The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-21
THE MAD JUSTICE OF A MOB.
THREE NEGROES MURDERERs OF
THE COTTON FAMILY LYNCHED.

The Event Anticipated by the PeopIe
of the Surrounding Country and
Hundreds Witnessed the Fury OF
the MOb-TwO of the Prisoners
Taken 20 the scene of Their Das-
tardIy Crime--They stop and Fighf
Each Other on the Way-The Crime
COnGessed-shot 20 Death by Their
Own Request.
Amite city, La. Jan. 2O.-Yesterday
evening when it became known that John
Johnson and Arch Joiner. charged with
the Cotton family murders would be-
lynched, small groups of strangers from
every section of this and adjoining par<
ishes commenced to come in and hold low
conversations on the street corners. The
night was a most miserable one, raining
and gloomy
About O clock there were perhaps $50
people on the streets, when suddenly some
$50 men on horses galloped up to the Jail,
and. having found the deputy, who had
charge, forced him to open the jail door
and also open the steel cages, and they
took from the cages John Johnson, Arch
Joiner and Gus Williams, the latter a
negro charged with numbering his wifes
last summer, near Independence.
The crowd of men were very quiet ana
made no hostile demonstrations other
than to get the three negroes. After pro-
curing their men, they had a short con-
sultation, and decided to hang Gus Will
Jams to an oak tree near a negro church
on the outer edge of the town.
A rope was quickly adjusted over ~
large limb, and one end around Williams
neck. Williams was made to get on a
| horse, and the horse, struck with whips
| jumped from under Williams His neck
| was not broken, and some men caught
hold of his body and jerked him down.
Williams disposed Of, the crowd started
/ on the long march to John Cotton's house,
! where the murders were committed. john
| son and Joiner walked a mile or so, when
| a wagon was procured and they rode the
/ rest of the way. The distance travelled
was twelve miles, through a heavy RAIN
| There were nearly 200 in the crowd dur
| ing the march. Joiner prayed great deals
| but Johnson did not seem to mind his fate,
| remaining quiet most of the way.
| After a ride of four hours. the Cotton
residence was reached and all dismounted.
| Joiner made a break for liberty, but was
| captured before he hads gone very far.
| Joiner and Johnson desired to fight, and
! they were permitted to. after which they
were taken into the house, separated and
efforts to get confession from them we're
| made.
Johnson stuck to his former statements,
| that Arch Joiner was the man who did the
deeds. Joiner stoutly maintained his in
noeence for awhile, but, when finally
| brought face to face with Johnson, con-
| fessed that he killed Mrs. John Cotton,
| Miss Agnes Miller and Miss Lizzie Miller.
| A discussion then arose as to the best
way to dispose of the two self-confessed
| murderers. Some were in favor Of burn
| ing them, and fires were made for that
| purpose, and some say Johnston was ac-
| tually pushed in the fire and burnt. Cool
er judgment prevailed, and IT. was finally
| decided to hang them, which was done,
| and their bodies riddled with bullets.
1t was Arch Joiner's earnest request that
| he be shot to death, and this was finally
| determined upon, as was the mode of
| death which was to be meted out to John
son, but at the last moment, after the
| fire had been started, 1t was urged that
| both be hung, as Gus Williams had beens
and they were taken a quarter of a mla
| from the Cotton residence and executeds
| as above stated.
They both implicated two other negroes
| but said nothing about white man. Alb
| Is now quiet.