The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-15
NEGRO TELLS OF LYNCHING Positively Identifies Five
 White Men. EVIDENCE IN SHIP CASE Goes Out of His Way to Discuss
 Unpleasantries. Testimony of Black Constable Ia shak- en by Defe.se--Nexro Gives
 Version of the Ed. John
 son Killing.
EVIDENCE IN SHIP CASE

Chattanooga. Tenn, June 14.--Joe Franklin. a negro and former consta- ble from the Tenth District, occupied the stand the entire morning at the hearing of evidence In the Shipp con- tempt case, and identified Bart Justice. | a man by the name of Payton. Will | Marquet. John Jones and Joe Clark as being members of the mob. Franklin was positive in all of these statements and did not leave the last doubt In his words.
 During the cross examination he was impudent in his answers and constant- ly went outside of the questions to say something about the whites and ne- groes. Assistant Attorney General Sanford made several efforts to have Franklin confine himself to answering the questions. but he was unable to do so and was compelled to appeal to the Commissioner. Franklin's statements were positive and he evidenced a de- sire to make them even more positive If possible. During the galling cross examination by Mir. Pritchard. the Identification of John Jones, at least. was badly shaken. He compelled the witness to describe this man in detail and finally drew from Franklin the statement that about twenty of the men In the mob had on light overcoats. Mir. Pritchard asked for the color of Jones's hair. eyes. height. weight. dress and every other detail. and the sagerness with which Franklin an- swered the questions was noteworthy.
 Franklin became badly tangled and admitted that he had been indicted by the grand jury on several occasions for various aliege crimes sbut did not get into the penitentiary.
 Version of Lynching.
 In relating his version of the lynch ing of Ed Johnson. Franklin said he saw the taller taking Ed Johnson up stairs. When he went to the jail about o'clock with a prisoner he saw only Jailer Gibson. The jail door was gen orally locked at that time of day, but 1t was open then. He went back again about o'clock with a negro special deputy, Bradford. There was no one | in the office He rang the gong and l Jailer Gibson came up. He called at | tention to the door being open and Gibson said that the prisoners were al. locked up in their cells. Witness asked Gibson why there were no guards at the jail and he had replied: Captain Shipp dismissed them There is no danger now. since Johnson Is United states prisoner" He went to the jafi later when the mob was up stairs in the jail. He heard the ham mering There were many people in the jail yard and on Walnut street. There seemed to be five or six men in the lobby. Qnite crowd came out of the Jail. He heard Bart Justice say: By God we've got him" Hes had known Justice for several years. He walked to the gate and sat down. He saw the crowd as 1t passed. There were about thirty or forty in the crowd and about twenty-five in the yard.
 Mr. Pritchard completed his cross examination at 12:10. He announced that he had asked all the questions he desired on behalf of his clients. Cap- tain Shipp and his deputies. but that the attorneys for the various other de- fendants who had been mentioned by Franklin in his testimony would desire an examination. He suggested ad- journment until ? o'clock and it was taken.
 At the afternoon session Ali Hand man. one of the men accused of lynch ing. apparently established a complete alibi. Mir. Handman had not finished when court adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.