The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-01-15
EXECUTION PASSED OFF IN
PERFECT QUIET AND ORDER
Hanging Of Johnson Witnessed by
Thousands of People

81 Ae1-E pA-AVAAILLLdLL several col
ored ministers, led by Rev. Coin, the
patriarchial minister who has admin
istered TO the spiritual welfare Of ev-
cry negro hanged in Marion county
for more than generation. held ser
vices in the cell of the condemned
man. and when he was led out 10 the
scafold, which is built in the alcove|
between the wings of the building
and fenced off with a high fence, fol-
lowed him 10 the scafold. where they
prayed and sang with him. Only about
thirty people were allowed inside the
enclosure, among them being most of
the members Of the grand jury. but
those outside could plainly see the
scaffold and the man upon it.
Johnson played for time He want
ed to talk and sing and pray and after
the black cap was placed on his head,
begged 10 have it removed while he
prayed again, promising to then sub
NIT and be hanged. The cap was re-
moved and he prayed for five minutes.
Then he said: Give me the rope and
let me put It on myself" The moose
was adjusted, and the trap door trip
ped and the man shot through the
opening. Falling seven feet or more,
his neck broke with a snap, and he
never quivered or jerked. The drop
fell at HOS o'clock and in a few sec
onds Drs. Lindner and Peek pronounc-
ed him dead
The door was opened and all who
wanted to do so came into the en-
closure to see the body from close
quarters and passed out. There was
no demonstration at all, though John
sons wife, who was inside of the jail,
f1f I'D = p 40,
are executed, Johnson seemed cool
and collected. his hands and knees
were steady and his voice clear and
strong.
The body was turned over TO the
colored preachers for burial, Johnson
having been an ordained minister him
self
Johnson did not confess on the scat
fold but had done so on several oc-
casions to Sheriff Galloway, Deputy
Brigance and to Jailer Chalker.
The crowd soon dispersed and quiet
reigned about the jail Present We're
the family of the victimized woman
and a number of neighbors from that
section.
Sheriff Smith of Lake county, Mar
shall Thomas of Dunnellon and most of
the local officers, both county and city,
were present. General satisfaction
was expressed over the speedy carry
| ing out of the. sentence of the law.
Johnson was brought up from Tam
pa yesterday evening by Sheriff Gal
loway on Sunnyjim. The sheriff went
alone, but had no trouble, in fact, very
few people had any idea that he was
escorting any but some ordinary male
factor. Johnson did not speak a word
from the minute he left Tampa till he
reached his cell in the Ocala jail. The
cell was less than twenty feet from
the galIows, and had it been light
enough the condemned negro, as he
stood in the corridor, could have seen
the grisIy frame of lumber from which
his body would dangIe in just thirteen
hours.
A Star reporter went with Sheriff
Galloway to the jail this morning to
hear the death warrant read. Marion
county has a well built jail, and it is
kept as clean and comfortable as any
Jail can be- But a jail is a jail, and as
the reporter looked at the grim sur
roundings and inhaled the peculiar
| Jail smell that no amount of scrub
bling will eradicate, he wondered if
there wouldn't be less criminals if
every growing boy could add a visit to
prison to his school education.
There is quite a good-sized popu-
lation in the Marion county jail, about
95 per cent of it coIored. It is divided
into practically two buildings. The
jailor's family live in front, and their
bright and comfortable looking rooms
are a great contrast to the balance of
the structure.
The sheriff and his party entered
the Jail by the side door. opening into
a hall that separated the jaiIor's
rooms from the remainder of the struc-
ture Out of this hall led another,
which ended at a door that opened into
the main jail On the lower floor of
this were the cells containing ordinary
prisoners. Passing this, the sheriff
led the way up a staircase to the up
per floor, where were confined the
men on which law had set it's iron grip
so strongly that the talons struck into
the soul.
Tailor Chalker turned key and
opened a little door, and then turned
another key and pulled a lever and
opened a bigger door that opened the
way into a corridor that ran along a
row of cells. Sitting on his cot in the
first CELL a black spot against the
darkness of his prison was Johnson.
The condemned negro was quietly,
abjectly miserable, so miserable that
had he been there for any other crime
one could not have helped being sorry
for him.
The sheriff spoke to him kindly, and
asked him how he felt The negro
answered quietly, but his eyes widen
ed as the officer opened the fateful
document with the ominOus black rib
bon across it, and began reading the
words that confirmed all the crimi-
nails worst fears.
Present while the warrant was be
ing read were beside Mr.. Galloway
Sheriff Smith of Lake county, Deputy
Wells. JaiIer Chalker and the report
er. After the reading was over. the
sheriff asked the condemned man i'll
there was anything he could do for.i
him. and then listened attentively toI
his few simple requests.
Johnson then had less than three
hours to live. He seemed sunk into
an apathy of despair and made no COM
plant or entreaJy. He was given a |
good breakfast and ate with a fair
appetite.
As the sheriff left the jail. he stop
ped for a few minutes by the &c to
speak to the prisoners for minor of
lenses. They all seemed glad 10 see
him. and several asked favors. which +
he promised 70 grant. Arrest. i'm |
prisonment and punishment are pen /
aIties to which Sheriff Galloway never /
adds an unnecessary hardship.