The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-01-23
THREE FIENDS ARE DEAD
NEGROES STRUNG UP nv A MON IN
LOUISIANA.
Il Was Proposed at First to Barn the
Unfortunate Wretehes, hat Wet
weather PReVsnted.

Amlts. La. Jan. A-rhRes negro muir
derers are dead. Arch Joiner and John
Johnson. who at the last moment con-
fessed their guilt OF killing the Cotton
family. and Gus Williams. alias Norris
sey. who shot and killed his young wlte
The bodies Of the two former hang to
a limb out I'm the woods about half
mile from tho house In which they
butchsred their Victims Ths last negro's
body was cut down this afternoon and an
inquest held over T.
Last night about 300 men rode into town
and first securing the keys to the jail
from Deputy Wainwright. took the three
negroes from the Jail. tied their hands,
and with hong ropes attached to their
necks. led them away. The captives were
taken to the Little Zion church. on Oak
street. In this place. and there Williams
was hanged to . tree that did duty before
as a gallows.
Break for Freedom.
Joiner had iOosened the rope on his
hands and made daring break for free
dom. He got or few feet when some
one grabbed him A short but sharp
tussle took place. Others rushed to the
rescue and he was soon subdued and
rope placed around his neck. johnson
did not endeavor to escape. Joiner set up
a piteous moan and begged to oa shot.
He requested to be permitted to night
Johnson, saying johnson had gotten him
into an the trouble. Johnson slgnined a
desire to dght and the negroes were CIV
en- an opportunity to punch each other.
johnson. though much smaller than
Joiner, put up good light and dealt
Joiner some hard blows
The men were separated and taken In
to different rooms OF the house and un-
der threats OF severe torture Joiner was
asked to tell all he knew about the Cot
ton murders. He stoutly denied having
ever seen John johnson before and de-
MED having any knowledge as to who
killed them Finally. by a little torture.
and more threats, Joiner admitted that
he came to the fence the night OF the
murders, but no nearer the house. In
the meantime another squad had John
son CT getting his confession He main
tanned that Joiner was the Instigator Of
the whole plot aud that be was the guilty
one
BurninH Was Suggested.
Some one suggested putting than 70
death by burning them. Nearly every one
acquiesced In this suggestion and three
big fires were started, one for the men
who were all wet from the nights rain
to dry their clothes by and the others
presumably for the purpose Of burning
the negroes. Most OF the men were eager
to burn johnson anyway and It Ii gener-
ally believed that he was put on the hre
for a minute or two. but others pleaded
for him and tho program was changed.
The Associated Press representative.
desiring to get the latest news to the
| nearest telegraph station by In the
morning. did not remain to see the OK
ecution but was assured that Joiner
| would be shot 10 death and johnson
burned
1t was AS when this decision was
| reached and the correspondent started
| for the telegraph Office four miles on
| over a wet and slippery road. As soon
| as the message was flied. he gaIloped
| back and found that the mode OF death
had been suddenly changed for hanging
| for both
Both Had Confessed.
At this time the negroes were brought
| to face each other. and Joiner owned
| up, saying that he had killed John Cot
| ton and Aarvey Stevens. Johnson re-
| iteratsd his first confession, made when
he was first caught-that he had killed
Mrs. Cotton, Miss Agnes Miller and LIZ
z.s Miller. Neither Of them implicated
any white man last night, but did I'm
| plicats other negroes. After this state
| ment by the negroes. the mob conveyed
| them several yards from the Cotton res
idence and hanged them side by side,
| and Aired u vollsy into their bodies
Jolners head was almost shot OF and
Johnson was hlled with bullets
In their confession Johnson ard Joiner
said that two section hands working near
undergraduates were there and took part In
| the murders. Their object was robbery. a.
they believed old man Cotton had money
IN the house. No reason was adv Inced
Why they did no. kill Miss Maud Miller.
while they were killing the rest. This
part OF -hs mystery has never been ex-
planned, 3nd Will never be known noW. II
Is noticeable that the two negroes they
| implicated - William Bell and Charles
| BrOoks-left Independence the day Afte-
| ths Cottoas were murdered and have not
been heard OF since. Just before Joiner
was hanged he made another effort to es-
cape.
One reason advanced Why johnson was
| not burned was the wood was too wet and
hot fire could not be had just then. Sew
| eral people are not satisfied with the con-
tsssLon. advancing the theory that there
Is more behind the case than will be ever
known. Before daybreak most Of the
crowd had disappeared.
story of the Murders.
Johnson and Joiner were brought to
Amlte City from New Orleans yesterday
20 plead to indictments. and after hearing
were remanded without bail. During the
day citizens called at the jail and johnson
made a confession. His story of the
slaughter Of the family was peculiarly
brutal He said he always IlknJ the Cot
ton family and would cot have harme.l
them had II not been for the fact he was
bullled. He said he armed himself xith
an az, not 20 hurt any Of the people In
the house, but 20 prevent their escap ping.
az he had been told TO watch the door
The murder. Johnson said was planned
by Bud Mcknight. suitor Of the girl. Maud
Miller. whose mother. Mrs. Cotton, whip
ped her FOR allowing McKnights atten-
lions. This was the only motive he know
for the crime. He said Arch Joiner shot
Cotton. the head OF the household, with a
gun. then struck Marvin Stevens. a son Of
Mrs. Anna Stevens, with an AZ on the
forehead. Joiner finished the men and
then went into the room occupied by Mrs.
Stevens. Mrs. Cotton and Lizzie Miller.
&ith Maud and several children, and kill.