Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1906-05-31
Taken from Jail and Done to
Death BY Mob
AWFUL SEQUEL TO A MISTRIAL
Mob Batters Down Dcors of Moth
Carolina Jail Drags J. v. johnson,
Alleged Murderer of His Brothe--
in-law, Gwinn Johnson, From His
Cell, Strings Eim to a Tree and
Riddles His Body With Bullets

Wadesboro, n c.. Spe.ial.-A mob
composed Of 30 to 75 men battered
down the Jail doors shortly aftm 3
O'Clock Monday morning and lyn he'd
John Y. Johnson. 4 white man about
40 years OLD, the killing of his broth
er-in-law. Quinn Johnson, on Deccm-
Der IL. last. The mob, it apears came
from Mcfarland. Morven township. a
small place on the South Carolina
line and. largely under the influence
OF whisacy and treated the prisoner in
most cruel manner. while taking him
ont Of town One sCory is that they
told him 10 run for his life and then
filed his back with bird shot This
may or may not be true, but in TAX
ing Johnsor out of jail one wrist was
almost severed and the trail of the
mob out of town was easil., traced by
bloody splotchcs.
About 145 O'Clock Two or three
men, partially disguised, appeared al
the back door OF the jail and told
Sheriff j. y. Bogsan they had pris-
oner and displayed commitment pa
per. The sheriff came out and the
door was bolted behind him. He tried
to get The men 10 levac, but instead
dozens more swarmed IN and took
hold of the 1flicer and began to bat
ter III the door, at the same time fir
ing several shots .ato the jail, one
load from 4 shotgun at cloce range
making an inch hole in the door franz
ing and pistol bullet burning
mark on the jailer's coll.,
Gaining admission to the jail after
about half an hour, the zen swarmed
up stairs, breaking down two other
doors. When the cell .las reached
several attempts were made to break
down the iron door an tho mob pnt
a number Of shotgun. though the
bars and threatened So kill johnson
there. when a member OF the sher-
IFS family. fearing ha m to that of
fetal. opened the cell door and John
son was dragged out barefoot and
scantly dressed. He attempted TO
mold on TO something. when he was
badly cut on the wrist. The doomed
man 5 appeal Tor mercy were met with
abuses as the LOB dragged him out
INTO the street. Here the crowd was
divided INTO three squads, with the
prisoner III the center, and amidst vol
ley after yollcy from n number of
shotguns and pistols and many shouts.
wended ITS way out ihe Morven road
IN the direction of the scene of the
ofence Tor which johnson was in
iail. 80
j. Y. Johnson was tried at the
April term of Arson Superior Court
for the murder of Quinn Johnson.
the jury failing TO agree on verdict.
Judge Shaw, who presided at the
triai. reprlmanded the jury for its
inability To reach Il verdict and
mistrial was ordered, the prisoner be-
ing remanded to Jail fJr second
trlat at the next term of court. The
trlal was vigorously contf steI on both
sides. Solicitor j. u. Robinson was
assisted IN the prosecution by Mr..
John =. McRac. of the the Charlotte
bar, and Mr.. III. II. McLendon. of
Wadesboro, while the defence was ab-
ly represented by Messr;. r. l.. Can
die, j. A. Lockhart, Jr., John Il. Ben
ner, and HChry Bogan. The evidence
showed that the two men were eneae
ed in an alteration when the fa,ol
shot was tir;d
After Il niai which occupied near.
iy week. the jury took the case.
The first ballot was eight for mur-
der IN the first degree, three for mur-
der III the SccorG deSree and one for
aeqn'ttal. after being out three davs
the final ballot was eleven for murder
IN the second degree and one for
mahs'aughter. \ mistrial was tbon
ordered by Judge Shaw and the &C.
ond trial set for the July term Of
court
Judge Neal to Scene.
Raleigh, Special.-Governor Glenn
has ordered Judge Neal to the scent