Connecticut western news., 1920-10-28
NEW BONDS EASILY
 SECURED FOR JOHNSON
Former Norfolk Treasurer Is Now Visiting
 Tn Canaan

faulting town treasurer of Norfolk, was brought from the Winsted jail, where he has been since his return ] from Canada, in default of $20,000 bonds, and arraigned in Norfolk Tuesday afternoon in the town hall before Justice of the Peace s. A. Selden, charged with embedding town funds to the amount of SIT, ,000 Probable cause was found, and he was bound over to the February term of the superior @court of Litchfield County under bonds of $10,000. The | court will sit the first Tuesday in February.
 \ The hearing lasted but a few min utes. Long before it began groups of men and women stood about on the grounds outside, discussing the case. A crowd of farmers, neighbors and friends, and those merely curious as to the story the defendant might tell, packed the courtroom, occupying every chair.
 Samuel A. Herman, representing the town of Norfolk, appeared with fJ. Clinton Roraback, Johnson's coun- sel, both standing before the plat form on which MT. Selden stood. There was a whispered conference between the three, then the justice read his decision. Johnson had been brought from Winsted in an automo- bile with State Policeman Thomas A. Mitchell, who had accompanied him from Alberta, Canada, Superintend- ent John H. Slocum of the Winsted police, and MT. Roraback. States Attorney Walter Holcomb was not present. ...... AS Johnson entered the court room there was low murmur of comment, with an almost universal craning of necks by those in the front rows, and covert pointing from the line along the walls. With him were his broth er-in-law, Samuel Reel, and his brother, c. Roy Johnson. Johnson was slightly pale, but appeared com posed. When MT. Selden had announced his decision to bind the prisoner over to the higher court, Mrs. Marcelle Gregory, Johnson's brother, c. Roy duu NH. AkGGAe I.stepped forward to offer joint surety for the prisoners appearance on the day mentioned. Mrs. Gregory said later: "I was prepared to go the limit, and so were lot of other peo- pie. I would have furnished the $10,oO0 myself"
 | At the conclusion of the hearing, Johnson was driven to Canaan with his brother, MT. Reel and Mrs. c. Roy Johnson. Before he left the build ing, Mir. Roraback was asked why , his client did not carry out his orig inal intention to tell the whole story" "I have nothing to say at present" was the reply. Johnson himself was among the first to leave. F First Selectman Augustus P. Cur tiss, who conducted the original in vestigation of the town books after Johnson's disappearance; and Grand Juror William B. Cobb, to- whom Johnson wrote the Suicide" note, have been absent from the town for some days on trip. It was said at MT. Cobb's home, and at MT. Cur tiss's place of business, that both had been in Canada, and arrived home Tuesday.
 It was learned that several notes Johnson is charged with having rais- ed, are reported to have been paid by his friends, and the notes des- treyed.
 Johnson was originally held in bonds of $20,000, following the pre- klimihary hearing after his arrival from Canada, where he had been posing as farmer, under the name of Purcell. In default of this amount he had been committed to the jail at the police station in Winsted. Up to Saturday night, he had succeeded in raising but $18,0OO of this amount, subscribed by his friends in Norfolk in small amounts. Reduction of the original bond was noted with much interest by Norfolk residents who attended the hearing.