The Ouachita Telegraph - Alex Jones Stabs Joseph Johnson to Death Date: Oct 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph Sunday, May 16, 1886 Page 2, Column 1 KILLING OF JOSEPH JOHNSON. Inquest of the Coroner. At about 7 o’clock yesterday that portion of the city known as “Five Points” was the scene of a tragedy the participants in which were Alex Jones and Joseph Johnson both colored men, which resulted in the killing of the latter by the former. The testimony of Wm. Hamilton, half brother of the deceased was as follows: About ten minutes before the cutting took place, Alex Jones came and stood by the railroad switch on DeSiard street, near the center of the street, with a knife in his hands. It was a dirk. About this time Joseph Johnson walked from across the street from the south side passing by where Jones was standing. Jones then raised the knife and plunged it into Johnson’s breast without saying a word to him (Johnson). About this time Johnson ran across the street towards Mr. O’Kelly’s store and fell. Jones was following behind and when he fell jumped upon and struck him with the knife several times. I then caught hold of Jones and pulled him loose. At this time Johnson run over towards Geter’s butcher shop when he fell into the ditch when Jones again covered him and stabbed him several times again. Several of us then pulled him off and he was then taken in charge by policemen. Statement of C.W. Townson: Just before the cutting commenced I saw Alex Jones go and lean on the switch a short while; after he leaned there Joe Johnson passed by him and without saying a word he turned and plunged his knife into him. At this time William Hamilton had gotten to them Joe Johnson ran over towards the butcher shop where he fell. Then Alex Jones covered him and began stabbing him. In that time several men had gathered around him (Jones) and pulled him loose. Then Joe Johnson attempted to come to his store but fell. Charles Hill (col.) sworn, said in substance: When I saw Joe Johnson and Alex Jones, they were both running. Jones struck Johnson two licks when Johnson fell in the ditch. Jones then cursed him and then Wm. Hamilton pulled Jones off of Johnson. CORONER’S VERDICT. Monroe, La, Ouachita parish, state of Louisiana, May 14, 1886. On viewing the body of Joe Johnson I found a cut between the third and fourth ribs on the riht breast; another wound on the right side in front of the shoulder joint; another in the left side below the shoulder blade in the back; another wound in the back to the right of the spine entering the liver. The verdict is that Joe Johnson came to his death by being stabbed with a dirk knife in the hands of one Alex Jones. Signed: C.C. CAGE, Coroner. # # #