The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-03-07
MOB RULE IN LONG BRANCH.
Il NEGK0'S TERRIBLE CRIME AND
ITS C0NSh QUENCKS.

A1S CONSTITUENCIES.
Sam johnson almost Murders and Out
RACES Young White Lady, and an
Indignant Community Hang Him
to His Cell Bars for His Crime.
Lone BRANCH. March Special This
community has never been wrought
to such pitch of excitement as
to day. The cause of the excite
ment is nothing less than the lynch
ing of Samuel Johnson, a sixty-five year
old mcgee, for the horrible outrage of Miss
Herbert, the nineteen year old daughter of
Mr.. Henry Herbert, citizen of Maps Mills,
distant about a mile from this place.
johnson is known as a most desperate
william. Last evening about half-past six
Miss Herbert was returning to her house
unaccompanied. The road she usually
took Is rather lonely and so she turned off
the road into lane, she suddenly found her
self face to face with the burly African,
who expiated his crime to-day at the
hands of an Infatuated mob. He had
probably lay in wait for his victim, for he
sprang from the side of the road, and lift
ing his deadly weapon, he struck the I'M
fortunate girl a severe blow on the head,
which stunned her. He then accomplished
his purpose by outraging her, having done
which he left her unconscious on the road
side. The girl was discovered some time
later and taken to her home, where she
lies in q critical condition. Tie story of
the crime spread like wild6re, and by
eight o'clock vigilance committee was
formed, determined to hunt the william
down, and if found to deal with him in a
summary manner. Threats of lynching
were heard on all sides. johnson, when
he left the scene of the crime, ventured
to go to his home in South Eatontown. It
was here that he was captured about 10
o'clock last night, just as he was preparing
for bel, by two brothers named Wheeler,
residents of Eatontown. After a desper-
ate struggle, in which it seemed imminent
for time that the negro would overpower
the two young men, powerful as they are,
they succeeded in binding their prisoner
and brought him to the jail here. Before
they arrived at the Jail they were met by
section of the vigilance committee who at
first demanded that he be hung
to the nearest tree; but they were prevailed
upon to desist and he was safely lodged in
q cell in the Jail, not, however, until clubs
of various thicknesses had been freely used
upon him. The excitement by no means
abated after the brute had been incarcer-
ated On the contrary, it seemed to in
crease, and indignation meetings of an
impromptu order we're held all over town,
the tenor of the talk at which was that the
fend must be lynched. At length an ex-
cited mob marched to the lookup, which
was unguarded, and, after an unsuccessful
attempt to force in the side of the Jail,
they tore off the staples of the door, and
rushed into tbs cell. Dragging the negro
out, they dubbed him so numerically that
his cries for mercy could be heard for half
a mile. Not content with clubbing him
until his head was horribly bruised, they
tied rope around his neck, and, running
it through the iron grating over the jail
door, they quickly ended his existence,
and left him swinging.
Henry Herbert and his son, the father
and brother of the injured girl, came to
the Jail just after johnson had been locked
up and begged permission to shoot him,
but were not permitted by Constable Lie
henthal to enter.
The clubs in the Jail are covered with
blood. The dead negro has been dreaded
and feared ever since his boyhood (Which
was spent here) by almost every person in
the neighborhood. Among the many dis
reputable darkies forming the colored vii
lage Of South Eatontown he has been the
worst, and all believe he met his just fate,
which will teach the remainder OF his kind
o much needed lesson. johnson we known
as Mingo jack" Miss Herbert is most
estindsble young woman and liked by every
one. No sympathy whatever is expressed
for the black brute No clew to the lynch
ers as yet has been found, but more de
velopments may be expected soon.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The Associated Press sends the following
account of the tragedy:
EAToNTowN, N. j., March GA colored
man, named Samuel Johnson, alias "Mingo
Jack" wSs arrested here early last evening
upon a charge of rape, msde by Miss
Angelina Herbert, the daughter of James
Stewart Herbert, farmer living on the
Popular Road, which leads from Eaton
town to Asbury Park. The alleged criminal
was locked up in the little brick Jail in
Eaton.own. About one o'clock this morn
ing the Jail was broken open, and after
johnson had been dubbed until he was
nearly dead he was lynched.
At six O'Clock this morning, William
Abbott, laborer employed at one of the
body of johnson hanging from the little
IRON grating over the entrance to the
Jail. Abbott gave the alarm, aud in
y few minutes fully 500 persons gathered
around the little brick building. 1he body
of the black fend swung to and fro until
the arrival of Coroner Il. p Smith, of Bed
Bank. who cut it down. Tine face had
been so badly beaten that it was impossible
to tell whether the corpse was that Of a
eoioEed man or white one The tight
eye had been knocked out and lay upon
the cheek. The two cells inside were
scattered with blood. On the floor of one
Of them lay two oak clubs covered with
blood and hair.
4 is not known who lynehsa the negro,
and he people of the town, although
greatly EXCITED over the affair, are not at
all anxious to find them.
Miss Herbert 10 8 blonde, of slight figure,
about "a years of age. She is very delicate.
She had known Johnson, who lived here
all his life, by sight, for several years
She was on her waS to the house OF Jack
son Brown, neighbor. at the time the
assault was committed. While in path
way which leads through the woods lying
between her home and Browns house
she was overtaken by johnson. The negro
caught her by the throat, and told her
that il she did rot comply with his wishes
hs would kill her. He then dragged her
into the woods at the side of the path for
about seventy-five yards. Knocking her
dewn by sinking her heavy Dlow panlnd
the left ear, be brutally outraged her.
When he had accomplished his purpose he
struck off through the woods to bis cabin.
Miss Herbert succeeded in reaching her
hon,e, and told her horrible story. Her
father drove to Eatontown for John G.
Edwards. Justice of the Peace.
Constable Henry Liebenthal; heard of the
crime committed Wv the negro and at once
drove out to his Sousa and found him
chopping wood. Johnson refFsed to say
anything when the officer accused hip of
assaulting Miss Herbert, spd submitted
quietly to arrest. He was placed IN a cell
before Justice Edwards had taken the de-
position of Miss Herbert. The young girl
positively identified Johnson as he brute
who outraged her. She is confined to her
bed from the injuries received at his hande.
There is large lump on the lack Of her
head where she was struck by Johnson