The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-27
JOHN H. ROSE AT WILSON
johnson Smiles on the Scaffold Saying
Better Death Than Life I'm
prisonment.
FOSTER TALKS WITH RELIGIOUS FER0R
Story of the Crime FOR Which Johnson and Fos-
ter Paid the Death Penalty. Rose Died
For the Murder of Thomas
Farmer
Especial to News and Observer.)

Farmer.
Especial to News and Observer)
Asheville, n. c., Feb. 26.-Franl<
johnson, alias Dudley Johnson, alias
Frank Wilson, white and Ben Foster,
colored, We're hanged here at -: 80 today.
Johnson's neck was broken and he dice
in eighteen minutes Foster died in
twenty-five minutes by strangulation.
Johnson showed remarkable coolness
and nerve. He smiled on the scaffold
and in conversation shortly before his
death said he preferred hanging to Tife
imprisonment. To the last he refused to
divuige his real name.
Foster talked with religious fervor.
Both men were baptized yesterday.
Their funeral took place this afternoon.
A great crowd surrounded the Jail be-
fore and after tine execution.
Two men hung and two imprisoned for
life is the result of the burglary which
occurred at the Emma postoffice last
February.
The case of the four Emma burglars
has for the past year been the cause of
widespread comment and argument and
has created much controversy.
The men were tried in the Superior
Court last summer and sentenced to die
by hanging August l6, 1901 Solicitor j.
NJ. Gudger, Jr. was assisted in the prose-
cution by Frank Carter, Esq The de-
PENDANTS were ably represented by Hon.
Thos. Settle, R. NJ Welk, M. w. Brown
III. B. Carter and T. J. Harkins, Jr
By appeal the case was taken to the
Supreme Court and the decision of that
body was not made until the Gath of De-
cember. The verdict of the Superior
Court was sustained and February 26th
fixed by the Governor as the date of ex-
ecution.
The decision that the burglars must
suffer the death penalty brought many
petitions and letters to the Governor and
many citizens saw him personally in an
attempt to have the sentence commuted
Governor Aycock said, however, that he
would not interfere with the decision Of
the courts and the law must take it's
course.
On last Friday news was received here
that the sentence of two of the burglars,
Gates and Mills, who had had least to do
with the ROBBERY had been committed to
life Imprisonment.
The other two, Johnson and Foster,
paid the penalty of their crime today
wednesday,
STORY OF CRIME.
On the night of February 8. 1901. four
robbers attempted to plumber the post
office at Emma, a village three miles
west of Asheyille.
They forced an entrance into the build
ing but were met by brave man. who
resisted their attack and foiled their at
tempt. The four got away with only
few dollars and a pistol. Within six
hours they were captured and the next
morning were in the county jail. Two
OF the men were white and two were ne
groes The whites were Russell Gates
and Dudley Johnson. The colored boys
Harry Mills and Ben Foster. All We're
young, the oldest not 26, and except
Gates, who was not known here, all bore
bad regulations.
The man who seemed to lead the gang
was Foster. who had served for several
years on the chain gang and who had
escaped a number of times. He had al
ways been unruly on the gang.
Johnson it is said, was a professional
safe breaker, and had an altogether bad
reputation.
Mills had been in trouble before and
had served term or two with the chain
gang.
For several weeks daring night attacks
and burglares had been made on Ashe-
ville's streets and the police were on the
lookout for the perpetrators.
Early on the morning of Feruary the
city was reused by the news of the bur-
glary at Emma, and for time there was
great excitement.
The robbery occurred about o'clock in
ID. y. McLellan's store, where the post
office is
Samuel Alexander, frail young fellow
OF "A, who was clerk, had just closed the
store for the night, when a call came
from outside. The speaker called that
some one wanted some groceries and
Mr.. Alexander stepped to the door and
rnlatched it. He was Immediately COW
cred with pistol by masked man, who
pushed his way into the store and told
the clerk to obey orders as he valued his !
life. companion robber, also masked