The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-03-22
Georgia Justice.
WHITE NAN HUNG FOR KILLING 4 NEGRO
a DESPERADO WHO HAD COMMIT
TED EIGHT MURDERS.
A despatch from Rome, Ga, dated March

]
J despatch from Rome, Ga, dated March
10Th, says:
J This rapid little city packed on Friday
with the largest crowd that ever gathered
within its limits The occasion that brought it
together was the execution of Augustus john
son, which has just taken place IL is roughly
estimated that twenty thouss nj people were in
! the city at one O'Clock on Friday.
Augustus johnson is about twenty-six years
of BY his own confession he is the slayer
of eight persons, all Of whom ne Killed in viula-
tion of law. With enc possible exception. He
was hung yesterday for the murder of Daniel
Afford colored, being the first white man ever
hung in Georgia for the murder of a negro.
Johnson's relatives claimed that he was insane
and indeed a verdict of insanity was once re-
s. turned against him by jury. He confined
in the State Lunatic Asylum, from which he
escaped.
THE CRIME AND ARREST.
! The testimony shows that on the morning of
the murder he was riding through the country. i.
He in unusually fine spirits, as several
witnesses who met him juet before the murder
testified. AT length he reached the ferry, and
( found the boat on the opposite side, re dis
mounted from his horse aud called to the ferry.
man, Daniel Afford, TO bring the boat over. A
number of negro school children and one or
two white men were standing near him on the
banks OF the river. At his command the negro
fcrryman left companion with whom he was
talking, and started TO the boat. johnson or
II. you want the bout ANY quicker than ',n
going TO bring II over, you had better come and
and took hold of his gun. The ferryman cried.
"Don't fool with me with that gun" he then
tarned to loose the boat, when his companion
called to him TO look out. He turned and dis
covered that johnson was Ieveling. his gun nt
him. Before he could say or do anything the
gun was hred. and he tell into the boat mortal
/ ly Wounded. His compaCion, it was thought
at first, was also wounded or killed, as he
dropped at the report of the gun. 1t dis
I covered afterward that this was only through
excitement. After Johnson had dom the shoot
ing he quietly mounted his horse and rode OF
+ not even waiting or caring TO see whether the
wounds were fatal. He took no pains TO con-
( ceaI himself or his crime. Meeting an acouaIn-
tance shortly afterward, he asked him If he
Thought bis gun would kill a man across the
for | shot one down AZ the ferry awhile ago.
He protested that no one would dare to arrest
him. as the officers were all afraid OF him He
consequently took his time in making his ar
Engagements to leave the country for Texas
One day, shortly after the murder, a big log
rolling was in progress, the Sheriff being in al
tendance, when johnson quietly walked into
the crowd. He was heavily armed. Some Of
he would certainly be arrested. He declined
TO leave, adding that any man that attempted
The Sheriff, however, summon ed the crowd as
a posse, and surrounding Johnson, oemanded
his surrender. Seeing that he could hope for
surrendered.
TIE DAY BEFORE THE HANGiNG
Johnson was stripped from head to foot and
his body searched carefully. = small knife
! made OF steel from the bottom OF a shoe was
/ round in the lining of his drawers. He WAS
eide. He cursed his wife and sister yesterday in
/ his cell tor crying, and drove them out. He
]
/ licking the Atlanta Sheriff and telling racy
! jokes. he slept quietly, having drank "a good
deal Priests spent the morning with him, and
/ when ordered TO go to the scaf7ola he refused
! 70 .eave his cell unless they gave him morphine.
( being icoied ~llh qu:nine, he went out smuk-
! ing cigar joked all the way with the Sheriff,
/ and smiled and nodded at the bystanGcrs.
~ " ,nc ecn oiG. ue refused TO go up TIL
/ ne had drink OF whiskey. while taking it a
street tsaHgeist approached him, and asked
/ hlm about his soul The priest ordered the
7 evangelist OH, saving johnson had chosen him
as hls adviser The evangelist pointed solemn
~ to big card, ON which was painted: THE
piood or Jesus cIcanses all sins. and said, MIR
/ johnson, this is the ttmc," and withdrew He
went up the scefold
WITH DRUNKEN sWAGGER
smoking a cigar. After looking at the crowd
he asked that the box be lifted from the coffin
so he conld see it. He said That coffin ie
Being refused, he asked for the judge mai
sentenced nun ana told him his last request
/ The priest handed him boiy water; he tasted
! II, with an oath threw it under the scafroid
and SAD ne Thought il was gin: He maize a
speech IN defiant way, and confessed the Kill.
li'g OF tour men. lie closed by saying: This
erowH looks s;I IKE straw In a naystack. wish
long lie resisted the adjustment OF the moose
but hnaly consented if they would
LET him TIE 1T HIMSELF.
He held cross in his hand while he made hi,
and died with il in his hands. He made no pro
blacl, cap should not toe pat on. When he saw
the drop was uu!y five feet he insisted that tht
ippc slpulu 80 t-iiEtnRneJ, ana IL mad,
seven feet. II" uslscd he doctor if that w Quiz
break his neck. He was very much afraid OF
strangul9tion. In his confession Johnson sale
ne knew he hsi friends in the crowd prenareC
70 rescue hi'r but said il wGs to try il
Several alleged confessions were pcda Iei akoi,i
the grounds after the hanging. The Grove
numbered i3,tVU people and excursion train.
were run from all quarters. There were few
Gistur rbanCes. Johnson asked to be hung "a
hall past eleven. lie wanted to get TO the ncX
world by dinner-timc, as he had eaten a ligh
I breakfast.