The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-08
JOHNSON MUST HANG
FOUND GUILTY IN AUGUSTA AND
SENTENCED.
MILITARY WAS ON GUARD.
NO EFFORT WAS MADE TO TAKE
THE PRISONER.

Trial of the Negro who Was in
Chatham County Jail for Safe
Keeping Lasted the Entire Day in
AuEustR-He Was Finally Convict
ed of Criminal AssauIt-Is to he
Hanged on Feb. Gle VIII BE Sent
Away From Augusta Again for
Safety.
Augusta, Jan. THE Miles Johnson
case ended about II o'clock tonight,
with verdict of guilty, and a sentence
to hang on Feb. 6, was promptly pro-
nounced by Judge Gary.
Except in the precautions for the
protection of the prisoner against mob
violence, there has not been the
slightest excitement in the community.
But for the published announcements
in the newspapers, the people would
hardly have known that any unusual
trial was in progress at the Court
House.
Sheriff Clark and Judge Gary took
every precaution, however, against vio-
lence, and the prisoner has been I'M
der military protection ever since he
arrived on the train from Savannah
this morning. The Court House is in
the center of a large lot, extending
through from Greene to Reynolds
streets, and the entrances on both
streets have been guarded and the yard
patrolled all day by soldiers in uni
form and extra deputies in citizens
clothes. A rapid firing gun was also
placed in the Court House yard. The
protection was ample against any
sort of attack.
No Violence offered.
If any was ever at any time con-
templated, however, there has never
been the slightest manifestation of II.
Whether it was prevented by the show
of official strength or whether 1t was
all really unnecessary, of course, can
not be known. So far as any one
knows, the community has been abso-
lutely without excitement, except in
so far as it was created among passers-
by, by the unusual spectacle of mill
tary surrounding the Court House and
yard.
The trial of the case occupied the en-
tire day, Judge Roney and oswald r.
| Eve performing the duty imposed on
| oner the full benefit of their skill and
| ability as counsel. Solicitor Reynolds
| was assisted by H. G. Hammond, ESQ,
| in the prosecution. Only those neces-
| sary to the trial were admitted to the
| court room.
johnson Was Cool.
The prisoner, Miles Johnson, is a
| small, british looking negro, who
| manifested the greatest GOODNESS, al
most indifference, throughout the
| trial. When sentence of death was pro-
nounced, he coolly dropped into his
| chair, struck a match and lighted a
cigarette. Turning to some one near,
he handed him ten cents, asking him
| please to go and spend it for him.
Somebody gave me a quarter, as I
was leaving Savannah last night" he
said. II spent fifteen cents coming up
on the train, and I'd like to spend this
dime right away. because know will
be lynched before morning."
AT no time before during or since the
verdict has there been any demonstra-
ton of any kind against the prisoner.
1t is probable he will be sent out of
town again, but the same secrecy will
be preserved about the time and the
railroad on which he will go as was
used in bringing him here. He ar
rived over the Augusta Southern this
morning, and nobody had any idea
that road would be employed.
With the verdict tonight, the case
may be considered at an end until the
hanging a month hence.