
was yesterday paroled by Governor
Blease, was being held awaiting a
reply the Governor had sent the Fed
eral authorities asking them if they
had any further sharges against the
prisoner. Johnson, or Portland
Ned" as he is better known, had been
brought to the Governors Office this
morning, dressed in citizens clothes.
He was taken into the inner office
and was present while E. D. Green
and John L. Paige, the two Spartan
burg prisoners, were being given
their paroles.
Was Wanted in North Carolina.
United States Commissioner Bever-
ly Sloan had issued warrant for
the arrest of James Johnson, alias
Portland Ned" charging him with
having dynamited postoffice safe at
Plymouth, N. c., in 1898, and Deputy
Marshal Sem was present in the out
er Office waiting to nab Portland Ned
"AASh AAS SoiiC ouO. IhC WdIIdlI Ildu
been sworn out on information fur
nished by Postoffice Inspector Greg
ory, who had rounded this man and
landed him in the Penitentiary for
the Enoree robbery. Federal Judge
Smith had telegraphed that there
were no cases on the docket against
Johnson, and District Attorney Cock
ran had wired the same thing, but
had stated that he was telegraphing
7the postoffice department asking them
if they had any further charges
against Johnson.
Leaves Prisoner in His Office.
Governor Blease stepped out into
the outer Office, leaving" Portland
Ned" and lady in his inner office,
Deputy Marshal Sem being in the
outer Office with warrant for "Port-
land Ned" This later Individual, ac-
cording to what the lady told--and
she never dreamed he was the fam
GUS yeggman, as he was dressed in
citizens clothes-strode up and
down the Office a few times, then cool
ly unlocked the door leading into the
lobby of the State House and left.
The Governor on returning to his
private Office asked the, lady where
the man was and she replied that he
had walked out.
Newspaper Men Notified.
The newspaper men were called in
and told of the occurrence, and then
Marshal Sem was informed that
Portland Ned" had flown, not more
than five minutes after disappearing.
81 didn't know I could serve the
warrant on that man in your inner of
fice," said Marshal Sem to the Gov
ernor. Why certainly you could, no
one said you could not" replied the
Governor. The Marshal thought
Johnson would come through the out
er office, but the later went out
through the private Office into the lob
by and vanished while the marshal
was waiting for him outside.
The cool way in which Portland
Ned" disappeared surprised everyone.
He is said to be an old hand at the
game of safe-cracking and has not
ed career.
Governor Denies Report.
Rural Policeman Hipp having been
quoted this afternoon as saying that
he was ordered out of the Governors
office when he went there this morn
ing as deputy from United States