The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-03
MC5 LYlCHES THREE MEN
Colore1 Murderers Hanged in Tangi'
pahoa Parish, Louisiana.
BURNED UNTIL THEY CONFESSED.

Broke Down Prison Doors---Bodies Rid.
died with Bullets by an Infuriated
Mob of Several Hundred Men---One
Man Put to Death Near the Jail---The
Others Taken Twelve Miles to Death.
ANTE CITY, La. (SpecaD. The lynching
here Wednesday night Of the colored MUIR
derers, Arch Joiner, John Johnson and Gus
Williams proves to have been the most e1-
traorlinary tragedy of its kind ever re-
corded in the annals OF the South. All the
men wcrs man-killers, and were taken from
the Amite City jail. The original idea had
bean to burn Johnson and Joiner, but this
was nj andoned at the last moment.
The lynching was not unexpected. 1t had
been proclaimed again and again that II
Johuson and Joiner were brought back to
TanGipahoa Parish they would be lynched,
aud for that reason the moment they we're
captured they were hurried to New Orleans
aud confined in the prison there.
They were taken back to AmlIe City Tor
trial. under the belief that they could be
protected. This idea soon disappeared,
when it was found that the lynchers were
well organized and had made arrangements
for the lynching at any hazard. When the
time ,amc the law and order element were
unwilling to risk their lives for the muir
dererS.
The lynchlng party had an easy time OF it:
Two hundred armed men -ode into Amlte
City about 10 o'clock and were joined there
by 4 larger party. There was no attempt at
resistance. The doors of the Jail were
broken in and the steel cage where the MUIR
derers were confined was smashed.
The mob originally had no intention OF in
juring Williams, who was confined in the
Jail for the murder Of his wife, but 1t was
determined nevertheless to lynch him and
rid the parish Of all the murderers at the
same time, and he was strung to tree on
tho outskirts of the town and riddled with
bullets. Johnson and Joiner, the other two
prisoners, witnessed this lynching and were
very much excited over it.
As soon as Williams was disposed Of the
MOB started with the other murderers, who
killed The entire Cotton family OF five, for
the scene OF their crime, the Cotton home
stead, twelve miles away. 1t was long and
drsary march, for the rain fell In torrents.
The two coiored men were prodded with
sticks and forced to march till finally through
fear and fatigue they gave out, completely
exhausted. Thtn a cart was hitched up and
they we're placed in it. It was nearly day
light when the Cotton place was reached.
The mob was thoroughly drenched by that
time. An immense bonfire was prepared for
the burning and the two prisoners were
called on to confess. 1t was determined to
fore the confession from them by the ordeal
OF fire.
The bodies OF both men we're placed over
the blazing fire. their clothes wero burned
and their bodies scorched, and, thoroughly
terrified, they confessed their story OF the
murder. The mob was eager by this time for
the lynchng, and both men were carried
quarter OF mile from the Cotton place ano
hanged. The mob then opened fire and three
hundred bullets were lodged in the bodies Of
the men.