Bridgeton pioneer., 1906-02-01
NEGRO CONFESSES
BRUTAL MURDER

baltimore, Jan. 80. Trembling with
fear lest he meet the same fate at the
hands of mob that he meted out to
his victim, Rufus johnson. the negro
suspect, tonight broke down and con-
fassed that it was he who on January
,s so brutally strangled Miss Florence
W. Allinson at her home. near Moore
stown, N. J. He declares ne had no
accomplice.
Mingled with the hideous details OF
his crime, johnson alternately pro-
tested. begged, pleaded and prayed
that he be not taken back to New Jer.
sew. They'll hang me, sure.'' he
cried, shaking like leaf in a gale.
"They'lI burn me. Don't let 'em
hang me; don't let 'em burn me. I
know I'm guilty; but save me from
lynohin. "
Late this afternoon Johnson gave
signs of breaking down. For four
DAYS he has stoutly denied his guilt.
The mute evidence furnished by Miss
AlIinson's watch and brush, the latter
with his victims hairs still clingiDg
to it, however, shattered his nerve.
The detectives never let up with their
sweating" and with nightfall john
son was in state Of nervous collapse.
Finally he told Chief OF Detectives
Pumphrey and Detective Pohler that
he was guilty and would confess his
crime.
After he had told the whole horrible
story Johnson said he felt greatly re-
lieved and could rest easier. He is
being closely guarded and will be un-
til turned over to the New Jersey au-
thorities. which may not be until near
the time for the April term of Court
at Mount HOLLY. Johnson said he
went to the Allinson barn very early
on Thursday morning, January 1S. and
that while he was lying in the hay,
between 6 and O'Clock, woman, he
does not know whom, came to the
barn and fed the COW. He says he fell
asleep and was awakened abont II
o'clock by Miss Atkinson entering the
barn. She asked him what he wanted.
He said Nothing and started to
run. She screamed, and, fearing her
cries would attract the attention of
the people passing along the road, and
he would be arrested, he grabbed the
woman by the throat.
Bearing her to the ground, mis- hands
still thrcttling her. he held her down
until her cries and struggles ceased
Then johnson set about making his
escape. Miss Allisnon, however, re-
covered her senses and tried to rise and
crawl out of the barn. Again fearing
she would cry out and attract atten-
tion, Johnson says, he once more
hurled her to the ground.
Weakened as she was from the
negro's first onslaught, Miss Allinson
struggled desperately in defense of her
honor and her life. Finally seizing
the milking stool, he dealt the de-
fenseless woman a terrific blow on the
head, knocking her senseless.
Still fearing that his victim would
make some outcry, Johnson saws, he
cue strip off a horse blanket hang
ming in the barn and tied it tightly
around Miss Allinson's neck, to keep
her from hollerin', " as he described
it.
Leaving his victim unconscious and
strangling. the negro says. he then
went to her house. which the child,
Bessie Walker, invited him to enter,
saying: Ma will be in soon.,'
he ransacked the place, opening
wardrobes and TRUNKS and closets. He
round Miss Allinson's watch, a hand
crush and a hand mirror. also 81. 35.
AS johnson was leaving he says the
child, Bessie Walker, inEocently
showed him her little savings bank, a
10Y in the form OF a pig. Taking it
from her childish hands, johnson
opened it and secured an old silver
uoiiar and six pennies-its entire con.
tents. Later he found silver dollar,
winch completed his booty.
From the house the negro went back
10 the barn. There he saw Miss AL
nnson lying on the hay cold and still.
ne says he started to remove the strap
rom her neck, when he discovered
mat she was dead. He then fled
through the orchard and, reaching the
railroad, took a trolley car at Mt.
Pleasant Valley to Camden. The car
was we'll filled and johnson says he
gave the pennies he had taken from
sne child's bank to the conductor for
fare.
Reaching Camden johnson took the
Aaighns Point Ferry to the foot of
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