The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1907-06-22
'HEINOUS CRIMINAL
Was Will Johnson, COIored,
Hanged in Atlanta Jail.
CAUSED SEPTEMBER RIOT
Facino Doom on Galows Profession
al Rapist' Confesses to Many
Crimes That Long saffled Law
Authorities.

viii Johnson was the negro who
caused the riot in Atlanta last Sep
tember. On the gallows III Fulton coun-
ty jail Friday, with the spring ot
the trap between him and eternity, the
lashing of his conscience was too
much for this devil incarnate.' as
Sheriff Nelms and Solicitor Hill tit
ly described him, and al the last mo-
men. he confessed all.
Not only did Johnson own on the
death trap to having assaulted MIS-.
/ Hembree, the charge for which he
Ihaa been sentenced 10 hang, but he
Alison confessed 10 other brutal crimes.
! The negro bean by confeSsinS To
! ihe ilcnoICc assault. lie hp1hv deliD'
Icrat,ly. The pr.sOAcrs dcmcanOr suS'
Ilc..,4 that siLl ether scores were
Ih2AtuS l. come out. Someone queS-
toned him with this in view. Thea
the torrents OF crime came pouring
forth, each gusu Oi confession more
startling than til. .ast. 1t seemed as
ii the qucsti0utr had unwittingly
struck the fountain he'll OF all those
horrors which broke forth in Fulton
county month by AiJnth, and in home
after home last year. AS The negro con-
tiuued the men about him fell back.
lie himself stood undisturbed almost
to the final mOAcnt. Then, as the
black cap w,S about TO be Pdil~d over
his eyes he hung cut one last con-
fcssion. aAu sank choking to the
floor. Until that instant it is doubtful
if the total enormity of his life had
ever dawncd upon him. When it did
dawn in giant s.rcaks of gore and
black. even his own bestiality fell
down before j., stunned and blinded.
Johnson maintained his innocence un-
til n few minutes before he was Ia
La tn the sCAn..I, whom he made
, partial confession @ the TWO negro
preachers who had been in constant
attendance u'''''' ~'',, fer the past few
4ssa. s.-.- '''f- '~o- Of
> the scaftoIu "A. -. E'.r o--.
: told the preachers and added o.no.
confessions 10 it.
The condemned man, in firm tone
of voice. admitted having attempted
an assault upon MTs. Hembree, con-
fessed to having assassinated }. A..
Moody, an AiImasyille farmer; told
of shooting j. w. Bryant, an East
Point farmer, and his sister, Miss
Maud Bryant, which shooting was
n done in the early night, and through
an open window; declared 1t was ne
who a few months ago made the Dru-
tai attack upon the Lawrence girls
" and took the responsibility for the
:. murder, some years ago, of a man
In South Caroline.
!: Sheriff Nelms sprang the trap at eA
. actly Has and it was 1920 before
the physicians pronounced him dead
although the negros neck was bro
4 ken by the fall. During the 80 min
utes that his body was suspended
Johnson never moved a muscle. MOI
q contortion, not a movement OF the
fingers and not single sign OF life
was visible. The negro's heart &C
:. tion remained quite strong until JUS
five minutes before the ph! sician;
=, declared life extinct.
Although the hour set by the sheriff
"A for the hanging was IL O'CLOCK, lars
Ia crowds gathered in front of the ja
fully half an hour before that time
IN and the officers were kept busy turn
al ing away the curious. Among thos
te admitted TO the Jail were Mr.. and Mr.:
on Ucmbree and their two young boy!
ed and J. W. Bryant OF East Point. 1t wa
Mt for the assault upon Mrs. Hembre
ng that Johnson was executed. 1t WI
he Mr. Bryan. whom Johnson confess'
er- To having shot through an open wi
dow.
Notwiths,a anding Mrs. Hembree hi
lot Travelled to the Jail for the purpose
al Witnessing the hanging, her nerve Ia
ed her at the last moment, and 81
=, decided to remain in the jail ON
"a with hcr little sons while Mr.. Hel
a, bree joiucd the small gathering
Inc gailows room. Some 20 perso
constituted the audience that hea
rk. Johnson's confession and saw nj
nod sent into eternity. These, for the mt
.er. part, were jai.crs, officers and new
paper men.