The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-04-26
The KILLING of Sam. c. Johnson.

LFroln the Brashear News, April 12th.l
In our last issue we mentioned that
Sam. G.. johnson, cOlOred, a Justice of
the peace for this ward, while resisting
arrest from the town policeman, was
shot at by a number of excited cOlOred
men, and received two wounds in the
left side, from which he died twenty
minutes after. This occurred on the
third instant, and on the fifth the coro-
ner's jury rendered a verdict of murder
against E. B. Gray and Andrew Digs,
as principals, andJOhn Van Slyck, James
Dorsey, George Howard, John Ward,
Charles Oglesby, and others, whose
names are unknown, as accessories.
Warrants were Immediately issued for
their arrest. The excitementamOng our
cOlOred population, however, was such,
it was deemed mOre.p prudent to send to
Franklin for the sheriff. Constable
Poplar t~elegraphed at once, and early
Sunday morning, Mr.. Min0s T. Gordy
and his deputy arrived here Onthe Teche
boat, and in a short while the prisoners
were all quietly awaiting the departure
of the Minnie Avery for the parish seat.
At twelve o'clock the New Orleans train
arrived, and q few minutes thereafter
the steamer blew her whistle, her lines
were cast off, and her head pointed to-
ward Franklin.
SAM. c. JOHNSON.
The deceased was a native of Wash
ington, District Of C%Olumbia,9 and was
about thirty-three years of age. He had
a powerful frame and otherwise was a
strong built man, had an iron cOnstitu-
fInn Tr0c fnn1Incc 0rI OF 4iooxn n 4ox,o-,
to his ice It was his constant boast
that the white mans blood flowed in his
veins. His complexion was yellow, his
hair of a reddish hue, and his language,
when addressing colOred men, not only
dictatOrial, buthis attitude, while speak
of such q character that few of his
brethren listened to him but with awe
mingled with respect. At an early age
he was purchased by a Creole family
and removed to the parish of st. Landry,
where he labored as a slave until 1864,
when he joined the Seventy-eighth Col
Ored Infantry, ranking as sergeant. In
1865 he wa married in the town of
Washington, parish of St. Landry, and
there resided until 1868, when the great
riot, which proved so disastrous
to the negroes Of that parish, gotten I'D
by the bad white men who livedin their
and he and his friend, Emerson
(whitel were forced to fee and
come to ST.. Mary for a refuge. Poor
Johnson, he Jared badly. His EXcellency,
Gov. H. c. WarmOth, appointed him a
of the peace for the Fifth Ward
of this parish. During the last political
johnson was a good worker
in the cause of Col. J. B. Price, indie
pendent candidate for Representative in
Congress from Dur third district. MANY
a black eye he received during the can
vass. Undaunted, he visited the various
parishes composing the district; butluck
vas against him, the Independent can
didate was badly beaten by our fellow
Hon. c. B. Darrall. Col.
Price, it is stated, is the intimate friend
OF Governor Kellogg. In that intimacy
poor Johnson was forgotten.
THE KILLING AND ITS CAUSE.
On the evening of the second instant,
Johnson, in his capacity of justice of the
peace, ordered the arrest of a cOlored
for gambling, and sent him to Jail.
The town marshal, in examining the iail
while the prisoner was taking his supper,
in him n who answered the
description of q horse thief, and, after
consultation with several citizens, de-
termined to prefer the charge against
him. This was done at once.
ATTEMPTED RIOT,
About seven o'clock next morning a
crowd of colOred men, headed by
quite a number wearing shield-badges,
with the letters B. B. B. A. thereon, pro
ceeded to the Jail and were about to at
the release of the prisoner, when
prominent white citizen stepped for
ward and warned the mob to disperse or
the consequences would prove to their
Johnson was present at the
time, and was repeatedly accused of
robbed the prisoner. Without
.eigning to give an answer, he marched
up to his accusers and looked upon them
with scOrn.
AFFIDAVIT AGAINST JOHNSON.
Atten O'clOckt the prisoner was brought
before the court to stand his trial and
was released on the gambling charge,
when he Immediately made affidavit be-
fore Judge Harris against johnson, for
him the day previous of fifty
dollars. The prisoner was returned to
Jail to await the arrival of witnesses in
horse stealing case, and a warrant
for the arrest of Johnson placed in the
hands Of Policeman James Dorsey.
THE BATTLE.
At eleven o'clock colOred men began
crowd around JOhns0n's house, taking
various positions, until at twelve o'clock
every avenue was guarded. Policeman
Dorsey, with a deputy, just at that hour
reached the front of the house, and the
deputy, after reading the warrant at the
door, which johnson had opened to hear
it read, demanded his surrender. john
son, stating that he would not give him
self up to anegrO, shut his door, but
after came out from the rear of
the house with cockedrevolver in hand.
cry was made; "Here he cOmes!"
advanced, and saying! "You are
my prisoner" attempted to lay his hands
on johnson. The latter, admonishing
not to touch him, raised his re-
volver and fired five timesat Dorsey, the
shot taking effect in Dorsey's
right hand. It is said that Dorsey then
cried out: II am'shot. Shoothim !! shoot
and of the fifty or sixty men on
the ground, not less than thirteen shots
were fired. johnson ran a short distance
and fell, mortaliy wounded, living only
minutes after.
ANOTHER VERSION.
Accordingly aversion the crowd
fired at J0hntOn before Dorsey cried out
that he was shot.
a - $500 ~ EE-