The herald., 1897-01-21
THREE NEGRO MURDtRERS
Done to Death by a Southern
Mob
ROPE, BULLETS AND FLAMES
Employed by Men More Brutal Than
Their Victims
Torture Resorted to to Extort Confes-
sion-There Is Still Doubt Of
Their Guilt.
Associated Press Special Wire

ANTE CITY, La, Jan. 20.-Three ne
gro murderers are dead-Arch Joiner
and John johnson, who at the last mo-
ment confessed their guilt of killing
the Cotton family, and Gus Williams,
alias Morrissey, who shot and killed his
young wife. The bodies of the two for
mer hang to limb out in the woods,
about half a mile from the house in
which they butchered their victims. The
last negros body was cut down a little
later and an inquest held over it.
Last night about 300 men rode into
town and first securing the keys of the
Jail from Deputy Wainwright, took the
three negroes from jail, tied their hands
and, with long ropes attached to their
necks, led them away.
The captives were taken to the little
Zion church on Oak street in this place,
and there Williams was hanged to tree
that did duty before a a gallows.
The, three men executed We're colored.
Johnson and Joiner according to the
confession of the former, were guilty of
the murder of five members of the Cot
ton family, near here some time ago.
The murder, Johnson said, was planned
by Bud Midnight, sutor of the girl,
Maud Miller, whose mother, Mrs. Cot
ton, whipped her for allowing McNight's S
attentions. This was the only motive
he knew for the crime. He said Arch
Joiner shot Cotton, the head of the
household with a gun, and then struck
Marven Stevens, son of Mrs. Anna Stew
ems. with an ak on the forehead. Join
er finished the men and then went into
the room occupied by Mrs. Stevens, Mrs
Cotton and Lizzie Miller, with Maud
and several children, and killed the three
women.
Arriving at the place where the five
murders were committed, Johnson and
Joiner were made to jump out of the
wagon. Joiner set up piteous moan and
begged that he be shot. He requested to
be permitted to fight Johnson, saying
Johnson had gotten him into all the
trouble. Johnson signified his willing
ness to fight, and the negroes were given
an opportunity to punch each other.
Johnson, though much smaller than
Joiner, put up a good fight and dealt
Joiner some hard blows.
The men were separated and taken
into different rooms of the house, and,
under threats of torture, Joiner was
asked to tell ali he knew about the Cot
ton murders. He stoutly denied having
ever seen Johnson before and denied
having knowledge as to who killed the
Cottons. Finally, by little torture and
more threats, Joiner admitted that he
came to the fence the night of the mur-
ders but no nearer the house. In the
meantime another squad had Johnson
off. getting his confession. He main-
tanned that Joiner was the instigator of
the whole plot and that he was the guilty
one. Some one suggested putting them
to death by burning them. Nearly every
one acquiesced in this suggestion, and
three big fires were started, one for the
men. who were all wet, to dry their
clothing by. and the others presumably
for the purpose of burning the negroes.
Most of the men We're eager to burn
johnson anyway, and it is generally be-
lieved that he was put on the fire for a
minute or two but others pleaded for him
and the program was changed.
The Associated Press reporter, desir-
ing to get the latest news to the nearest
telegraph station by 3 in the morning.
did not remain to see the execution. but
was assured that Joiner would be shot
to death and Johnson burned. 1t was
2:45 when this decision was reached, and
the correspondent started for the tele-
graph office. four miles off, over a wet
and slippery road.
AS soon as the message was filed, he
galloped back and found that the mode
OF death had been suddenly changed to
IL.
the negroes were broughtf ace to face
with each other and Joiner owned up,
saying that he had killed John Cotton
and Mervin Stevens. Johnson reiterated
his first confession, made when he was
first caught that he killed Mrs. Cotton.
Miss Agnes Miller and Lizzie Miller.
Neither of them implicated any white
man last night but did implicate other
negroes. After this statement by the ne
sroes, the mob conveyed them 500 yards
from the Cotton residence and hanged
them side by side, and fired a volley into
their bodies. Joiner's head was almost
shot off and johnson was filled with bull
lets.
In their confession Johnson and Join
or said that two section hands, working
near independence, were there and took
part in the murders. Their object was
robbery as they believed old man Cotton
had money in the house. No reason was
advanced why they did not kill Miss
Maud Miller while they were killing the
rest. This part of the mystery has never
been explained and will never be known
now. 1t is noticeable that the two ne
groes they implicated, William Bell and
Charles Brooks, left Independence the
lay after the Cottons We're murdered
and have not been heard of since. just
before Joiner was hanged he made an
other effort to escape
One reason advanced why Johnson
was not burned is that the wood was too
wet and good, hot fire could not be
lad just then. Several people are not
satisfied with the confession, advancing
he theory that there Is more behind the
,ase than will ever be known. Before
iaybreak most of the crowd had dis
appeared.