The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-09-10
"PORTLAND NED'S" CAREER
RECORD OF NOTORIOUS YEGG-
MAN READS LIKE FICTION.
Escaped From Gov. Blease's Office.
Now Held in North Carolina
Jail.

of James Johnson, alias portland
Ned" the noted safe robber who es-
capped in April, 1913, from deputy
United States marshal in Governor
Cole L. Bleases Office in Columbia,
much information has been obtained
here from official sources as to the
manner Of his escape, his criminal
record and his recent operations
which brought him afoul of the law
again.
Besides the many crimes Of which
portland Ned" has been convicted,
most notable of which was the s10,-
900 safe robbery at Enoree, Spartan
burg county, he and his associates
the desperate band of "yeggmen
who invaded the South dozen years
ago-are accused in this State alone
of stealing $500 from bank at
Fort Mill in September, 1902, $500
from a bank at Mullins in December,
1902, and $1,000 from a cotton mill
at Newry in December, 1908. In ad-
dition indictments are pending
against Johnson in the federal court
for three postoffce robberies in
South Carolina-at Prosperity, Fort
Mill and Clemson College.
portland Ned's' career of crime,
as described in official records of the
postoffice department, is as thrilling
as fiction. He has never hesitated
to adopt the boldest methods to es-
cape from custody and for that rea-
son the federal authorities have sug-
gested to the sheriff Of Ciulford
county, N. c., where the robber is
now in Jail, awaiting trial for post
office robbery at Plymouth, N. c.,
that special guards be placed over
Johnson, to keep him under surveil-
lance day and night.
Arrested in Baltimore.
For the Enoree and other South
Carolina robberies, portland Ned
was arrested in Baltimore, Md, in
December, 1904. Prior to his arrest
he had boasted that he would never
be taken alive again. When taken
into custody on that occasion, it is
learned, he was lying on a cough
with his right hand grasping a forty
four calibre revolver under his head,
with a blanket thrown over him, on
which his mistress with her aunt's
baby in her arms was lying. When
officers forced an entry into the
house they noticed the suspicious ar
rangement of the blanket. One of
the officers turned it back and quick
ly grasped Portland Ned's" revol-
yer under the protection of other re-
volvers covering the desperate.
Johnson, sentenced to seven years
in the United States
penitentiary, at Atlanta. for post
Office robbery at Spart4uburg county,
made a desperate effort, while serv-
ing the sentence, to escape. He COM
planned of an illness ard asked to
be taken to the city for an operation.
His request was granted, but while
they were on their way he threw red
pepper into the guards eyes and
tried to fee. This resulted in the
forfeiture of the usual communication
for good behavior. He was released
from the Atlanta prison: July 4, 1911,
but was Immediately apprehended by
Sheriff W. J. White of Spartanburg
county, brought here and convicted
of the Enoree robbery and sent to
the State penitentiary at Columbia,
for a ten-year term, but was later
paroled by Governor Blease- He es-
capped from the governors Office
when a deputy marshal sought to
rearrest him.
Yeggman Identified
Deputy Sheriff H. j.. Walker, OF
Mayodam, Rockingham county, N.
c., sent to the postoffice authorities
last month a post card photograph
of two burglars, giving their names
as G. T. Conway and ]. P. Lister.
The photograph was referred to
Hardy T. Gregory, postofice inspec-
tor in charge of the Washington dis
trict, the terror of "yeggmen." He
at once recognized the man giving
his name as Lister, as James john
son. alias portland Ned" 1nvestl-
cation disclosed the following facts:
A section foreman, residing at
Walnut Cove, N. c., whose residence
had been robbed saw the two burg
lars on August 3, last. at water
tank two miles north Of Walnut
Cove. Subsequently accompanied
by three men from Walnut Cove, he
proceeded in his car to the location.
When the car was stopped the two
suspects Immediately made dash
for III, riror carryinr Satchel,