Frank Johnson, 1908 July 17

in which he admitted his true identity and said that he had committed
his first mirder at Blossburg, Alas, in 1896 when he murdered a man
whose name he did not know in the course of a robbery. In addition

to confessing the murders of,two,other men, one for the purpose of
robbery and, the other over a woman, he also said that he had killed

a common-law wife in Chicago in 190); and a white woman with whom he
lived and who he used for purposes of prostitution in 1906, Both of
these latter two murders were subsequently verified by the polices
After each killing, Johnson would change localities, Prior to his re-
moval to the Penitentiary to await execution, he was baptized into the
Baptist religion at the Harrison County Jail and though he spent his
time awaiting execution in religious devotion, on the day before his
death he stated that he did not believe that he truly obtain salvation,
There was no appeal, and as the Governor declined to conmute the sen-
tence, he was hanged at the West Virginia State Prison on July 14,
1908, He went to his death calm ly and made no statement from the
Wore a new white suit and his neck was broken by the fall.

gallowSe
ix minutes after the trap fell.

le was pronounced dead s

CLARKSBURS TELEGRAM, Clarksburg, W. Vase, 6-1-1908;
ba5n19083 7-18-1908; 7-17-19085

in which he admitted his true identity and said that he had committed
his first murder at Blossburg, Ala.e, in 1896 when he murdered a man
whose name he did not know in the course of a robbery, In addition

to confessing the murders of,two,other men, one for the purpose of
robbery and, the other over a woman, he also said that he had killed

a common-law wife in Chicago in 190); and a white woman with whom he
lived and who he used for purposes of prostitution in 1906, Both of
these latter two murders were subsequently verified by the police,
After each killing, Johnson would change localities. Prior to his re-
moval to the Penitentiary to await execution, he was baptized into the
Baptist religion at the Harrison County Jail and though he spent his
time awaiting execution in religious devotion, on the day before his
death he stated that he did not believe that he truly obtain salvation,
There was no appeal, and as the Governor declined to conmute the sen-
tence, he was hanged at the West Virginia State Prison on July 14,
1908, He went to his death calm ly and made no statement from the
wore a new white suit and his neck was broken by the fall.

allows
i : utes after the trap fell.

He was pronounced dead six min

CLARKSBURG TELMGRAM, Clarksburg, Ws Vaey 6-1-1908; BRREERBRES
6-5-1908; 7-18-1908; 7-17-1908;

in which he admitted his true identity and said that he had conmitted
his first mrder at, Blossburg, Ala., in 1896 when he murdered a man
whose name he did not know in the course of a robbery, In addition
to confessing the mrders of,two,other men, one for the purpose of
robbery and, the other over a woman, he also said that he had killed
a common-law wife in Chicago in 190) and a white woman with whom he
lived and who he used for purposes of prostitution in 1906, Both of
these latter two mirders were subsequently verified by the police,

FLIDRAM, Clarksburg, Ws Vas, 6-1-1908; ERRRESUSRP
18-1908; 7-17-1908

OLARKSBURS -T
6-5-1908; 7-1

208) am

-JOENSON, Frank
Johnson, a black man whose real name was Eddie “Walton and who also

used the alias Frank Harris, was born in,Wilkes Co., Gas In 1907, he
became acquainted with a black couple, Carl and Beulah Martin, at Gyp-
sy, a mining community in Harrison Co,, We Vasey where he was working

as a coal miner, An intimacy developed between he and Mrs, Martin and
on February 29, 1908, after there had been several arguments between
him and Martin, they had a conference and Martin agreed to divorce his
wife in order that she might marry Johnson, After bohh men had surren-
dered their weapons to Mrs, Martin's sister, she had a change of mind
and announced her determination to remain with her husband, Johnson
went to Fairmont where he brooded over his rejection until the morning
of March 3 when he caught a train to Gypsy and went to the boarding
-house where the Martins lived, He demanded that Mrs, Martin elope with
him and when she refused, he shot her with a Winchester rifle, killing
her instantly, He then escaped on foot and was tracked for 25 miles
before he was cornered in a barn, Armed with both his rifle and a pis-
tol and having a large supply of ammunition, he withstood a seige of a
fay and a night+by over 500 citizens and wounded three men, he finally

surrendered while preparations were being made to dynamite the barn,
At his ‘#ywiimek trial he testified that he had loved Mrs, Martin and

felt that he had been deceived by her. On May 28, he made a written
confession which was not released until the day before his execution

JOHNSON, Frank
Johnson, a black man whose real name was Eddie Walton and who also
used the alias Frank Harris, was born in, Wilkes Co,, Ga.» In 1907, he
became acquainted with a black couple, Carl and Beulah Martin, at Gyp-=
sy, a mining community in Harrison Co,, We Vase, where he was working
as a coal miner, An intimacy developed between he and Mrs, Martin and
on February 29, 1908, after there had been several arguments between
him and Martin, they had a conference and Martin agreed to divorce his
wife in order that she might marry Johnson, After bohh men had surren-|
dered their weapons to Mrs, Martin's sister, she had a change of mind
and announced her determination to remain with her husband, Johnson
went to Fairmont where he brooded over his rejection until the morning
of March 3 when he caught a train to Gypsy and went to the boarding
-house where the Martins lived, He demanded that Mrs. Martin elope with
him and when she refused, he shot her with a Winchester rifle, killing
her instantly. He then escaped on foot and was tracked for 25 miles
before he was cornered in a barn, Armed with both his rifle and a pis-|
tol and having a large supply of ammunition, he withstood a seige of a
fay and a night» by over 500 citizens and wounded three mene He finally
surrendered while preparations were being ete See he peas
is SHMweRK tri ostified that he had loved Mrs, Martin a
ane sey he MA icuaigecertsd by, her. .On May 28, he made a written
confession which was not released until the day before his execution

SoRveCh, Frank
nson, a black man whose real name was Eddie Valton and (ge also
ned ichenaateeearane Harris, was born in, Wilkes Co,, Ga. In 1907, he
became acquainted with a black couple, Carl and Beulah artin, at Gyp=
y in Harrison Co,, W. Vas, where he was working
as a coal miner, An intimacy’ developed between he and Mrs, Martin and
on February 29, 1908, after there had been several arguments between
hin and Martin, they had a conference and Martin agreed to divorce his
wife,in order that she might marry Johnson, After bobh men had surren-|
dered their weapons to Mrs, Martin's sister, she had a change of mind
and announced her determination to remain with her husband, Johnson
went to Fairmont where he brooded over his rejection until the morning
of March 3 when he caught a train to Gypsy and went to the boarding
house where the Martins lived, He demanded that Mrs, Martin elope with}
him end when she refused, he shot her with a Winchester rifle, killing
her instantly, He then escaped on foot and was tracked for 25 miles
before he was cornered in a barn, Armed with both his rifle and 2 pis-|
tol and having a large supply of ammunition, he withstood a seige of a
fay and a night-by over 500 citizens and wounded three men, He finally|
surrendered while ae eran were being made to dynamite the barn.
At his SumM@em +) he testified that he had loved Mrs, Martin and
felt e had beat deceived by her. On May 28, he made a written
confession which was not pe until the day before his execution