The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-27
RIDDLED WITH BULLETS.
IIatticsburg's Black Ravisher Pays
the Penalty.

INV y NMAAAaH
Hattiesburg. Miss. July 26.-The negro
Tom Johnson. after being taken from Jail
al this place Wednesday night by a mob
Of a hundred determined men made his
escape. reaching the Hartheld residence.
The entire day yesterday was devoted to
his recapture which was accomplished az
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. The band
OF men being completely worn for lack
OF sleep and rest. spent the night last night
with their prisoner within three miles Of
Hattiesburg and at 6 o'clock this morning
started with him to the Harthcld place.
six miles in the country, which place
they reached at 10 O'Clock this morning.
He was taken before the wounded woman.
and after being identified, made a full
confession.
He was then taken out in the woods.
and In the presence of an immense crowd,
at o'clock this afternoon. his body was
riddled with buckshot. lie implicated no
one else, but said he alone committed the
deed.
on the march to the Hartneld home
stead the negro gave no trobule. Arriv-
ing there he was taken before Mrs. Hart
field, who positively identified him as the
person who shot her on Saturday night
last Johnson at first denied it. but finally
hung his head and confessed that he did
the shooting, but before doing so he had
to be taken 70 the spot where he killed
his first victim.
A committee was then appointed TO re-
cetVe his confession. composed of j. G.
Carter ID. c. Hemphill. MF Boone. John
Ryan, George Smith and two others. They
escorted him TO room in the Hartheld
home and ne then dictated a confession
to Mr. Carter, who wrote " out word for
word and had the hend append HIS sigma
ture to IL. The confession was to the er-
feet that he killed Susie, choked and
thought he had killed Katie and that he
shot al Mrs. Hartheld with the fun in
tention of closing her life forever. lie de-
MED until the last that had raped Susie
The committee then informed him II he
would give the name OF his accomplces
they would allow him TO choose his own
way TO death, either at the end of a rope,
burned at the stake or shot. He asked
to be shot and wanted TO select his own
men to kill him. This was denied him.
He was then taken half a mile from the
scene OF the crime, where the committee
tied the ropes 10 either wrists, the ends Of
which were fastened to two trees. This
was only to prevent him from escaping and
the ropes were sufficiently loose to permit
him to kneel down. He then got upon his
knees with his back towards the armed
citizens. Everything was now ready 10
send the soul Of the negro into eternity
for his atrocious crimes. The words
ready fire. were uttered by George
Smith, who was chosen captain OF the
committee and as he uttered the words
volley after Volley was poured into the
negro's body through the back. The first
two OF three shots finished him but the
outraged citizens continued shooting until
the bullets seemed to raise the lifeless body
from the ground.
The plan for the execution was pre-
viously arranged and carried out to the
letter. Fully 500 shots were put into the
negro's body. many of the men reloading
their guns a number of times johnson
was literally riddled with the leaden mis-
siles and parts of his flesh We're hang
ing in shreds.
The holes were too numerous TO count.
and were as close to each other as peas
in a pod. He presented n horrible sight,
but not one bullet pierced his face, thus
1t was not dishgured and was natural
when dead. The body was turned over to
Johnsons father-in-law. Ned McCullom,
who with a number OF his race dug hole
right on the spot where he was shot,
which was a hollow several feet deep,
and buried the remains of the worst
fiend who has ever terrorized this state.
Hattiesburg has again resumed It's US
ual quiet, although the recent outrage
and ultimate consequences are discussed
by everybody.