The New York herald., 1877-03-17

johnson, had a one time been minister Of the gos
pol II IL still more notable that four OF the murder
militia company at this place and tnat one was an
officer OF the company They carried their state rines
we're engaged, and with these arms their deeds
OF blood were committed In every instanee..
johnson the night Of the crime mustered togcthe
four of his men-to w.t. Steve Anderson, Nelson 7
Brown, John Henry Dennis and lucus Thomas, all
negroes and all thoroughly armed. On their way 70
the house OF their intended victims they frequently
stopped to infame themselves with drink, With whcr
they had amply provided themselves and Johnson q.
one two such stoppages, compelled them
to mingle gunpowder with the liquor 70!
jus. before arriving a. their asstna.ion the dose
OF gunpowder and whiskey was again administered N
by smearing chalk pIentiiuiy over thor faces Ar{
rived the house. they crept with stealthy steps t
the door and saw through crack that the young ma
once and 10 his inquiry, ''who's thsref" they RED
sponded by asking, "Is Palmer herey" A
Palmer 10 the notorious politician, now restdenq
here recently occupied Mr.. Becchers pulpit ~
Brooklyn Tor ono service
obedience 10 imperative command TO open Il, t9
allow his visitors to satisfy thoir pretended
doubts by personal INSPECTION OF the premises,
opened door, and the band crowded In and do
manded hight to be brought The young man compiled
adding request that they "would not disturb the old
man (Hnusmannl Having thus asccrtaincd the faclf
his presence also, they forced the young man INTO
tho room occupied by his partner and, closing the
door, kept both locked in and guarded while they
proceeded TO plunder tho house Of every
article ol value they could hud. This work CON-
pe,ed they were brought out at the point OF the
bayonet and ordered to give up thcir money They at
oncc surrendered all they had, amounting TO lew
dollars only together with check for large amounts
which their capors had the cunning 10 destroy ON the
spot Adam Johnson then sent one OF hts men inloS
younger prisoner inquired what they intended TO do
with ii, and was met with the cool reply
''yoU SEE ~
As soon as tho messenger returned with the axe
Adam directed two Of hts men to hold Portmsnn bc-
Pormann resisted and undertook 10 look behind him.
When Adam struck him hoaviIy on The back ot
the head, telling him to tho floor. The Old man, theu
for tho nrst time apparently understanding tho chaS
OF the scoundreIs with whom he had to do begaL
to struggle violently, when he. too was stricken Irom
behind. and foil bleeding across tho body Of hs5
haplcss companion The nvo then SGT fire to the
bed, and to different portions OF the dwclling,i
ana went out together, laughing, as of
them declares Hearing groans proceeding from tho>
now burning room one or two OF the mon returned,
and hnding the Old man stu alive they repeated their
assured that life utterly extinct The assassins
booty aggregated some articles OF clothing, and In the
cents npiecel
Finding the country 'roo hot to hold thom' after
this affair tho whole gang fled Ono or two wero
captured before they could leave the county, and
othcrs tracked to different portions OF the State
five returned to the jail at this place TO await trial.
inry OF their own choosing, consisting OF one whits
man and eleven negroes, convicted them upon their
own confession ana they we're sentenced to death,
which sentence carried into effect to-day as stated
above.
WHILE IN PRISON
and awaiting their doom your correspondent visited
them purpose OF asccrtanng tho state Of thor
minds in wow of approaching death. Alter two
uns iccsssfu attempts to escape they had settled
down that Of apathetic resignation which Is
striking feature ds,,o in the case Of q"
have "made their peace with their Jesus" and
declared themselves ready to 60. Ono or two spoke
fcciingly OF their fames and expressed
the disposition OF their bodies alter the law had
worked It's WILL They had been kept separated from
each other heavily roned curing tho lator part OF
their Imprisonment and this treatment, together with
tho rough and scany faro with which alone thcy were
wild fierce spirits which for long time kept
tire county in terror both by day aud night