The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-01
WANT TO LYNCH HIM
DUBLIN MURDERER AND AssAILANT
OF WOMAN IDENTIFIED.
LAURENS COUNTY EXCITED.
JOHN ROBINSON MAY BE HELD
HERE SEVERAL DAYS.

Was Arrested Wednesday Night by
Mounted PatrOImen Umbach and
CrOsby-Enticed into Westside
Saloon, to Take a Drink With
SpOtter, He Was Covered by the
Officers and Sent 10 Police station.
Claimed to BE lack Morgan Until
Identified Positively by Officers
From DubIin-Reward of $3.50
offered for His ApprehensiOn-On
May "a He Outraged and Murdered
Bertha mmons-Tracked With
BIoodhounds, but Escaped.
The negro arrested last Wednesday
night by Mounted Patrolmen Umbach
and Crosby, and who gave his name as
lack Morgan, has been identified as John
Robinson, wanted at Dublin for murder
and rape. The prisoner admits that he
is Robinson, but denies that he is guilty
of the crimes charged against him. He
was yesterday identified by Sheriff Prince
and four residents of Laurens county, for
whom he worked at one time or another.
1t was then that the man admitted his
identity and acknowledged that Morgan
is an alias.
On May "a, Robinson murdered and
outraged Bertha Simmons, a young negro
woman, in branch on the plantation of
S. l.. Padgett, a few miles west of Dub
lin. Robinson and the woman, it seems,
had been employed as field hands on the
plantation. The woman was considered
respectable and was we'll thought of by
he plx whit IF he IN
the day of the double crime she left
her home and started to Turkey Creek,
for the purpose of spending the after
noon fishing.
Robinson, who had previously an
nounced his intention of doing the wo-
man bodily harm, because of a row she
had been engaged in with his wife, quit
work and followed. Late on the after
noon of the same day Robinson returned
to his home and with his wife left for
Dublin. When the Simmons woman did
not return home. the following morning,
a search was made for her.
The body was found near branch,
with flour sack tied tightly around her
neck. The ground around the body show
ed that the woman had made desper-
ate struggle to get away from the brute.
An examination disclosed the fact that
her hands had been tied behind her back,
with a handkerchief which she had worn
around her head. The flour sack was
then placed around her head to prevent
her screams being heard, and the crimi-
nal assault was committed. AS a parting
shot the assaiiant struck her in the head
with a heavy club and left her to die,
with the hot sun pouring down upon her.
The crime stirred up the blacks in Lau-
rens county and the murderer was track
ed for days with blood hounds. The
negroes openly stated that they would
make short work of the man If he should
fall into their hands. A negro named
Robert Andrews, who was supposed to
know something of Robinsons where
abouts, was severely whipped, by un-
masked negroes because be denied all
knowledge of the location of the murder
er and rapist. 1t appears that Robinson
came to Savannah Immediately after the
commission of the crime and secured en-
ployment on the union depot being erect
ed on West Broad street.
On last Sunday relatives of the dead
woman came to Savannah for the pur-
pose of trying to locate the murderer.
They furnished the police with an accu-
rate description of him and he was loca-
ted by Patrolmen Umbach and Crosby.
The officers gave a colored sDotter dol
lar to entice Robinson into a Westside sa-
loon late Wednesday night and after
much difficulty the pigeon accomplished
his purpose.
The patrolmen had put their horses out
of the way, and concealed themselves in
the bar in question. Robinson walked up
to the counter with his friends to get the
promised drink, without suspecting his
danger. Noiselessly the officers stepped
from their hiding place, and covering the
negro with their revolvers, placed him
under arrest The prisoner saw that
fight was useless, and readily accomDan-
led the patrolmen to the police station.
The story of his arrest was mentioned in
the Morning News at that time. The Gov
ernor offered a reward of $500 for the ar
rest of the negro, and the money will be
paid to the officers. In addition to that
amount the negroes of Laurens county
collected $50 which they agreed to pay to
the captors of the murderer and rapist.
Robinson may be taken back to Dublin
this morning, but by whom has not vet
been determined, if he goes at ALL The
negroes are highly incensed, and have
said that they will lynch
the prisoner If he is carried to
Dublin. Every effort was made to keep
the residents of that place from knowing
any of the particulars of the arrest, but
they learned the facts through the col
umns of the Morning News. The local Of
ficers are not willing to risk sending the
man back with only Sheriff Prince, and
he may not be taken for some days 1t
is feared that there will be bloodshed
when Robinson does get back to the
scene of his crime.