The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-14
BUD JOHNSON
LYNCbED NEAR
CASILEBERRY
Negro Charged With Assault
Killed in Alabama, Report.
Mob Gathers at Local Jail.

Although nearly 500 persons gath
cred at the county Jail before mid
night, in q search for Bud johnson.
sault OF white woman near Pace.
the negro met his death at the hands
OF enraged citizens near Castleberry.
/, Alabama, according to information
received here late yesterday.
1t is rumored that johnson, who was
in the custody Of Sheriff Harvell Of
Santa Rosa county, enroute to Mont
gomery, Alabama was seized and kill
ed late last night. A committee Of
the crowd gathered at the county Jail
here, by permission Of Sheriff Van Pelt
made two trips through the local bas-
tile. to satisfy themselves that the ne
gro was no longer there. The crowd
dispersed about 1880 o'clock this morn
ing.
s The crowd was very orderly and
quiet and s-fter the men had gathered
nearly 1eo~trong IN the p1aSa, tl1vn
walked to the county jail. After be-
Ing augmented in numbers by dozens,
OF men attracted to the scene. tle4
conferreA ----- ----.-----~-----.--iAA~>x "a
search the Jail. after Sheriff van
Pelt had told the crowd that the negro
was no longer there.
Left at Noon.
According to the story the authori-
ties tell, Johnson was taken away
from the Jail shortly after noon yes
terday, by Sheriff Harvell, who fol-
lowed orders from the governor, to re-
move johnson from Pensacola. It Is
n fho< YnVxy0l'o r1f
traced through the country by those
determined to see johnson summarily
punished. Telephone messages from
Pace received at The Journal last
night, indicated that johnson was
again in Santa Rosa county. It is as
sumed that he is deaat.
A detachment Of marines from the
naval air station were ordered to
Pensacola about midnight and stood
guard before the Jail. There was no
occasion for their coming to the city,
as there were no demonstrations made
at any time by the crowd. Who was
responsible for their coming In. could
not be ascertained. Both police Off
cials and Sheriff Van Pelt said that
they had not asked for help.
Negro confesses.
Before being taken from the local
Jail Johnson made partial confession
He said that he did not assault the
white woman and that she addressed
him first There is absolutely no truth
to the negro's statement, since the
woman who is well known in Pace
was forced to beg for her life after
the negro had assaulted her. in order
that she might be saved to care fol
three children, Of whom she Is the
mother The family from which she
| comes has many relatives in Pensa-
cola.
| The outstanding feature Of the gath
ering before the Jail was their orderli'
ness and the lack OF any unseemi,
demonstration at any time. A number
Of West Florida citizens came in b!
boat and rail last night. under the i'm
preston that the negro was yet II
Pensacola The crowd. except for
few stragglers. had all left the 1ai
before O'Clock this morning.
No accurate information could b.
gained by telephone this morning a
to just what happened to the negro
or what disposition had been made
ihis body. The laconic answer from
Pace citizen, was: Tell the boys tha
he is in Santa Rosa county. and tina
tthey might as well come home.