The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-09-05
JOHNSON LEADS
SCRIBES MERRY
CHASE SATURDAY

to laugh. The laugh is not to be
caused by the question which this
story may excite but rather by the
antics Of Nimrod Johnson of the Rich
mond gas company at the state CAPT
tol shortly after noon Saturday.
Johnson strolled up the capitol walk
to the Washington street entrance
shortly after noon. Fates had decreed
the newspaper men stationed at the
capitol should be delayed that day and
shortly after noon or just about the
time of Johnson's stroll, the news
paper men emerged from the Wash
ington street entrance. johnson al
most stumbled into them but ap-
parently did not notice them. With
the newspaper men it was a different
story.
They noticed Johnson and became
inquisitive for it was the second time
that johnson had appeared at the cap
itol just at the noon hour when there
was every possibility of the newspaper
men being absent. His reason for
selecting this peculiar hour and the
cause OF his first and last appearance
are not known. But anyway. the com
mission is just now considering the
question of fixing rate for Johnson S
gas company.
Reporters Keep Watch.
But here is the laugh. Johnson
strolled on and almost to the steps of
the capitol. Then for some reason
which he may explain, he elected not
to enter but to stroll on through the
capitol grounds to Senate. avenue at
the west side Of the capitol. And just
for the fun of the thing or because the
fact that Johnson did not enter caused
some question, the newspaper men as
sumed a point of vantage and watch
ed.
Johnson strolled on for about three
minutes. He was well past the CAPT
toll steps at Washington street, when
he stopped. He seemed to be think
ing, probably of something, he had
forgotten, and then he turned around,
retraced his steps and entered the
Washington street entrance The
newspaper men saw but Johnson did
not see them
The moment Johnson turned around
and started back to the Washington
street entrance, the newspaper men
cut across lawns to the Capitol ave
nue. entrance or the east side of the
capitol. Visitors to the capitol from
the east side or Capitol avenue and
from the south side or Washington
street, invariably meet at the elevator
when their business exists on the
second or third floor of the capitol.
Reporters Wait for Him.
So continued the story Johnson
hustled to the elevator and perhaps to
his surprise for they had hustled too,
the newspaper men were there wait
ing for him. But Johnson got to the
elevator first and hustled up to the
third floor. The newspaper men got
the next flight of the elevator. AS
the newspaper men got off the ele-
vator on the third floor, Johnson was
seer to pass the private secretary of
the chairman of the commission who
had been writing the gas order. The
next moment, he was seen going down
the two flights of steps for the news
paper men were standing at the ele-
vator
Down and down went Johnson until
he reached the first floor His pass
age this time had lost his hustling at
titude and deliberately and calmly
with his hands clasped behind him,
went Johnson. On across the first
floor and out the east entrance, into
the busy world with only moment of
hesitation at the steps to think again.
1t was the second time he had visit
ed the capitol at the peculiar hour of
noon and the second time he had met
newspapermen and missed the COM
missioners. For Chairman Duncan
happened to be at his home in Prince
ton Saturday while on the first visit,
he refused to stop on the street and
discuss anything with Johnson.