The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-02-26
JOHNSON TO DIE FOR CRIME
Murderer of Rev. Hugh HARRISON
Sentenced to Die March 23-HeI
CcRfessed-StOry of tho Crime

Murderer of Rev. Hugh HARRISON
Sentenced to Die March 23-He
Ccnfessed-Story of the Crime
John Johnson, colored, plead gull
ty in court at Dillon, S. c., Tuesday
Of last week, of killing Rev. Hugh
HARRISON at his home near Pleas
ant Hill church, Dillon county, on
the night Of November 81 last, the
jury found him guilty Of murder in
the first degree, and he was sentenc-
Ell to die on Friday, March 23d.
Mr.: HARRISON lived not far from
the North Carolina line and his muir
der and the assault on Mrs. Harrel-
son created excitement in the section
OF Robson adjoining the South Car
DINA line. The story of the crime
has been told in The Robesonian, but
the following from last weeks Dill
Ion Herald will be found of interest:
johnson was r{aigned Monday
shortly after court convened ard his
trial was arranged for the next day.
Previous to his arraignment John
] son had made statement to Sheriff
Lane in which he admitted that he
killed Mr.. Harrelson, but claimed that
Mr.. HARRISON attempted to arrest
him for stealing COW from Mr..
James Mcclellan.
johnson repeated the story while
j testlfying in his own behalf at the
trial Tuesday morning. He claimed
that he did not go to Mr.. Harrelson's
nome with murder in his heart, but
for the purpose Of getting something
to eat. 1t was while he was at the
store that Mr.. HARRISON remarked
to him that he had stolen a cow from
: Mr.. Mcclellan and that he was going
to arrest him and turn him over tc
the proper authorities. johnson sale
he had stick in his hand with 9
railroad tap on the end and that as
Mr.. HARRISON attempted to arres
him he struck him on the head AT
ter committing the crime he heart
, some buggies coming and went to
ward the house. There he fount
Mrs. HARRISON who began screaming
a and he began to beat her. He claim
ed that his motive was not robbery
: "After celebrating about 40 min
7, utes the jury returned verdict o
murder in the first degree and Judg
8 Prince promptly passed sentence, an
: johnson will die in the electric chat
at Columbia on March 23rd
: GAS Judge Prince pronounced tn
+ solemn words whicn will end the ne
e groe's career on earth, johnson di
l. not finch, but received the sentenc
with stolid Indifference. He wa
taken to the penitenthry Tuesda
t. night where he will be confined i
the death house until the day of hi
3 execution.
J "a singular coincidence in come
ton with the case is that yohnso
-, is the first man to receive the deaf
sentence in Dillon county while Jude
Il Prince who passed sentence preside
II at the first term of court held in tt
county seven years ago.
II Story of the Crime
II "Rev. Hugh HARRISON, promine
II citizen Of the Pleasant Hill commu
. ity, was found dead at the foot
\ his commissary steps shortly aft
seven o'clock on the night of Mover
Il Der 21st, while his wife had be-
beaten almost into unconsciousne
by negro who she claimed w
John Johnson, former employee
mr. James McLellan's place. M
HARRISON had been struck behi
the left ear with a blunt instrume
q and died without regaining consciou
II ness. Blood hounds were secur
II and posses searched the country
Johnson but he could not be locate
The hounds were turned on trac
leading across a field in the rear
II the house and followed a trail
the home of Arch Campbell, ente
ing the bedroom in which Campo
Il had slept part of the previous mig