The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-01-23
THEY ARE LYNCHED.
A Louisiana Mob Does a Big
Nights Work.
Takes Three Murderors from jail and
Hangs Them-Lynchers sing a Hymn
I'm Route TO the scene--yictimsA Al
lowed TO Fight Before Death.

| lynched early Wednesday morning by
a mob In Tangipahoa parish. this state.
II was originally intended burn John
son and Joiner at the stake. but this idea
was abandoned at the latest moment
on the ground that II would injure the
reputation of the parish. and the me-
groes were merely scorched enough TO
make them confess. Johnson. who was
only 20 years old, was charged with
being the principal In the murder of the
! Cotton household some months ago, at
which time Mr.. and Mrs. John Cotton,
Mervin Stevens and Lizzie and Agnes
Miller were murdered, and Joiner Yas
accused of being an accomplish in the
crime. The murder was so brutal and
revolving that IL aroused intense popu-
lar excitement throughout Tangipahoa,
and II was felt that IL the murdercrs
ever fell into the hands of a mob they
would be promptly dealt with under
lynch law. They were accordingly
taken to New Orleans as soon as ar
rested and had been confined in the
parish prison here ever since to protect
them from the mob.
Tuesday they were taken to Amite
City to stand trial. Tuesday night was
n rainy and gloomy one in Amite City.
At ten o'clock party of 200 mounted
men, all armed with rifles and un-
masked. very quietly demanded the
keys TO the Jail and the release of the
prisoners. The deputy in charge re-
fused, but when violence was threat
ened he quietly went to the different
cells, unlocking the doors and turned
over the three murderers confined in
the prison-Johnson, Joiner and Will
lams.
johnson was Indifferent when he was
seized Joiner and Gus Williams, the
wife murderer, were terror-stricken
and begged for mercy. AS soon as Will
liams was taken out, he was told TO
prepare for death. He dropped on his
knees and prayed. Then he was taken
To Little Zion church. where he was
told to be quiet and pray and make a
statement. He confessed to the murder
Of his wife, and asked forgiveness for
lis crime. He was then placed upon a
horse, a rope was tied about his necS
and the horse started. He dropped to
death.
The party waited until he showed no
further signs of life. Johnson and
Joiner saw the execution and were ter
taken up for Tickfaw, for the Cotton
homestead, the scene of Johnson and
Joincr's crime. IL was long and dreary
march OF ~ miles. The rain was pour
ing in torrents. The rough country road
was almost impossible, and Joiner ana
johnson frequently fell as they
marched. prodded on by their guard.
Finally they were SO exhausted that the
mob hitched up a cart and again moved
on. Joiner tried to escape and sprung
from the cart, but he was recaptured.
When within two miles OF the resi-
dence formerly occupied by the Cot
tons some of the crowd set up yell
and much promiscuous shooting was
INDUCED in. just before reaching Cot
tons place a few lines of Nearer, My
God, to Thee" were hummed to dole
full tune.
1t took five hours to reach the Cot
ton farm, and day was almost breaking
when the party stopped there. The
two negroes were told that they were
to be burned, and, the rain having
ceased, large bonfire was built. The
men, now wild with terror, accused
each other OF the crime. and each asked
the mob for permission to kill the
other. While the mob discussed the
question whether to burn the men or
not II was determined TO let the two
murderers fight, and ring was formed
around them. They went at each 9th
er, biting, scratching. tearing each 9th
or i'm wild manner for IS or 20 min
utes. but neither was much hurt.
They were then separated and placed
i'm different rooms OF the Cotton house
and efforts made TO get confessions
from them, but johnson still stuck to
his former story that Joiner had com
mitted the murder. majority OF the
lynchers determined against burning,
but consented that the fire should be
used To force a confession from the
murderers. They were dragged through,
the flames, their clothing burned OF
them, and they were scorched, but not
seriously injured. After this torture
they onfessed-,Iohnson TO the murder
OF Cotton and of Mervin Stevens, and
Joiner TO the murder Of the three WON
en-. Mrs. Cotton and the girls.
Joiner begged to be shot instead of
hanged. and IL was first decided to
grant his wish, and TO burn johnson,
but nj the last moment IL was urged that
they both be hanged. as Gus Williams
was. so they were taken quarter OF
mile from the Cotton place and lynched
The mob fired about 300 bullets into
their bodies, which were left hanging
from the tree. and the men dispersed.
Rutgers College Professor Dead.
New Brunswick. N. j., Jan. 2i.-Rey-
DIR. William Rankin Duryee Freling-
huyscn, professor of ethics at Rutgers
c,lloCa IL daod