The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-20

Chattanooga, Tenn, March 19.-(Spe-
cial.)--A remarkably quiet and undemon-
stratlve mob composed of twenty to thir-
ty of the best element of this county en-
tered the county jail tonight at $40
o'clock and in less than two hours Ed
Johnston. the alleged negro assailant of
Nevada Taylor pretty white girl living
at Lookout mountain, three miles from
| Chattanooga. was lying cold in death on
the county bridge over the Tennessee
river, 100 or more bullets piercing every
portion of his body.
Were Totally Unprepared.
The jail officials were totally unpre-
pared for such an attack and only one
officer was in charge when the mob ar
rived. The work was done so quickly
and quietly that there was very little VI
It known in the city. None of the police
at headquarters. four blocks away, knew
that an attack ON the Jail was being
made, and as the mob quickly cut off
telephone from the jail and would not let
those who came In the place go ont again.
there was no means by which police head
quarters could be notified.
Battered Down the Doors.
The mob entered the Jail shortly before
9 o'clock. After battering its way through
the ftst doorway, the men went to the
second floor. where Johnson was known
to be- 1t took over an hour TO batter
down the doorway through the steel cage.
In the meantime the keys to the entire
jail had been secured from Jailer Glib
son. but the lock on the steel cage had
been so damaged that 1t would not work.
With an axe and large sedge hammer
fourteen rivets which held the lock in
place were driven off the cage. 1t was
then pushed in and three members of the
mob went to Johnson's cell, which was
No. Z. Shortly after he was brought out
and with a rope around his neck the
mob filed slowly and quietly out of the
Jail In the street it was Joined by 100
men and boys. who had just come up
from all sections. A start was made to
the county bridge over the Tennessee
river bridge, a half mile distant.
When the bridge was reached man
climbed one of the beams above and
wrapped the rope around It. He then
got down and when effort was made
to pull Johnson up it broke. A second
throw was made and with the rope
around his neck again the mob pulled
johnson ten feet or so In the air. He
hung there a minute and the fell to the
bridge floor and attempted to rise A.
he did so a dozen pistols were pointed
at him and in less than two minutes sew
iad of ba
bullets taking effect in his body.
Shot While Lying Prostrate.
After the negro lay there for few
minutes he turned over still alive. Then
one member walked UP to the prostrate
and wrlthing form and with a pistol firm
" grasped in his hand he fired hve times
into the negro's breast. 1t was stated
that even after this Johnson lived for
five minutes or longer. As soon as the
firing ceased several of the members of
the mob went forward to get souvenirs
of the event. Pieces OF the rope. parts OF
Johnsons shirt and bullets found on Inc
floor Of the bridge were taken by the
mobbers and kept as remembrances. Some
talk OF cutting his fingers and ears Off
was indulged in. but nothing was done.
I'D to the very last Johnson main
taIned his nerve and denied to the bitter
end that he assaulted Miss Taylor. When
asked Just before he was swung up
whether he committed the assault, he
said II did not" Johnson said that he
bneX he would be I'm heaven In the morn
Ing and that he did not fear to go. He
recognized several members of the mob
and frequently called them by name The
two men who led him to the county
aridge wtre nelghbors of Miss Taylor.
and Johnson knew each Of them per-
Scnaly.
As he was swung up the negro was
heard to say, God bless all" Those
were his last words.
History of the Case.
Ed Johnson was tried by the criminal
court here during the January term The
assault on Miss Taylor was made Decent
Der %. and he was arrested about jan
nary l. For fear of a lynching his case
received special assignment, and on jan
nary Il he was sentenced to hang March
d. The case was taken to the federal
Continued on Second Paosl