_ Jail Yard on March 12, 1869, On the night before their executions, |
both men, who had experienced religious conversions while awaiting
death, talked freely to reporters and Tomlin expressed the belief that
"when they caught him the authorities got the biggest thief and ras=
cal in Mobile County", admittérig that he had committed many robberies
and rapeS, as well as mrdering McLaughlin for his money. Before gLO~
ing to the gallows, Tomlin asked for a cigar and while smoking it re=
marked that it would be his last, While his hands were being tied,
he said to the jailer: "Tie me tight, Mr.Joe, and pray don't go to
hell, but go to heaven." Roth were cool and collected and each made
a brief talk from the gallows admitting their crimes, While the
death warrant was being read, Tomlin cried out to a small boy seated
in a nearby tree: "You had better be praying." When the drop fell,
many in the crowd cheered, The ropes slipped to the back of both
men's heads and both strangled to death, Their bodies were cut down
in 15 minutese :
MOBILE WEEKLY REGISEER, March 20, 1869, (Article filed in red bound
book contain manuscript of THE TREE about the Boyington case from
Mobile, )
Jail Yard on March 12, 1869, On the night before their executions, _
both men, who had experienced religious conversions while awaiting
death, talked freely to reporters and Tomlin expressed the belief that
"When they caught him the authorities got the biggest thief and ras
cal in Mobile County", admittédg that he had committed many robberies
and rapes, as well as murdering McLaughlin for his money, Before go=
ing to the gallows, Tomlin asked for a cigar and while smoking it re=
marked that it would be his last. While his hands were being tied,
he said to the jailer: "Tie me tight, Mr.joe, and pray don't go to
hell, but go to heaven." Roth were cool and collected and each made
a brief talk from the gallows admitting their crimes, While the
death warrant was being read, Tomlin cried out to a small boy seated
in a nearby tree: "You had better be praying." When the drop fell,
many in the crowd cheered. The ropes slipped to the back of both
men's heads and both strangled to death, Their bodies were cut dow
in 15 minutes. :
MOBILE WEEKLY REGISEER, March 20, 1869, (Article filed in red bound
book contain manuscript of THE TREE about the Boyington case. from
Mobile.)
a: d on March 12, Pyeng ght before executions,
both men, who had experienced religious conversions while awaiting
death, talked freely to reporters and Tomlin expressed the belief that
"When they caught him the authorities got the biggest thief and ras=
cal in Mobile County", admitting that he had committed many robberies
and rapes, as well as mrdering McLaughlin for his money, Before go=
ing to the gallows, Tomlin asked for a cigar and while smoking it re=
marked that it would be his last, While his hands were being tied,
he said to the jailer: "Tie me tight, Mr.gJoe, and pray don't go to
hell, but go to heaven," Roth were cool and collected and each made
a brief talk from the gallows admitting their crimes, While the
death warrant was being read, Tomlin cried out to a small boy seated
in a nearby tree: "You had better be praying." When the drop fell,
many in the crowd cheered, The ropes slipped to the back of both
men's heads and both strangled to death, Their bodies were cut dow
in 15 minutes.
MOBILE WEEKLY REGISTER, March 20, 1869, (Article filed in red bound
bool contain manuscript of THE TREE about the Boyington case from
Mobile.)
“irebgled to deaths Dia toon eee co Sout
och Wests MOISE, rah 2 1695 (ustte eed sn red toot
tain maserigh Of THE TAGE skit the Sepigta sane ome
a)
3-12-1869 © |
Johnson, an 18-year-old mulatto, and Tomlin, a 2l-year-old black man,
were both former slaves who, disdaining work, were members of a size-
| able gang which operated on the outskirts of Mobile, Ala,, and subsis-
ted by robbery and plunder, On the night of Oct, 21, 1868, they and
others in the gang participated in the mass rape of an elderyly white
| woman and the next night they waylaid a young white man, Archie McLau-
ghlin,who was on his way home for the evening, at the Eslava Bridge
and when McLaughlin resisted their attempt to rob him, Tomlin, the
gang leader, shot and killed him, Tomlin forced another member of
the gang, MMMMEKMMEW Wesley Saulsberry, at pistol point to remove
the dying man's boots and the gang took all other articles of value
from his person, Six members of the gang, including Johnson, Tomlin
and Saulsberry, were rounded up, and one member, Aleck Mobley, turned
State's evidence, Johnson and Tomlin were each sentenced to die and
two others, Israel Beverly and Thomas Burns were sentenced to life im-
prisongent while Saulsberry was acquitted ater the other members of
the gang, including the two condemned men, testified that he had been
forced to participate, There was no appeal of the conviction, buy the
Governor granted a respite from their original execution date of Jan,
15 to March 12, 1869, and they were hanged beflore a tremendous crowd,
aes members of the picder ed man's family in the Mobile County
JOHNSON, Isaac and TOMLIN. Lewis
3-12-1869
Johnson, an 18-year-old milatto, and Tomlin, a 2l-year-old black man,
were both former slaves who, disdaining work, were members of a size-
able gang which operated an the outskirts of Mobile, Ala,, and subsis-
ted by robbery and plunder, On the night of Oct, 21, 1868, they and
others in the gang participated in the mass rape of an elderyly white
woman and the next night they waylaid a young white man, Archie McLau-
ghlin,who was on his way home for the evening, at the Eslava Bridge
and when McLaughlin resisted their attempt to rob him, Tomlin, the
gang leader, shot and killed him, Tomlin forced another member of
the gang, MMMMEHMWEN Wesley Saulsberry, at pistol point to remove
the dying man's boots and the gang took all other articles of value
from his person, Six members of the gang, including Johnson, Tomlin
and Saulsberry, were rounded up, and one member, Aleck Mobley, turned
State's evidence, Johnson and Tomlin were each sentenced to die and
two others, Israel Beverly and Thomas Burns were sentenced to life im
prisonpent while Saulsberry was acquitted ater the other members of
the gang, including the two condemned men, testified that he had been
forced to participate, There was no appeal of the eonvich tons BUG the
Governor granted a respite from their original execution date of Jan,
15 to March 12, 1869, and they were hanged before a tremendous crowd
eee menbers of the mindered man's family in the Mobile County i
3-12-1869
Johnson, an 18-year-old miatto, and Tomlin, a 21-year-old black man,
were both former slaves who, disdaining work, were members of a size-
able gang which operated én the outskirts of Mobile, Ala,, and subsis-|
ted by robbery and plunder,
the gang, MNMUBHMMBE Wesley Saulsberry, at pistol point to remove
the dying man's boots and the gang took all other articles of value
from his person, Six members of the gang, including Johnson, Tomlin
and Saulsberry, were rounded up, and one member, Aleck Mobley, turned
State's evidence, Johnson and Tomlin were each sentenced to die and
two others, Israel Beverly and Thomas Burns were sentenced to life im-
prisonment while Saulsberry was acquitted ater the other members of
the gang, including the two condemned men, testified that he had been
ounty
95 and they were hanged beflore 2, trenendous crowd,
ue
the mrdered man's family in the Mobile
paar ees Sa
