The Port Gibson reveille., 1907-06-20
.HEINOUS CRIMINAL
Was viii Johnson, CoIor5d,
Hanged in Atlanta Jail.
CAUSED SEPTEMBER RIOT
Facing Doom on eallows profession
al Rapist" confesses to Many
Grimes That Long Baffled Law
Authorities.

Authorities.
VIII Johnson was the negro who
caused the riot in Atlanta last Sep
tember. On the gallows in Fulton coun,
ty Jail Friday, with the spring Of
the trap between him and eternity, the
lashing Of his conscience was too
much for this devil incarnate," as
Sheriff Nelms and Solicitor Hill TT
ly described him, and at the last mo-
ment he confessed all.
Not only did Johnson own on the
death trap to having assaulted Mrs.
Hembree, the charge for which he
had been sentenced to hang, but he
alison confessed to other brutal crimes.
The negro began by confessing to
i the Hem5ree assault. He spoke delib-
erately. The prisoners demeanor sug.
! gested that stdl other secrets were
lighting to come out. Someone ques-
toned him with this in view. Thea
the torrents Of crime came pouring
forth, each gush OF. confession more
startling than the last. 1t seemed as
ii the Questioner had unwittingly
struck the fountain hell Of all those
horrors which broke forth in Fulton
county month by month, and in home
after home last year. AS the negro con-
tinued the men about him fell back.
He himself stood undisturbed almost
to the final moment. Then, as the
black cap was about to be pulled over
his eyes he flung out one last con-
fession, and sank choking to the
floor Until that instant it is doubtful
if the total enormity of his life had
ever dawned upon him. When it did
dawn in giant streaks Of gore and
black, even his own bestiality fell
down before it, stunned and blinded.
Johnson maintained his innocence un-
til few minutes before he was ta-
Ike to the scafold, when he made a
partial confession to the two negro
preachers who had been in constant
attendance upon him for the past few
days. Standing on the trap door of
the scaffoId he repeated what he had
told the preachers and added other
confessions to it.
The condemned man, in firm tone
of voice, admitted having attempted
an assault upon Mrs. Hembree, con-
fessed to having assassinated ]. A.
Moody, an Adamasville farmer; told
Of shooting J. w. Bryant, an East
Point farmer, and his sister, Miss
Maud Bryant, which shooting was
done in the early night, and through
an open window; declared it was he
who a few months ago made the bru-
tai attack upon the Lawrence girls
and took the responsibility for the
murder, some years ago, Of a man
IN South Carolina.
SheFiff Nelns sprang the trap at ex-
actly Has and it was 1920 before
the physicians pronounced him dead
the negro's neck was bro
ken by the fall. During the 35 min
utes that his body was suspended
Johnson neFer moved a muscle. Not
a contortioS, not a movement of the
fingers and3 not a single sign of life
was visible. The negro's heart ac-
ton remaised quite strong until just
i've minu$es before the physicians
declared lie extinct.
Although the hour set by the sheriff
for the ha$ging was II O'Clock, a large
crowds gssshered in front OF the Jail
July half an hour before that time,
md the cheers were kept busy turn
ng away the curious. Among those
admitted 10 the Jail were 1lr. and Mrs.
Sand their two young boys,
md J. w. iBryaBt of East Point. It was
or the 9ssaulJ upon Mrs. Hembree
hat Johnson was executed. It was
'Ir. Bryalt whom Johnson confessed
o haying3 shot through an open win
low.
Notwithstanding Mrs: Hembree had
raveled TO the jail for the purpose Of
the hanging, her nerve fail
d her al the last moment, and she
ecided to reElain in the Jail Office
With her little sons while Mr.. HEM
rec joined the small gathering in
be galloFs room, Some 20 persons
onstituted the audience that heard
ohnson's concession and saw him
ent into eternity. These, for the most
art, were jailers, officers and news
aper men.