Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-16


courts decision in March. 1906. TO con-
slider the appeal Of Johnson. from a
verdict OF the Tennessee courts hold
ing him guilty and sentencing him to
be hanged on charge OF assault.
The night after the determination or
the Supreme Court to review the pro-
ceedings was wired 10 Chattanooga,
mob stormed the jail. took the pris-
oner out. and lynobed him
Court Much lnoensed.
The court was much incensed by
the lynching. and at It's instance the
attorney general instituted proceed-
ings against sheriff Ship. Jailer Glib
son aud twenty-five others supposed
to have been implicated in the lynch
ing. charging them with contempt
Many of the accused were exonerated
and in the end only six were found
guilty
The finding of the court was an
nounced in May: just before the close
Of the last term Of court. but all the
defendants entered motions of rehear-
ing. which had the effect of postpon-
ing action until this fall. On Nov.
l rehearing was denied and the six
men ordered before the court for
sentence today.
In Investigating the case. the Sp-
preme Court found that Johnson was
removed from Chattanooga to Nash
willie before his trial. because of fear
hat d lNnohn1
brought back for the legal execution.
When the Supreme Court stayed the
execution the court has held Shipp
made no effort and gave no orders to
have the deputies or others guard
the Jail. but left the night jailer. Glib
son. there alone. That evening a
white male prisoner was removed
from the upper floor of the jail. leav-
ing only Johnson and white woman
on that floor. The court pointed out
that this same man had been remoy-
ed in the same way at the time Of the
first attempt to lynch Johnson. which
had been frustrated by the removal
of the negro
Shipp lived only n few blocks from
the Jail and when he was notified
by the trial Judge and the prosecut-
ing attorney that mob was at the
Jail went there alone. Although for
an hour in the midst of or near the
mob, the court held he did not seek
to obtain information so that he could
identify any of its members.
Ships interview Quoted.
The court in finding Ship guilty
commented On a published interview
alleged TO have been had with Ship.
1.-The people of Hamilton county were
willing to let the law take its
course until ii became known that
the case would not probably be dis
posed Of for four or five years by
the Supreme Court of the United
States it quoted Ship as saying.
But the people would not submit 10
this, and do not wonder at IT,"
Chief Justice Fuller In pronounc-
ing Ship guilty. said that this refer
ence TO people" was significant, FOR
he was a candidate for reelection and
had been told that his saving the
DTlSOHtI tHt htot ottNhsP~ -
mob him would cost him his place.
and he had answered that he wished
the mob had got him before he did,
The court held that Gibson must
have believed the mob would attack
the jail that night Johnson was lynch
ed. but although he was in charge OF
the jail more than two hours before
its arrival he made nc effort TO sum
mon assistance TO repel the attack.
The testimony OF Mrs. Baker. white
prisoner. to the effect that Gibson
told her before the mob arrived that
It was coming and for her TO go to
her cell. was referred to.
Williams and Nolan participated in
the lynching. the court held upon the
strength of direct testimony to that
effect. Statements made by Padgeft
and Mayes were held as evidence OF
their guilt.