The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-21
LYNCH LAW IN LOUISIANA.
=
ONE MAN HANGED AND TWO
WERE ON THE ROAD W
BE BURNED.
THREE MEN TAKEN FROM THE JAIL
Al Amite-Wife Murderer Strung Up
Two Negro Murderers Were About
to Be Burned at Late Hour
Last Night.

New Orleans, La, Jan. 19.-Thc Plea
yune's .Amitc, La, special says
John johnson, colored, who murdered
the Cotton family, was brought here from
New Orleans this morning to plead l"
the indictments against him. He pleaded
not guilty and was remanded to prison
without the benefit of bail. Johnson
looked about to see if he could recognize
in the sea of faces in the court room q
single friend, but he found none.
Come, Johnnie" said Deputy Licer.
and Johnson lifted himself to go into
prison. He walked with bowed head.
his lips tightly closed. The deputy
placed him in a cage. A good meal was
brought the boy little later and he ate
with relish. Men came riding into
town on horseback and on almost every
corner there was group Of big fellows
talking over the bringing back of the
boy. In order to understand something
more than has been published about the
crime, Il committee of prominent citizens
went into the cell of the wretch to get
another statement. At first Johnson re-
PEELED them, covering in corner of his
cell, thinking his last hour had come.
But when the gentlemen made a friendly
advance he changed his mind and talked.
In answer to a question, he said that he
had always liked the Cotton family and
would not have harmed them had it not
been for the fact that be was bullied
into what he had done. He said that
he armed himself with an axe, not TO
hurt any of the people in the house, but
10 prevent their escaping, as he had been
told to watch door. The murder he
sad, was planned by Bud Mcknight a
white man, who was sutton of the girl
MAUD Mills, whose testimony before the
grand jury resulted in the indictments.
ne sad that Mrs. Cotton. who was
Mauds mother, objected to the alton
ions shown the girl by Bud and in ortle,
TO prevent their further meeting one an
o'her' whipped Maud. Other than this
III saw no reason for Bud TO plan such
deed. He said that Arch To;ro,.
colOred' shot Cotton with gun md tbon
struck George Stevens, son ~ Mr.,
agnes Stevens, with an axe on tho f,ro
head' knocking him back on tbn ho1
A''''hs MN. Joiner, then went into ~.
,ooin winch was occupied by Mrs Stc-
,rns' Mrs. Cotton and Lizzie Miller with
Mauu and several children, and killed
'he three women. e"
ne assembling of men in small brat.
On the streets was indicative &c -
snow ~ now taking place at this hour no
oo v'o,A'' The enraged citizens Of tb;s
ri, ' S,a "re pouring into this city of Amite
",' mounted, and will demand tbn INV
VI the JAIL Their intention is 70 t tte
who mnrSon,, joiner and Gus Williams.
Tau. niufu Ut, his wife not long APO
.. h''er-Ihe Jail has been orto,os ~.
,bo o prisoners ls wanted are in the powor "l az
at Lit,po y Gus Williams will be lypcbed
Joba n"1'le Zion church, near tbis o;t,.
toLa , Johnson o. Is, and Arch Joiner are 70 I So
Of ,ho 70 the place where the hutcTo, ~
tb III sn[ e. Cotton family occurred ~ nnt
tbn Il" o, correspondent wires that no is n.;,,
from '' Tio, and will report the lyncb G,an
' %t l I1lGSfaw or Independence D'n'"S'
the ci tv'9 81 p m. news has lust ro,ohos
to V nr tn1t Williams has been ' Iopnea
on horse Williams was i made Gr h td Zion Zion
To ahsg ,h Williams that saf + as tSdth they were
cent man aney =. would be hang iinsy on hanged
Is, in Nev Q Orleans tng party who helped ' hi%
The e i,s but i was in Vainl pleaded
other no TO Lljekfaw, whe 1ae other other two
perry that fSo and the roads a 1qra a. them
faw. '0'ner before they yA reaes I I'hIl