The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-01-21
THREE LARGE DOSES
A Trio Of Negro Murderers Strung
Up by a Mob.
THE BUTCHERS OF A FAMILY
One Murdered His Wlfe-A Novel
Feature OF the Proceedings Is
Fist Fight Between Two
of the Condemned Men,

negro murdereTs are dead, Arch Joiner
and John Johnston, who at the last mo-
ment confessed their guilt Of killing
the Cotton family, and Gus Williams,
alias Morrisey, who shot and Killed his
young wife. The bodies of the two for
mer hang To limb out in the woods
about half a mile from the house In
which they butchervd their victims
The last ncgros body was cut down
this afternoon and an inquest held
over It,
Last night about 900 men rode into
town. and first securing the keys Ia
the jail from Deputy Wainwright
took the three negroes from the jail,
tied their hands, and with long 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
tn a tree that did duty before as gal
lows
Johnston and Joiner, according to the
confession of the former. We're guilty
Of the murder of five members of the
Cotton family near here some time ago.
The irio Of murderers were taken from
the jail at Amlte city together last
night by mob. Williams was hanged
To- an oak tree in front of Little Zion
church. not far from Amite city, The
scene ~ their crime, where they were
executed
Johnson and Joiner We're brought to
Amiic City yesterday from New Or
leans TO plead to indictments. and after
hearing, were remanded without bail.
During the day citizens called at the
Jail and johnston made confession.
His story of the slaughter of the fam
lily was particularly brutal He said
he always liked the Cotton family and
would not have harmed them had II
not been FOR the fact thai he was bull
lied. He said he armed himself with
an axe. not To hurt any Of the people
in the house. but To prevent their es-
Gaping as hc had been told tn watch
the door. The murder, Johnston said,
was planned by Bud Mcknight. n sultor
of the girl Maude Miller. whose mother,
Mrs. Cotton, whipped her for allowing
Meningitis attentions. This was the
only motive for the crime. He said
Arch Joiner shot Cotton. the head of
the household. with gun, then struck
Marven Stevens, son OF Mrs. Ann
Stevens, with an axe ON the forehead.
Joiner finished the men. then went into
the room occupied by Mrs stevens.
Mrs. Cotton and Lizzie Miller, with
Maude and several children, and killed
the three women.
Joiner and Johnston walked about
mile when Johnston said he would go
no further. \ wagon vas procured and
both negroes hustled into IT, Rain fell
i'm torrents. There were probably 200
men In line. all exceedingly orderly and
quiet. When Independence was reached
a halt was made and those who de-
sired were given an opportunity To see
the negroes. after which the march was
resumed in southeastcrly direction
from Independence. When within two
miles of the residence formerly uccu-
pied by the Cotton family the crowd
set up yell. Just before reaching the
Cotton place few lines of Nearer
My God. to Thee were hummed to "A
doleful tune. Arriving AT the place
| where the five murders We're commit
| ted. Johnston and Joiner were made
to jump out Of the wagon.
Joiner set up piteuus moan ana
begged to he shot. lie requested to he
permitted to fight Johnston. saying
that Johnston had gotten him into all
the trouble. Johnston signticd his de-
sire Ia fight and the negroes were
given an opportunity to punch each
other
Johnston. though much smaller than
Joiner, put up a good fight and dealt
Joiner some hard blows. The men
were separated ard taken into differ
| ent rooms OF the house. and under
| threats of severe torture. Joiner was
| asked To tell all he knew about the Cot
| ton murders. lie stoutly denied hav-
| ing ever seen Johnston before and de
MED having any knowledge as Ia who
| killed them. Finally by a little tor
! ture and more threats Joiner admitted
| that he came to the fence the night of
the murder hut no nearer the house.
In the meantime another squad had
Johnston of getting his confession,
| He maintained that Joiner was the in
stigator of the whole plot and that he
I was the guilty one.
Someone suggested putting them Ia
death by burning them. Nearly every
one acquiesced in this suggestion and
| three big fires We're started, one for the
men who were all wet from the nights
| rain To dry their clothes 10y. and the
/ others presumably for the purpose uf
burning the negroes. Most of the men
were eager Ia burn Johnston. anyway.
and IL Is generally believed that h.
was put on the fire for a minute NJ
| two. but Others pleaded for him and
the programme was changed.
The associated press representative,
desiring to get the latest news To- the
nearest telegraph station 10y 3 o'clock
| in the morning. did not remain To see
the execution. hut was assured that
/ Joiner would DE shot Ia death and
Johnston burned. II was 2;f5 o'clock
when this decision was reached and
the correspondent started for the trlc-
graph office four miles on over "A wet
and slippery road. As soon a. the mes
sage was filed he galluped back and
found that the mode Of death had been
suddenly changed To- hanging fur both.
Al this time the negroes were brought
face Ia face with each other and
Joiner owned up. saying that he had
killed John Cotton and Marvin stevens
Johnston reiterated his first confession
made when he was first caught. that
he Killed Mrs. Cotton. Miss Agnes Mil
Ter and Miss Lizzie Miller Neither ~
them implicated any white man last
night. hut did impliCate other negroes.
After this statement by the negroes,
the mob conveyed them several hun
dred yards from the Cotton residence
and hanged them side by side and fired
volley ~ bullets into their bodies
Juiners head was almost shot OF and
Johnston was filled with bullets.
In their confession Johnston and
Joiner said that two section hands
working near Independence were there
and took part In the murders. The pro-
iett WAS robbery. as they believed old
man Cotton had money in the house.
No reason was advanced why they did
not Kill Miss Maude Miller while they