A DESPERATE CRIMINAL.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

A DESPERATE CRIMINAL.

A merican papers record a remarkable scene which was witnessed in the Wayne Circuit Court, Lyons, New York, on the 28th of May. John Johnson, a desperate criminal from New York, had been indicted on twelve counts for burglary, robbery, and attempts to murder. If the full penalty of the law was given on each one of these indictments, he would go to prison 120 years. In the face of his doom, he became more and more desperate, and boldly announced his intention to do anything, even suicide, to escape from prison. ( n the day in question he was tried upon an indictment for assault, with intent to kill S. R. Vanduson in Newark a month ago. The courtroom was packed with people, asd the gallery was crowded with ladies, because of Johnson's noted career in crime. At 5 o'clock,, District Attorney Hoag was concluding his address to the jury, and everyone was listening intently. Johnson in an instant leaped from the prisoner's box and rushed towards Mr. Hoag, yelling out that ho would kill him. Wild excitement rose in the courtroom, fhe Judge ran into a side room. The District Attorney ' escaped behind the witness-stand, and jury and court officeis scattered iv all directions. The women in the gallery screamed excitedly, expecting to sets murder committed before their eyes. County Judge Collins and several others caught hold of the prisoner from the rear and restrained him. Johnson is a powerful fellow, and in a moment he threw them out of the way. At last the sheriff and guards were on him, and then a desperate fight followed, and excitement became more intense. Men yelled, "Kill him I" " Knock his brains out I" "Let's lynch him here!" and one woman fainted. Two of the guards were felled to the floor by Johnson's blows. The guards, however, beat him over the head with handcuffs from the rear. Exhausted by loss of blood and severe poundings, Johnson fell to the floor and was handcuffed. He was carried back to the prisoner's box swearing vengeance. His face was covered with blood and his cheeks were like jelly. He presented a horrible sight. After some time the excited audience calmed down, and the jury returned to their box. The District Attorney sank into a chair and did not resume his address. The Judge charged the jury in a few words. The jury retired, but returned almost immediately, and gave a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner was brought in ironed, and bleeding profusely. He was given the full penalty of the law, which was ten years in Auburn prison,