The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-16
GUS JOHNsON'S EMF
Probably the First White MINI Hanged In
Georgia for kiIiing - Negro.

ROME, Ga. March 15.-tius johnson was
hanged in this city to-day for the murder Of
Daniel Afford a negro. in August. 1876. This
Is probably the first instance of the hanging Of n
white man for the killing of negro In Georgia.
The murder was committed at Kings Land
ing n private ferry on tho Coosa river. about
seventeen miles from Rome. and the crcum-
stances attending the same nrc briefly rs fol-
lows
Daniel Afford. negro about 81 years Of agc.
while preparing 10 take fiat boat across the
river was accostcd 10y johnson from the oppo-
site bank and requested to fetch the fiat over.
and that damned quick" Tho tone of john
son and his language probably cxasperatcd the
negro. who replied that he would bring 1t when
he got ready and not To hurry him If he wanted
it brought over any quicker he must come after
II himself johnson. raising double-barrcllcd
shotgun which he carried. nngrilv told the
negro TO say nothing more to him or he would
shoot his damned heart out" To this tho negro
made som" reply. whereupnn johnson cried
furiously. You don't know who YOU arc talk
ING to | am Gus Johnson. and don't take SASS
from my damned Niger" and with these words
took deliberate aim and fired. The negro fell
and expired almost immediately. tho ball hnv-
ing taken effect IN his breast Just below the left
The sudden and fatal termination of the DIM
Guilty. coupled with the great terror in which
johnson is held in this section prevented soy
cral negroes who were standing near him ut the
time OF the firing from drininng him, and with.
out Whiting 70 ascertain th" result OF his muir,
dcrous act. johnson leaped ON his horse and
rode rapidly away.
The report of the murder spread rapidly. and
parties Were organized for the arrest 81 the
fugitive. Although the search was vigorously
prosecuted for several weeks. no clu" was Oh
tnincd 10 his whereabouts. md Moth further
was heari of Johnson until the spring VI 1871.
when news reached til" city that he was In Chat
ioola county. committing acts OF law'"ssn"ss
Early in April the Sheriff of Chattougn county.
accom- panied hy posse Of citizens. apprc-
h9nded Johnson and brought him to this city.
where he was lodged in Jail
johnson. nthnuHh only about % years OF age.
being man Of violent disposition and evil
habits. H. Is currently reported 10 have COM
united various crimes. and though several in
hitherto managed To "vale the pennliy of his
misdrcis. shortly before Johnson's arrest the
body 81 n murdered nun WIS found floating In
the Chau9osn river IN the northern par, oi this
Stntr. and Il is generally believed that johnson
committed this murder also.
Johnson's trial for the murder OF the negro
began on April 3D. and continued five Nays. The
plea OF insanity was mainly relied upon but af-
ter full investigation the jury. after days de-
liberation. returned verdict OF guilty John
sons counsel made motion for u new trial.
RED ~ the supreme Court. In the meanwhile.
the Jail in this city being considered Insecure.
the prisoner was taken TO Atlanta for safe keep
vcmher last. when. by II desperate effort. he
succeeded III making his escape ii. wis. how
miles from Atlanta. The supreme Court. On
reaching his cnse, affirmed the judgment of the
Court below and last January johnson WAS
sentenced To- be- hanged to-day.
Coy. ColQuitt. though appealed to refused 10
interfere, Yesterday the prisoner was visited
in Jail by his wife aud sister but he drove them
AWAY with trrribl" curses. This morning. NJ
fifteen minutes OF II. h" WIS taken from the
jail and conveyed To the ghllows. which had
been erected about q mile from the city An
immense crowd. variously estimated TT from
five 10 eight thousand proplr. including women
d a 4 l w..
cuton. Al III" prisoners request. the hanging
WAS delayed some time. and he continually i'm
portuned the sheriff for whskcy. Of which he
drank several glassrs. At about | O'Clock he
assembled the scatiod attended by Fathers Coli
bert and CuinlHn Of the Catholic Church. and
began a long address. IN which he confessed
that he had murdered two men. and aid ii in
killing two othcrs. The cruciiiX WAS then held
10 his liis by the priests. and he kissed H. At
twenty minutes 81 the drop fell aud Johnson
died almost Immediately. his neck having been
broken by the fall.