Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-14
Nitro Johnny, a Sinister Soul ana
Clever Counterfeiter, Arrays -
Two Jumps Ahead of
Secret Service Men

fundamental laws Of police work we
came upon a camp wherein dwelt
Johnny Henderson and dozen N
precious rowdies, who l dare say, NIX
had virtually every crime listed in %S
their records 1t so happened that Ssa.
we had come upon the outposts Of the
camp-a collection of five or six
shacks, with the principal structure
in the centre. yM'
In this central shack lived the one W&s
woman Of the camp. She was the w
wife of one George Black. George
was bit rough in his way, given to
shooting and otherwise injuring folks
who dspleased him. However, you
need entertain no suspicion that Mrs.
Black was one of his occasional vic.
Tins.
battle to the whole New York city force
and get away with it for quite while, for
they knew the country Possibly there is
nothing in the earth, nor beneath the earth,
nor over it Of which this gang was afraid,
except-and l make this exception with
ample knowledge of my facts-except Mrs.
George Black.
Mrs. Black was large and able bodied.
She toted a gun and heavy sheath knife.
1t was rumored that the death of the wife
Of another of the mob was directly trace
able to Mrs. Black, the ladies having dis
agreed upon their relative sobriety or
something of the sort. At any rate Mrs
Black and the other woman went to the
mat and only Mrs. Black arose.
Luck was not with us when We raided
the camp. We managed to grab three or
four of the lesser lights, but Johnny and
George and Mrs. George had gone away
Naturally this disappointed us, for once
scattered such a crowd would be hard to
assemble again.
Taking two operatives with me- / tried
my luck UP near Warren, the county seat.
We learned that George Black was the
proprietor of small farm some few miles
out of Warren and that he was engaged
dogs, gamecocks and singing canary birds
Furthermore, we learned that Johnny Hen
derson was a frequent visitor to Georges.
George and Johnny knew my two pals, but
had never seen me-. Therefore it was up
to me to call upon George.
The Blickensderfer typewriter was COM
ing upon the market about that time and
selling 1t was a pretty good money making
proposition. l got one, and, enlisting the
aid of deputy sheriff, set forth as
typewriter salesman for the abode Of the
tough Mr., Black Black had been a pugil-
ist Of parts in his younger years. He never
rose to a dizzy pinnacle, not being that
sort of boxer. George used to blockade
punches with his face. In time he was
thumped into pugilistic oblivion and took
up burglary, highway robbery, safe blow
ing and counterfeiting, which vocations he
combined to exc out a fair living. Mrs
Black was worthy helpmeet.
The deputy sheriff and l found George
among his dogs. There was a strikingly
common similarity noticeable. shouldn't
be at all surprised to learn that George bit
one of the big brutes occasionally. I'm
quite sure he would II he thought 1t would
do either of them any good. There were
hundreds of canaries about the place in
large cages. Probably they sang bass when
George was through with them.
talked typewriter to George for half an
hour. Invariably his reply would be:
what in the hell would l do with a
typewriter? Do you think write for the
papers or something?"
Suspicion Finally Aroused
And Coins Were Scattered
George let 1t be known that he would
welcome our departure. Now and then he
all but ordered me off the place. But l
kept talking and urging, taking care to
keep one hand In my coat pocket where
the gun lay. Maybe typewriter salesman
should use both hands while talking to
prospect. Certainly he ought to use both
If he demonstrates the machine. At any
rate I sold no typewriter to George.
But in the meantime the deputy sheriff
strolled over to the back of the house.
George had become suspicious. So had his
wife, who surveyed us from a window.
Mrs. Black must have communicated her
suspicious to the other man on the place,
Nicolo Pelestrina, for Nicolo emerged from
the house by back door and began throw
ing round glittering objects into the fields
just beyond. Later we gathered them up
They were imitation dollars.
The deputy sheriff surprised Nicolo and
stunned him with his blackjack. Before
Nicolo could revive the sheriff had hand
cuffed him to tree. Fortunately neither
George nor l nor Mrs. Black witnessed
this melee, but the deputy sheriff, not
realizing that, came Looping around the
house to take hand in what he supposed
must have been quite scrimmage be.
tween Black and me.
The rather excited appearance Of the