Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26

Weightmann's note, she writes DIR. william
p. Johnston. She should have written Dr.
William W. Johnston; w. p. was the father
Of W. w. DR.. w. P. Johnston lived on Seventh
street opposite the Post once
"Your article on johnson of Old Second
Precinct is mighty good. 1 was acquainted
with johnson, Rhodes, Morgan, Slack Mark
wood, Roadway, West and other Of his men.
johnson was a real an-around oficer; when
he said: I want that man. that man ,might
rs well surrender; they would get him anyway
LAS you write, there was fine drive. along
Florida avenue extending from Ninth street
to beyond Seventeenth street; it was a good
track. Gen. Grant was seen quite frequently
there with his well matched span. Races were
of daily occurrence and my old Chickasaw
there. Efforts were made to put a stop to the
sport and West was one Of the detail. West
had served in Cavalry regiment and was a
perfect horseman. When Gen. Grant sped
along, West took after him; reached the bride
and stopped the team; took the general to
No. -. After Identification he was released,
but there were no apologies made at the sta
ton. Vests brother ofhcers said, West. your
hash is cooked He replied, L just did my
duty
According to the story West always told,
he was called to the White House the next
day, where Gen. Grant complmented him on
his discharge of his orders. West was taken
care of for number of years; his head
Swelled to such size he lost favor.
GIVE shall now switch to the grave: My
recollection of the Hirth murder is that
1t took place near a small church on r or S
street near Seventeenth street. Babe Bedford,
Ed Queenan and Sandy Pinn were hanged; a
fourth man in the gang but what was
the end of his case, do not recall. 1 was
medical officer at the Washington Asylum then
and attended the executions. These execu-
tions were held in the northeastern wing of the
building.
IT attended the execution of Guteau; during
his imprisonment became quite friendly
But, my he was afraid of smallpox; each time
he looked from his window there was the old
hospital staring him in the face.
I'm the case of Charlie Shaw he
was think. janitor of an Office building on
Louisiana avenue. One evening he induced his
sister to go to the mothers home on Oxon
Hill road When they reached the bridge
crossing the creek, he beat her over the head
with a rock and left her on the road uncon-
scious. Very unconcernedly he returned to
the city She picked up and brought to
the Washington Asylum Hospital and died in
few days from fractured skull. During her
delirium she continuously begged. oh, Charlie,
don't This may have led to his apprehen-
sion. Charlie was found guilty and hanged
in January, 1892 buried in Potter's Field. His
body was in the ground but few hours when
Jensen had it in a guano sack on the way to
Georgetown Medical College.
my father DR. johnson Eliot desired cast
of the brain; he invited DR.. Thomas Taylor of
the Agricultural Department to make one. At
$3.50 the same night the top of the skull was
removed, the brain placed In plaster of paris
and taken away for finishing So far so good.
Bodies were always cash on delivery; in this
instance there some hitch and Jensen de-
manded more money, but he was left holding
the bag. The demonstration would not meet
the demand; as the weather was extremely cold
did not much blame Jensen. Failing to get
his money the air was blue, green and all other
colors. Jensen swore in every language under
the to take the body away.
ITO make good his threat, he employed a
night liner the next night, to take a drunk
home in the hack. They drove to the college,
placed the drunk inside and went to Columbian
Medical College; he could not make a sale.
They then went to Howard University and
again failed. 1t was now getting close to day.
light and Jensen, in quandary made his get
away, leaving Mack to make the best of bad
bargain. Mack was taken to old No. 2;
Charles feet and legs sticking through one of
the windows. Charles was afterward taken to
the dead house at the Washington Asylum.
"Stoutenburg was intendant; he swore they'll
never get Charlie Shaw again He Stacked up
on burialS, but kept Charlie well protected
Stout's intentions were good, but 1 wanted
Charles skull. In few days an opportunity
presented and the skull got away. I took it to
the hospital office, placed it in q box that was
lined with plaster Of paris, then stored it in
closet in the quarters of the resident. Much
to my surprise in q few days the National
Board of Health sent me orders on January 81
to report for duty at the Smallpox Hospital;
here remained until June 80, when went to
the execution of Guiteau. When the box was
opened July 1, the skull was nice and clean;
= there had been no odoF, no suspected
what in the box. Some years afterward
some stole the fruits Of my labor Jensen
gave himself away In John Shea's saloon on
Maryland avenue. and got IL months.
oh yes; I believe the unidentified man in
one of your photos was George Douglass