The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-07-25
LYNCNING IN GRBENV[LLB
The Negro Johnson For
feits His Life.
THE JAlLER is OVERPOWERED
p And the Sheriff is Kept at
Bay.
A Quiet Capture ofthe Fated Prisoner
and Speedy Work OF the Mob
Hung to n Sapling and Riddled
With Shot.

With Shot.
On Monday morning at two O'Clock
the officers Of tho law found mob O
sixty mon within two blocks of the
jail. They were hunting Ira Johnson
the negro who shot Frank Langford at
Piedmont week ago. There was not
the least intimation OF their presence
until officer Gunnells discovered them
on Brown street. 1t was hoped mas
much as the time Tor court was so
near at hand that no trouble would
onsue, 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
him and together they went towards
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.
1t was needless for them to 60 further,
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
plans were carefully made and we'll
executed. The police report that the
city showed all the discipline of q
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 tho 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.
Jatlor 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
they came, and the solemn procession
did not disturb the peace OF the city
with noise or tumult only an oc-
casi.nal word OF positive command
reaching the ears of those who we're
looking with wonder and amaZement
from closed blinds upon the curious
spectacle. The prisoner was taken to
the place of rendezvous not far from
Mr.. Snider's, and as the first gray
the East, q volley of half q hundred
guns ended the life of Ira Johnson.
Many heard the shots, and it was
though that 1t was a 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. It was small
tree 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
we're 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
brought it to town. A jury was en-
panelled with Amos McCurry as fore
man. The rest of the jurors were !:
r. M. Langley, s. II. Lineberger. JEFF
Harrison, J. II. Bower, D. D. Dixon,
w. M. Knight, j. Fl. Taylor, Joseph
Parks, G. w. Manly and M. M. Garrett.
The first witness was Homer l..
Story, the county jailor, who testified
as follows: On Monday morning
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. I
got down to the door as quick as 1
could. They were knocking on the
door with an axe. told them not to
Dreak down the door, as would un-
lock 1T TO, them. They said TO hurry
up about 1t. As soon as the door was
uhlocked tho mob crowded in and
asSea sS ior the keys. l told them
mantd u,unS nave I'VE the keys. They said they
was was upstairs. They won't up stair.
hac hno,x oX%m,nea ann nao the doors. They came
keys were. I told them thot .;uo' U,,'
Monday the sheriff had been Iocnint I,ot
up at night and taking the KEYS omit ,uit !
him. They pulled their pistols On "rol ~.
and said thSy didn't believe me- " Thn' ,l,,
said had them and had to give thu
up. told them I couldn't give them
what didn't have. The leader sal.
they would get tools and break , in
Some went of for tools and while the,
were gone, fifteen or twenty of then
searched for tho keys. Those VIII
had gone for tools came back in abou
fifteen or twenty minutes. As the
came back with tools, ono of tho mo
found the keys. They then turned o.
me, drew pistols and said T had t
Unlock the door told than,