The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-20
IN THE HANDS OF A Mob.
AIcgca Murdcrers of Cotton FamiI y
Taken from Jail.


New Orleans. La, January 19.-The Pic
| ayunes Anita. La. special says:
John johnson. colored. who murdered the
Cotton family was brought here from New
Orleans this morning to plead to the ir Dict
ments against him. He pleaded not guilty
and was remanded to prison without the
benefit of bail.
Johnson looked about ito see II he could
recognize In the sea of faces in tho court
room single friend but he found none.
Come Johnnie" said Deputy Lycer. and
prison. lie walked with bowed head, his
lips tightly closed. The deputy placed him
in a cage. A good meal was brought the
tov a little later and he ate with relish
Men came riding into town on horseback
and on almost every corner there was a
knot o; big fellows talking over the bring
ing back of the boy.
In order to understand more than what
has been published about the crime, a
committee Of citizens went into the cell OF
the wretch to get another statement At
first Johnson repealed them, covering in a
corner of his cell, thinking that his last
hour had come. hut, when the gentlemen
made friendly advance, he changed his
mind and talked. In answer to a question
he said that he had always liked the Cot
ton family and would not have harmed
them had II not been for the fact that he
was hullied into what he had done. He
said that he armed himself with an AK,
| net to hurt any OF the people in the house
but to prevent their escaping. as he had
been told to watch door. The murder, he
said. was planned by Bud Mcknight. a
white man who WIS a sutton OF the girl
Maud Mills. whose testimony before the
grand jury resulted In the indictments
He said that Mrs. Cotton, who was
Mauds mother. objected to the attentions
shown the girl by Bud and in order to
prevent their further meeting one another
whipped Maud Other than this, he saw no
reason for Bud to plan such a deed. He
said Arch Joiner. cclored shot Cotton with
a gun. then struck Mervin Stevens. son
Of Mrs Agnes Stevens. with an axe on the
fore head. knocking him back on the bed
end killing him. Joiner then went into the
room which was occupied by Mrs. Stevens,
Mrs Cotton and Lizzie Miller. with Maud
and several children, and killed the three
women.
The assembling of men In small knots
on the streets was indicative OF what is
now taking place at this hour 40 o'clock
The enraged citizens OF the parish. over
25O In number. are pouring In 10 Amite
City, all mounted. and viii demand the
keys to the jail. Their purpose Is, IL is
Williams, who murdered his wife not long
ago.
Later-The Jail has been entered and the
prisoners wanted are In the power OF the
mob. Gus Williams will he lynched Mt Little
Zion. near this city. John Johnson and
Arch Joiner are 10 be taken to the place
where the butchery of the Cotton family
occurred to meet their fate.
The correspondent Will remain with the
crowd and will report tho lnyching from
Tickfaw or Independence. At LEO reports
have lust reached the city that Williams
has been hanged TO big oak tree In front
Of the Little Zion church. Williams was
made 10 stand on horse
johnson said MS they we're hanging VII
liams that il they hanged Joiner they would
be hanging an innocent man. as they party
who helped him 10 in New Orleans. VIII
liams pleaded for his life. but 1t was in
| vain
The crowd will take the other two
negroes TO Tickfaw. where poles and every
thing is ready to burn them 1t is raining
and storrning now. and the roads are so
slippery that tho crowd may execute john
son and Joiner before they reach Tickiaw.
L