The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-05-17

the $4,000 was duly collected An
amusing, though grim, feature of this
scheme was that when deputy who
somewhat resembled Johnson was shot
and killed in mistake for him, the
money was actually paid over. and
half of it had been squandered on a
wild orgy Of dissipation before the
| mistake was discovered.
However, one of the bootleggers to
whom Lincoln wrote, happened to be
under heavy obligations to one of
Johnson's men, wrote to him, revealing
the conspiracy. Johnson was to be fol-
lowed night and day until the opportu-
nifty for his assassination presented
itself. Johnson put the matter in the
hands of his most trusted deputies
he has never taken action in the
courts in self-defense-and gave the
matter no further thought.
OF all the regions most notorious
for cold-blooded murder and outlawry
the palm might have been awarded.
in 1907, to that section of Oklahoma
centering about the little town Of
Forum.
This section was dominated in 1907
by two young outlaws. named Eugene
and Ben Ellsworth, and their gang
inundated the entire district. John
son thought this part of the country
needed cleaning up, and he took the
task in hand, accompanied by DR.. E.
]. Sapper, who, besides being his dep
uty, was also United States deputy
marshal
The Titsworths had blind tiger"
and gambling layout in the woods,
near a railway construction camp at
! McMurray Crossing, where the ig-
norant Italians were constantly fleeced
of their wages after being made drunk
on the vilest of spirits. Johnson and
Sapper made night raid upon the
| Ellsworth haunt, which was being run
by Eugene. They reached McMurray's
Crossing at midnight in raging thun-
derstorm, and found the place filled
with drunken men. AS Johnson ap-
peared at the door there was wild
stampede, but Sapper held the en-
trance while Johnson, having demol-
ished the stock in trade with his axe,
placed Eugene Ellsworth under arrest
and drove off through the rain.
| Ellsworth made his escape from
Jail, but Johnson took up the pursuit
again, and caught him after long
chase, and finally landed him in jail
at Muskogee.
Then he made descent upon Ben
Titsworth's drinking and gambling
haunt at Warner, in wild section
of the country near Muskogee. He
went alone this time, into the most
lawless part Of the Territory, and
single-handed raided Titsworth's place,
smashed the fixtures, arrested him.
and took him prisoner to Fort
| Smith
While in Jail there Ben Ellsworth.
who was involved in the conspiracy,
made the acquaintance of a man
named Patman, and suggested that
they should try to earn the $4,000 for
killing Pussyfoot.
On his release from prison Ben
| home town, and made murderous as
sault upon a young man whom he
charged with having given information
| to Johnson that resulted in his ar
rest. Johnson went after Ellsworth
again, alone. and in a furious rough
and-tumble fight, took away his revolt
yer, handcuffed him, and then brought
him a prisoner to Muskogee, 40 miles
| away.
Patman was waiting near by to as
sassinate Johnson, but his nerve failed
him.
Ben Ellsworth broke jail and re-
turned again to his old haunts near
Forum, where on the occasion of a
Fourth of July picnic, he again de-
fed the law by setting up a bar
where he dispensed Spiked cider"
Hearing of this Sapper and Sam Rob-
erts went down to raid the place. In
the ensuing scuff1e Patman shot Rob-
erts. killing him instantly, and shot
Sapper through the head, not NOR
tally, however.
Patman subsequently turned states
evidence against the Titsworths, after
the gang had been hunted down and
arrested. However, Eugene Ellsworth
was found not guilty, and the jury
was hung in the case of Ben. The
breaking up of this gang disheartened
the bootleggers, and no more attempt
was made to murder Johnson.
Copyright, by w. G. Chapman