The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-03-12
MOB LAW
IS FEARED
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
Barn Barricade.


derer Of Beulah. Martin, colored, his
paramour at Gypsy. was sefely landed
In the county jail. at sos o'clock las,
evening by sherifr John NJ. Flanagan
and his posse of deputy sheriffs, 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
of the sheriff and prisoner merely
caused rush arising from curiosity.
Sheriff Flanagan, however, was we'll
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 jail by
way OF the sheriff's residence from
Third street. No sooner had the sher-
ms carriage stopped than the Of
ficers jumped out with their prisoner
and fastened him up the steps and
sidewalk into the sherifrs residence
and then into the jail. 1t was done
In few seconds the crowd i'm
mediatcly began to dispense. SO
quickly and cleverly was 1t all done
that not half of the crowd even got
glimpse at the prisoner.
Sheriff Flanagan and a number 4
members of the posse that captured
the prisoner from the Yates barn.
where the negro took refuge and held
the crowd at bay many hours are re-
ceiving congratulations as deeds of
bravery were done In efrecting his
capture.
Among those in this list are L.
Byron Morrison and Charles Bonnell,
who entered the barn. talked with
the murderer and induced him to
surrender under promise of the
sherlfr's protection of mob violence
Immediately after this the sheriff
went to the barn. entered with few
others, among whom was j. II. Bog
CESS, who kept close to the sheriff
as he approached the barn to pro-
tect him, and no sooner had the
sheriff 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 ut much
risk had reached point in throwing
distance of the barn and was prepar-
ing to hurl dynamite at the murder
ers barricade, when the sheriff en-
tered.
The Falrmont Coal company'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
i
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. II. Gordon's court and
a warrant for felony sworn out. up
on which he will 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.
things look pretty blue for you
now"
Il don't care q If they
do" the negro replied 81 hope the
Judge hangs me. 1 don't care to live
anyway. There isn't anything to
live for. There is no Heaven. no
He'll. no Christ. I killed that wo-
man, but by God loved her 1
loved her then and love her now.
II tried my best to XIII Carl Mar
tin when l was out there in the barn.
took aim at him. long and steady.
and Shot. but the bullet went
over his head. could have shot
you. Mr.. Flanagan, a half dozen times,
but didn't want to.
IF ! hadn't made up my mind to
surrender there would have been
some more shooting. had intended
to shoot all my cartridges away
except two and then blow my brains
out in the manager there. 1 tell You
! amt afraid to die. and would JUS,
as soon be dead now Us to be talking
to you.
Il want you to promise me one
thing. Mr.. Knox" johnson continued,
IF they start to lynch me at the jail
! want you to take that gun and