The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-09-30
WOULD GO
TO B. {.
PRISON
Polished Bandit Chief
Talks to Star Man
but Fears Chief
BY Aware C. Shoemaker

Dy AlNdEO Y. DfieCItidhcf
IN H. JOHNSON, jaiIbreaker and
l.. bank robber suspect, said
Wednesday he would rather be
lsshed In canada than do time in
the Washington peniientiary.
johnson is wanted in Canada for
the Nanaimo bank robbery.
II convicted there he would be
subject 10 the Canadian penalty.
periodical lashings with a cat.o'-nine-
tails.
While his statements for the most
part were eyasive and In the mega
tive, Johnson. in his talk with Star
man. gave the first real insight into
his character.
Chief seycryns accompanied me TO
his cell.
stick your hand out. Johnson
put II thru tho bars-l want TO Sc.
what II looks like.
Chief severyns was speaking.
"oh. mol should gay not! had
one OF en- nearly twisted off b. a
big guy like you. once"
Johnson. jailbreaker and bank
robber suspect, can't be hurried into
an undeliberate action. He weighs
everything In the scales Of posi-
bilitics, looks ~ u in the light Of
experience. He kept his hands
clasped behind his back
WAS the rod they took away
from you yesterday the same one
you bluffed your way out OF the
county jail with couple OF weeks
ago?" he was asked
Il didn't have gun with me
then" quick as a flash.
Where did you get the pistol
you had yesterday"
A moment of hesitation. weigh
ing. Then
Il don't care 10 say"
Were those jail guns real. or
were they cut from cardboard?p
a sardonlc smile crept over John
sons shapely mouth. That was all.
You've had haircut since you
got out OF the Jail ON the hill.
haven't you? Who's your barber?''
Johnson passed steady hand
over the back OF his head. Then
he thought little.
Il got this just before / left
Mats Jail"
II looked about a week old He
had been out more than two weeks
You didn't lose weight, and you
We're clean shaved yesterday
you have your meals and BARRIERS
sent i'm
Just another smile.
Did you find II easy 10 movs
about the streets and visit moon
shine dumps without detection
II don't drink-never did"
Have you any bad habits" the
chief asked.
NO, none Johnson replied with
the nonchalsnce OF a youth answer
ing like question addressed to him
by his prospective mother-in-law.
And Johnson looks it. His eyes
widespread. are clear. His skin
is healthy in color. He can hold
his head UP, and usually does.
Do YOU move around the streets
undetected because YOU look so dis
tinguished-iike business mann"
he was asked.
He answered with smile,
acknowledging the compliment.
He weighs 200 and stands 6 feet
in his Isle. Shoulders broad, but a
little rounded; chest. deep, hips
narrow, legs shapely, little sprung
at the knee. like those of runner.
Are you going 10 renew your
extradition fight. or are you going
to waive it and go to Canada for
tral?"
How can | say what I'm going
TO do? What are YOU guys going
TO do? But | guess I'd rather go
up there and take lashes, instead Of
time here"
He loves liberty. He would rather
be beaten half TO death with a cat.
'nine.tails and get thru with IL
than to stand for interminable i'm.
prisonment
Il haven't seen any of the fel.
lows that got away with me since
that afternoon. left EN- right
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