The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-21
lAURDERERS LYNCHED
The Vengeance Of a Louisiana Mob Visited
Upon Trio Of Negroes.
CONFESSION MADE TO THREE MURDERS
The JmiIcr 0vcrpowercd and Forced
to su-rcudcr His rris0nera-One
Eve Taken Twelve Miles TO tho
Scene of the Murders.

Amite City, La, Jan. 20.-Yesterday
evening. when ii became known that
John Johnson and Arch Joiner, charged
with the Cotton family murders, would
be lynched, small groups of strangers
from every section OF this and adjon
ing parishes commenced to come in and
hold low conVerSa lions on the street
corners. The night was most miser-
able one. rainy and gloomy. About 8
o'clock there were perhaps 250 people
on the streets. when suddenly some $50
men OH horses galloped up to the JAIL
and. having found the deputy who had
charge, forced him to open the Jail door
and also open the steel cages. and took
Joiner and Gus Williams, the latter q
negro charged with numbering his wife
last summer near Independence.
QUIET AND DETERMINED.
The crowd of men were very quiet
and made no hostile demonstrations
other than to get the three negroes.
After procuring their men they had a
short consultation and decided to hang
Gus Williams to an oak tree near n
negro church, on the outer edge Of the
town. q rope was quickly adjusted
over large limb. and one end was put
around Williams neck.
Williams was made 10 get on q horse,
and the horse was then struck with "a
whip and ran from under him. His
neck was not broken, and some of the
men caught hold of his body and jerked
him down.
Williams disposed Of the crowd start
Ell on the long march to Joe Cottou's
house, where the murders were commit
ted. johnson and Joiner walked n mile
or So when n wagon was procured, and
they rode the rest of the way.
HE PRAYED a GREAT DEAL.
The distance travelled was 12 miles
through heavy rain. There were near
l. In, 1,A n Il,
Arch Joiner prayed great deal. but
John Johnson did not seem to mind his
fate. remaining quiet most of the way.
After ride of four hours, the Cotton
residence was reached. AMI all dis
mounted. Joiner made a break for lib
erty. but was captured before he had
gone very far. Johnson and Joiner de-
sired TO fight. and they were uermittel /
to haye Il set-to. after when they were
taken into the house, separated, and ef-
iorts to get confession from chem were
made John Johnson stuck to his for
mer statements that Arch Joiner was
the man who did the .lead.
CONFESSED THREE MURDERS.
Joiner stoutly maintained his inno-
cence for awhile. but finally when
brought face TO face wirh John johnson.
confessed that he killed Mrs. John Cot
Miller.
discussion then arose as to the hes
way to dispose of the two aalf-c III Tcss, "a
murderers. Some were In favor ..r blrn-
Ing them and fires were made for In.
purpose. and some say that johnson was
actually pushed into the lir, ami burn
ed.
BOTH MEN HUNG.
Cooler Judgment prevailed, and it was
Hhally decided to hang them, whicn u as
zone, after which their bodies were
riddied with bullets. 1t was Arch Join
er earnest request that he be shot to
ueath, ana this was finally determined
upon, as was the mode of death which
was to be meted out to johnson. hut at
tne iast moment after the fire had reen
started. II was urged that both he hung
as Gus Williams had been. and iLey
were taken a quarter of q mile from the
stated.
They both implicated two other ne
groes, but said nothing about a white
man. All Is quiet now.
COAST DEFESSe roSrC~rx