The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-09-09
"PORTLAND NED'S"
CAREER OF CRIME
record OF Notorious Ycggman Reads
Liko Fiction. l Again Awaiting

IesI Ill NOrtn Carolina last month of
James Johnson, alias portland Ned',
the noted safe robber who escaped IN
April, 1913, from q deputy United
states marshal in Governor Cole l..
Bleases' office in Columbia, much in
formation 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 slO.-
600 safe robbery at Enoree, Spartan
burg county, he and his associates
the desperate band Of "yeggmcn" who
invaded the South dozen years ago
are accused In this state alone of
stealing $4,000 from bank at Fort
Mill In September, 1902, $4,000 from
bank at Mullins in December, 1902,
and $1,000 from cotton mill at Ncwry
III December, 1903. In addition indict-
ments are pending against Johnson in
the Federal Court for three postoliice
robbcries in South Carolina-at Pros
rerity, Fort Mill and Clemson College
Portland Ned's" career of crime, as
described in official records of the
postoiilce department, is as thrilling as
fiction. He has never hesitate to adopt
the boldest methods to escape from
custody and for that reason the Fed
eral authorities have suggested to the
sheriff Of Giulford county, N. c.. where
the robber is now in jail, awaiting
trial for postofiice robbery at Ply
mouth, N. C., that special guards he
placed over Johnson, to keep him un-
der surveillance day and night.
For the Enoree and other South
Carolina robberies, Portland Ned"
was arrested in Baltimore, Md. in De
ccmber, 1901. Prior to his arrest lie
had GOasted that he would never be
taken alive again. When taken into
custody on that OCCASION 1t is learned,
!'c was lying on couch with his RIG ut
land grasping Il forty-four calibrc e.
vo!vcr under his head, with blanlc Q,
thrown over him, on which hi; m $
trcss with her aunt's baby in her arms
WAS lying. When officers forced IN
entry into the house they noticed tlc
suspicious arrangement Of the blank IT.
IN Tr ,n M I,
quickly graspcd Portland Ned's@ )
volvcr under the protection OF otl ar
rcvolvcrs covering the desperate.
Johnson, sentenced to seven years
imprisonment in the United States
Pehitcntiary, at Atlanta, for a postof-
ice robbery II Srartanhurg county
made desperate effort. while serving
The sentence, to escape. Fl complained
of an illness and asked to be taken to
the city for an operation. His re-
quest was granted, but while they
we're on tacir way he threw red pepper
into the guards eyes and tried to fee.
This rsulted in the forfeiture of the
usual commutation for good behavior.
Ilc was released from the Atlanta pris-
Oil July 4, 1911, but was Immediately
lDprchendcd by Sheriff w. j. White, OF
Spartanburg county, brought here and
Of the Enoree robbery and
sent to the State Pcnitcntiary at Co
lnhbia, for a ten year term, but was
lated paroled by Governor Bleasc. He
escaped from the governors Office
when deputy marshal sought to re-
arrest him.
Deputy Sheriff II. J. Walker, OF
Rockingham County, N. c.,
sent to the postofiice authorities last
month post card photograph Of two
burglars, giving their names as G.. T.
Conway and J. P. Lister. The photo
graph was referred to Hardy T. Greg
cry, postoffice Inspector in charge Of
the Washington district, the terror Of
'yeggmen." He at once recognized the
n.an giving his name as Lister, as
James Johnson, alias Portland Ned"
Investigation disclosed the following
facts:
a secti on foreman, residing at Wal
nut Cove, N. c., whose residence had
been robbed saw the two burglars on
August 8, last, at a water tank two
miles north of Walnut Cove. Suisse
qucntly, accompanied by three men
from Walnut Cove, he proceeded on his
stopped the two suspects Immediately
made dash for the river, carrying a