Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1901 — SIXTEEN YEARS IN "SOLITARY.” [ARTICLE]

SIXTEEN YEARS IN "SOLITARY.”

Remarkable Punishment InfiictcJ Upon Firebug Johnson. After undergoing sixteen years of solitary confinement in a dismal dungeon in Ijeavenwortb prison J. B. Johnson, who was recently pardoned by Governor Stevens, arrived In Chicago recently after serving within two years of his original sentence of twenty-four years. In personal appearance Johnson does not look like a criminal. He has large hazel eyes, dark complexion, and a frank and open countenance. He was first sentenced to the penitentiary from Shelby County, Missouri, for twelve years for robbing a hotel keeper of $25. He had not been in prison long until lie led a revolt to escape and failing to do so he is alleged to have set fire to one of the shops causing its destruction, whence his nickname “Fire Bug” Johnson. For this offense lie was given an additional sentence of twelve years, making In all twenty-four years. Governor Stevens recently granted him a pardon on condition that he left the State of Missouri. “1 am glad that I'm not a raving maniac,” remarked Johnson yesterday, “as a few years of solitary confinement lu a dark and dreary dungeon is enough to snp and destroy any ordinary man's mental aud physical strength and leave him a wreck fit only for the grave or the madhouse. It is hard to imagine the power of endurance that will carry a man through sixteen years of this terrible strain. I passed a great part of this time pacing to and fro across the narrow confines of my cell and wore out three heavy oak board floors. I also Invented secret methods of writing aud taught them to other prisoners, using the guard to carry the notes. During my confinement in order to while away the solitude I made pets of spiders, cockroaches, and mice, and taught a white mouse to carry notea to other cells. The patience necessary tn taming and teaching Insects was something almost Incredible. 1 think I’m ths only man in the United States who has spent sixteen years in solitary confinement In an American P After being pardoned by Governor Stevens, Johnaoa was given a ticket to

San Antonio, Texas, and SB3 and escorted to the State lines. Since then he has been relating bls experience in a number of States, but has tried in vain to secure permission from the State authorities to lecture in Missouri.