The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-03-05
Negro Murderer Begs Sheriff
to Shoot Him if Crowd
Tries to lynch Him.
TALKS ABOUT THE MURDER
Tells the Sheriff at Whom He
Aimed While in His Old
Barr, ,Barricade.

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Frank Johnson. coiored. the mur-
derer OF Beulah Martin, colored. his
paramour at Gypsy. was sefely landed
In the county Jail at sos O'clock last
evening by sherIf John N. Flanagan
and his posse of deputy sherifrs, con-
stables and specially deputized men.
The court house yard was filled
with men, women and children sever
al hours before the arrival OF the
sheriff with his prisoner, and there
seemed to be more than possibility
owing TO the large number that there
might be demonstration of violence
against the prisoner, but the arrival
Iof the sheriff and prisoner merely
caused rush arising from curiosity.
sheriff Flanagan, however, was wen
prepared for any emergency. as his
deputies and several police officers OF
the Fairmont Coal Company, to-
gether with constables. All armed
with rifles and other guns guarded
the prisoner as they rushed him
through the crowd into the tall by
way of the sherifrs residence from
Third street, No sooner had the sher-
iff's carriage stopped than the of
ticers jumped out with their prisoner
and hastened him up the steps and
sidewalk into the sherinf's residence
and then into the Jail. It was done
in few seconds the crowd Inn
mediately began to disperse. SO
quickly and cleyerly was It all done
that not half of the crowd even got
a glimpse at the prisoner.
sheriff Flanagan and a number IL
members Of tine posse that captured
the prisoner from the Yates barn.
where the negro tooIN refuge ana held
the crowd at bay many hours are re-
ceiSing congratulations as deeds OF
bravery were done in effecting his
capture
Among those in this list are L.
Byron Morrison and Charles BonneiI,
who entered the barn, talked with
the murderer and induced him, TO
surrender, under promise Of the
sheriff's3 protection OF mob violence.
Immediately after this the sheriff
went to the barn, entered with a few
others. among whom was j. T. Bog
CESS, who kept close to the sheriff
as he approached the barn to pro-
tect him. and no sooner had the
sherif entered than others of the
posse hurriedly gathered around the
barn. Johnson handed over his gun
and the vigil was ended.
Another who showed much bravery
was Thomas Francis. who at much
risk had reached a point in throwing
distance Of the barn and was prepar-
ing to hurl dynamite at the murder
er's barricade. When, the sheriff en-
tered.
The Fairmont Coal eompany's
blood hounds and some Of the COM
pany's police officers also deserve
special mention for tracing the fellow
and running him to his refuge. THE
many citizens who volunteered their
services and aided in the fellows
Capture are also deserving praise. as
well as all others who lent assistance.
Mrs. John DOlan, Mrs. wilcox and
others who rendered telephone SER
vice have the thanks OF the officers
and newspapers.
The charge Of murder against
johnson has been regularly preferred
in Justice G. H. Gordon's court and
warrant for felony sworn out. up
on which he viii have preliminary
hearing later.
Johnson talked freely to Deputy
Sheriff Knox and sheriff Flanagan as
the officers were bringing him to the
city in the carriage.
We'll Johnson vouchsafed Knox
fror4sn,,as -. -. EH