Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-16
The Hanging ola Villain.

Georgia, yesterday, for the murder Of the ne.
gro ferrynan Alfred, in the presence of ten
thousand people. johnson showed no signs Of
fear, and assembled the gallows with cigar 10
bis mouth. Being asked if he had apytbiogto
say, he said -
II Want everybody here to hear me. The
people are as thick as straws 10 baystack, aud
l know | have friends 10 this crowd that CONF
here to rescue me; but l don't want them 10
attemptit. Sheriff jenkins has been kind to
me, aud be and bis deputy are my friends and
l requested him to hang Inc if had to be *
ecuted."
He confessed to four murders. The Squire
Foster murder case, he said, his father conpro
missed by paying the Solicitor General $2j
He then started to tell who was with him Uhcu
he killed Foster, but friend On the scsffold in
duced him not to say anythiog about them.
All the time he was talking be held Catto
lie cross 10 his hand. When they tied his
hands be dropped it and asked for it sgain,and
kept it until be fell through tie trap. When
the moose was adjusted he asked permission to
tie the knot himself. lie then made the sher.
if lengthen tho rope SO that he would drop
seven feet instead OF five. lie was thea no:
would break bis neck. lie said he did OF wait
to take any chances on being choked to death
lie begged the Sheriff not to pull the black
CAP over his head, because he wanted TO STE
what was going on. Just before The Trap .It
he said, "Jeokins are you going to do it?'
Jenkins replied, Yes lie said, "AIl right,
and ia another moment the trigger was spruup
and he died 10 about twenty minutes from
strauguIation.
lie made no uliusion to spiritual Affairs "u
the gallows, but declared the day before lhat
he had no hope for the future aud tba: he ouy
Joined the church TO please the priests, who had
been kind to him. His rcmaios vii be car
lied to Chattoga couoty, to morrow.
johnson was native Of the State, highly
and respectfully connected, twenty six yeats
old, married, and the father Of one child. From
boyhood he led wild life, iodulging fiery
temper which brooked no check, habltua.:r
carrying arms which he used on the slghte.:
provocatou. lie was Identified with i'aul
of roughrders, who were the terror OF that sec
ton of the State. lie openly boasted OF hi.
murders, cuumerstiog eight of them, giving
the details with 40 air OF absolute selsaIsta,
ton. ODe of these was tho klllog OF Squire
Foster, sick man, whom he shot in bed AMI
then hacked the body in pieces with satrc
lie also boosted that on one occasion at CAMP
meeting his youog companions induced u"
gro baby to call him Daddy" which eoragcl
him. lie Iurcd the baby into the bushes al
nightfa and cut its throat. lie asserted thai
he subsequently used pieces OF the baby'S Ssh
for fish bait.
johnson was riding through the country Car
rying his gun and pistol, with which he was in
variably AIMED. one morning. he had bot;io
of whiskey with him, and seems TO have exocu:
cd sort Of royal ride through the districts,
ravishing watermelon patches, catching stray
negroes and making them march in front CT hi
horse. At length he reached the ferry; II"
found crowd Of negro school children collected
on the bank OF the river near him. On the other
side was the boat, hanging by its rope. with lne
iorryman. David Afford, and two friends stand
ing on tho bank. johnson shouted TO him.
Bring that boat over here" Afford steppri
leisurey into his boat Hurry up, damn you.
cried johnson. III you want the boat brough'
faster you must come and bring it yourself
Don't tool with me that way" shouted JohT-
son. BY this time Afford was about TO move
the boat when his friend called to him t.
found that johnson had levellcd his shotgun
and WAS aiming it directly vt him. lie appear
not to have thought johnson was going TO IRE,
when suddenly q blaze streamed from the love-
led barrels, and Afford fell a corpse across IT,"
rope Of his boat. His negro friend, who Was
the report but as he afterwsrd contested, it Wa
only through exciten ent. johnson lolterei
about the scene for 3 while cursing and swearing
and then mounting his horse rode OIL he nevcr
had any sort Of difficulty with tho terrynlsE-
in fact i! WAS doubtful If he had ever seen hin
before.
A CARD FROM Col. MAYo.-Col. Joseph
MAYO, cy-Treasurcr of tho Stale OF Virginia.
has addressed letter 10 the Richmond Wing
| 10 regard to recent Investigations ny Commit
tee of the Legislature into the affairs OF the
State Treasury. Co., Mayos communications
| coucl udes as follows
As soon as can get their full report, with Tie
testimony taken by them, and some other ne
ccsslry documents, | shall set about writing II
narralive Of my experience 10 the Office OF Urea
surer of the Commonwealth Of Virginia; and II
nv right hand has not lost its cunning, when
| have finished my task there will be nothing
left to engage the painful researches Of another
committee of Investigation. | shall likewise
take occasion to explain why it happens that
have not spoken sooner in my defence J ask
no suspension of tho public judgment in
| my behalf. If any man says that / ever know.
! ingIy touched dollar of the States money, with
| ielonious INTENT he speaks what is as false rs
sin ITSELF than hell moro foul. When thu
trouble came upon me | stood man anon:
meu; honorcd with the respect aud confidence
of ali who had known me from my childhood.
| My reputation was earned by no arts but man
Iy arts Please God to keep me in my present
health of mind and body, | shall 10 duo time
make good my right to the place | then held 10
| the general public opinion.
Suspended Savings Banks.
Of hp
| directors of the Five Cent Savings Bank las!
| evening, it was decided to contrivo to pay al
| depositors on demand. The number Of depos''
| tors is about II 600 and tho deposits amour. u