The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-23
LYNC|IINGl IN GREENVILLE
The Negro Johnson For
feits His Life.
THE JAlLER ISoVERPoWERED
And the Sheriff is Kept at
Bay.
"A Quiet Capture orthe Fated Prisoner
and Speedy Work of the Mob
Hung to u Sapling and RiddIed
With Shot,


and Speedy Work of the Mob
Hung to Sapling and RiddIet
With Shot.
On Monday morning at two o'clocl
the officers Of the law found mob o
sixty men. within two blocks OF tht
jail. They were hunting Ira johnson
the negro who shot Frank Llngford a
Piedmont u week ago. There was no
the least intimatiOn of thoir pres enc,
until officer Gunnels discovered then
on Brown street. 1t was hoped mas
much as the time for court was Sc
near at hand that no trouble would
ensue, and the machinery OF justice
would be allowed to do that which has
been delegated to it..
Sergeant Gunnells, on discovering
the presence OF the mob immediately
notified Sheriff Gilreath, who joined
the Jail. On the corner OF Main and
Broad streets they were halted by
d strong guard, who with cooked
weapons warned them at the peril OF
their lives not to come one step nearer.
Il,
as sJohnsOn was already in the possession
OF the mob.
Sheriff Gilreath, believing that all
danger has passed, turned over the
keys to the jailer on Saturday night,
having kept them in his Office safe or
at his house up to that time since
johnson was lodged in Jail.
So far as can be known now the
party was made up from around the
home of Langford near Marietta on
Saturday highland Sunday. All their
plans were carefully made and we'll
executed. The police report that the
city showed all the discipline of a
military company. 1t seems that they
agreed to rendezvous in the wood Just
beyond Mr.. S. M. Snider's, on the
Buncombe road, two miles northwest
of the city. Here they stopped before
coming in the city, tied their horses
and fed them. Then u detachment on
foot came into the city by back streets,
and were not discovered until they
were right in the heart of the city.
On arriving at the jail they de-
manded the keys OF the jailor, Homer
l.. Story, who refused them. Then
they sent off for tools, but in the mean
time the keys, which had been hid in
the parlor, were found by some OF the
party who were searching for them.
Jailor Story refused to unlock the
doors after the keys were found,
although his life was threatened.
The mob managed to open the doors,
and the prisoner was soon secured.
Without stir or hustle they marched
back with the victim of their ven
geance, returning by back streets as
did not disturb the peace of the city
with noise or tumult, only an oc.
casi.na word OF positive command
reaching the ears Of those who were
looking with wonder and amaz9ment
from closed blinds upon the curious
spectacle. The prisoner was taken to
the place of rendezvous not far from
Mr.. Snider's, and rs the first gray
streaks of dawn came stealing up from
the East, volley of half hundred
guns ended the life of Ira Johnson.
Many heard the shots, and it was
thought that it was u battle between
the blockaders and the dispensary
constables. johnson may have been
hung, but the inference is from what
can be gathered that he was tied up
to the tree and shot. 1t was q small
zee on the left of the road leading to
the Sans Souci race-track and about
one hundred yards from the Buncombe
road. His feet were few inches
from the ground. Many of the mob
were met by early comers to the city,
and one man said all he saw had their
faces blackened. They scattered in
different directions, leaving their
victim for the coroner.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
Coroner Meeks, as soon as he heard
OF the lynching, went to the scene of
the trouble and cut the body down and
.l.N N.NN a
.panelled with Amos McCurry as fore
man. The rest of the jurors were !:
h. Nj. Langley, S. Il. Lineberger. jeff
Harrison, j. IL. Bower, D. D. Dixon,
w. M. knight, j. FL. Taylor, Joseph
Parks, G. w. Manly and Nj. M. Garrett.
The first witness was Homer L..
Story the county jailor, who testified
as follows: On Monday morning
about 2 O'clock my mother, who was
sick and unable to sleep, looked out of
the window Of the jailor's residence
and saw the yard full of men. She
came to my bed and woke me up, and
told me the yard was full OF men. |
got down to the door as quick as
could They were knocking on the
door with an axe. I told them not to
break down the door, as L would un-
lock 1T for them. They said TO hurry
up about it. AS soon as the door was
unlocked the mob crowded in and
asked for the keys. | told them
didn't have the keys. They said they
wanted Ira johnson. 1 told them he
was upstairs. They went up stairs
and examined the doors. They came
back and wanted to know where the
keys were. told them that since
Monday the sheriff had been locking
up at night and taking the. keys with
him. They'pulled their pistols on me
and said they didn't believe me. They
said had them and had to give then
up. I told them couldn't give then
what didn't have. The leader sale
they would get tools and break Ia
Some went off for tools and while they
were gone, fifteen or twenty Of then
searched for tho keys. Those wht
had gone for tools came back In abou
fifteen or twenty minutes. AS the,
came back with tools, one of the mol
found the keys. They then turned OF
me, drew pistols and said | had :.
unlock the door. told them
wouldn't do 1t. They went up stair
to try 1t themselves. They unlOcke
one look and hung the keys In tn
second lock. They came back afte
me and said / had TO unlock 1t TO
them. Three men carried me upstair
and the leader ofthe crowd ordered m
to unlock the door. | told them
would sea them dead and In hell befor