The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-12
He STARTS TO CARRIE NATIONIzE THE Joints"
With Three Trusted Deputies He Suddenly Descends on Tulsa and
Fires Three Gambling Houses-Rads Other Towns and
Puts Crimp in Gambling and Saloon Business

mud, the blood streaming down hi
clothes from wounded hand, BIZ
Johnson must have presented the ap
pearance of a walking Eiffel towel
that had been thrown down and picked
up again. Bill Burke cast one glance
at this awful apparition, jumped on hi.
horse, without waiting to saddle it OF
to put on his coat. and made for the
woods at full gallop.
Johnson likes Tulsa. He raided Il
three times. 1t is said that whenever
business was slow he stirred up Tulsa
He left town Immediately, giving out
story that he intended to go to an
other part Of the Territory, and
slipped back again, alone, and unde
tected. Meanwhile Dick Borden. a
noted gambler, gave a hurry order tc
furniture emporium, which had some
new furniture and gambling parapher.
MALTA shipped post haste to Borden's
new place above Tate Brady's store
Borden established poker and crap
tables, a faro wheel, a roulette wheel
hung mirrors on the walls, put in cleo.
trio fans and rugged out buffet for
his customers. About 80 gamblers
were playing when in walked Johnson
and Deputy Marshal Booth.
The gamblers took one look at John
son and sprang for the back window,
leaping out upon the roof OF an ad-
joining building. Johnson jumped after
them and drove them all back, firing
few shots at their feet to show he
meant business. They rushed back,
to be confronted by Booths revolver,
and surrendered. Cash bonds having
been deposited for their appearance in
court next day, one of the gamblers
seized the $500 roulette wheel and ran
with it down hallway Johnson went
after him and foored him with a blow
from his fist. Another seized the
wheel and threw it out of a window
into an alley, where third caught it.
Then he glanced up as a command
with his six-shooter.
Drop it," said Johnson.
The gambler dropped 1t.
Johnson did not rest on his laurels
In pairs he sent his men to cover all
the towns In the surrounding terri
tory. At Tullahasse, Sam Cone seized
two trunks full Of whisky, which had
been shipped as baggage" That
night, while he was lodged in the
house Of DR.. Mann, gang Of negroes
assembled outside and began firing
through the windows. One bullet
grazed Cones hand and another
pierced his clothes; but the two men
went after the negroes. drove them
away with well-directed fire, and
captured two Of them.
Through an underground wire"
Johnson learned that man at Musko-
gee named Stewart had received a big
consignment of liquor. Taking Dep
uty Lerbetter, he searched Stewards
house, without results, until Is cases
OF whisky were discovered behind a
secret panel. Johnson pulled Stewart
out Of bed and found a bottle of cham
payne.
please don't break that" pleaded
Stewart. Il got it for my wife, who is
very ILL.,"
Johnson, who is a humane man,
went downstairs and found Mrs. Stew
art at the family wash tub.
Il guess your wife needs soup more
than champagne" said Johnson, as he
the bottle.
Between Tulsa and Sapulpa Johnson !,
came upon two teams in the road. He |.
stopped the first wagon, whereupon
he driver Of the second wagon leaped |
rom his seat and ran to cover. The |
first wagon was full Of tanks and bot |
les. Johnson drew his trusty ak, but !
he driver let out so wild a peal of ter
'or that Johnson paused.
''For-for-say! This wagon is load
I'd with nitroglycerine." shouted the |
iriver I'VE are on our way to the
5apulpa oil fields to shoot a we'll"
Investigation proved that this story
vas true. The second wagon con-
aimed the whisky, which was soon put
,ut Of commission, while the team
vas taken for public sale.
Such methods practically drove the
liquor men out of business, for not
,nly was their money gone, but their
liquor had been destroyed, and John
on's blockade" effectively prevented
heir obtaining a further supply at
profitable prices. When Johnson got
through with Indian Territory the re-
all price of a flask of whisky had
isen from % cents to So.
johnson did not stop when he had
accomplished the first part of his du-