Hutchinson gazette., 1897-01-21
NEGROES LYNCHED
Three Colored Murderers Hanged and
Riddled with Bullets.
A MURDERER SURRENDERS
Watt Reid, of Platte County, Mo-, Whose
Sentence of Nlnety-Nlne Years Is At
firmed by the Supreme Court,
Gives Himself Up.

ANTE CRY, La, Jan. SO.-A large
mob went to the Jail here last night
and, securing johnson and Joiner ne
groes accused of the murders of five
members of the Cotton family, and
Williams, negro wife murderer,
took them to the woods and hanged
them and riddled the bodies with bull
lets, 1t was at first proposed to burn
johnson at the stake, but this was pre-
vented by the leaders. johnson and
Joiner were brought here from New
Orleans yesterday to plead to the in
dictments against them, and after the
hearing were remanded. During the
day citizens went TO the Jail and john
son made confession. lie said that
he had always liked the Cotton
family and would not have harmed
them had it not been for the fact
that he was bullied into what he had
done. He armed himself with an ak,
not to hurt any of the people in the
house, but to prevent their escaping, as
he had been told to watch door. The
murder had been planned by Bud Nc
knight, white man, who was a
suitor of the girl, Mande Miller,
whose mother, Mrs. Cotton, whipped
her for allowing Meningitis at
tentions. This is the only motive
he knew for the crime. Joiner
shot Cotton, the head of the household,
with gun, then struck Mervin Ste
vens, the son of Mrs Agnes Stevens,
with an ak on the forehead, knocking
him back on the bed and killing him.
Joiner finished the men and then went
into the room which was occupied by
Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. Cotton and Lizzie
Miller, with Maude and several chill
dren, and killed three women.
A Murderer surrenders.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, Jan. 2O-Watt
Reid, of Platte county, whose sentence
of 90 years in the state penitentiary
was affirmed yesterday, came to Jeffer-
son City on the one o'clock train to-day,
and finding Marshal holland Of the SUI
preme court at the depot, walked upto
him and said he was ready to 60 to
the penitentiary and begin to serve
his term at once. The two walked
together to the penitentiary,
where Reid was turned over to
Warden Starke. Reid left Platte county
three days ago, ostensibly to go to
Kansas City to purchase cattle. He had
collected considerable money and he
took pains to let his friends know he
was going to invest in cattle. Thoughit
was whispered that Reid's action were
suspicious, little attention was paid
to his movements. 1t was Thought
that the heavy bond and his wealth,
which would enable him to-seoure fur
ther delay, would deter i'm from leay-
ing the country and he was not watched.
Reid went to Kansas City and stopped
at the Metropolitan hotel. He
was seen there yesterday morn
ing, but nobody remembers see
ing him after noon. This morn
ing the sheriff of Platte county,
having been apprised by telegraph of
the affirmation of Reid's sentence,
went to Kansas City with deputies to
get Reid and take him to the peniten-
tiary. But no Mr.. Reid was to De
found and the conclusion dawned on
the sheriff that Reid had preferred
forfeiting a ST., 500 bond to serving the
state for 30 years.
A ouarrelsOme Husband Killed.
ST. Louis, Jan. 9O.-In a quarrel with
his wife at Clayton, just west of this
city, early this morning, John Musick,
negro aged 9j, shot and seriously
wounded the woman, who ran to the
home of John Lyles, a neighbor, for
protection. She was followed by her
husband, pistol in hand, and when he
made threatening movement toward
Lyles the latter emptied the contents
of shotgun into Musick's breast,
from the effects of which he died an
hour later on a wagon en- route to the
anUnHr