The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-06-20
Was Will Johnson, Coiored,
Hanged in Atlanta Jail.
CAUSED SEPTEMBER RIOT
Facing Doom Gu Gaiiows "2rofession.
al Rapist' Confesses to Many
Crimes That Long Saffled Law
Authorities.


1ember. On the gallows in Fulton coun-
1y Jail Friday, with the spring Of
she trap between him and eternity, the
lashing of his conscience was too
much for this devil incarnate,' as
Sheriff Nelms and Solicitor Hill fit
ly described him, AID at the last mo-
men, be 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 10 other brutal crimes.
The negro began by confessing to
the tIen.3ree assault. He spoke deliD-
erately. The prisoner demeanor sug-
seSted that si;ii other secrets were
ngnung to come out. Someone cues
toned him with this in view. Thel
the torrents Of crime came pouring
forth, each gush OF confession Llore
startling than the last. 1t seemed as
if the Questioner had unwittingiy
struck the fountain hell OF all chose
Z 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 urdisturbed 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
il the total enormity Of his life had
ever dawned upon him. When it did
dawn in giant S.reakS OF gore and
black, even his own bestiality fell
down before il, stunned and blinded
Jof nson mainsai his innocence un-
til few minutes before he was ta-
Ike. to the scaffold, when he made a
partial confession to the two negro
preachers who had been in constant
z attendance upon him for. the past few
days. Standing on the trap door OF
! the scaffold 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 j. A.
I 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 man
in South Carolina.
- Sheriff Neims sprang the trap at ex-
actly Has and it was 1920 before
the physicians pronounced him dead,
although the negros neck was bro
ken by the fall. During the 35 min
utes that his body was suspended
Johnson never moved muscle. Not
contortion, nQs movement of the
{ fingers and not a single sign of life
was visible. The negro's heart &C.
ton remained quite strong until just
Eve minutes before the physicians
declared life extinct.
Although the hour set by the sheriff
for the hanging was II O'Clock, large
crowds gathered in front of the jail
fully half an hour before that time,
and the officers were kept busy turn
ing away the curious Among those
admitted to the Jail were Mr.. and Mrs.
Hembree and their two young boys,
and W. Bryant of East Point. 1t was
for the assault upon Mrs. Hembree
that Johnson was executed. 1t was
Mr. Bryant whom Johnson confessed
to having SnOI LuiouSn al 'opeA WILL
dow.
Notwithstanding Mrs. Hembree had
travelled to the Jail for the purpose OF
witnessing the hanging, her nerve fall
ed her at the last moment, and she
decided to remain in the jail office
with her little sons while Mr.. Hem
bree joined the small gathering IN
the gallows room. Some 25 persons
constituted the audience that heard
Johnson's confession and saw him
sent into eternity. These, for the most
part, were jailers, officers and news
paper men.