King Johnson
MSA SC 3520-13760
Lynched in Brooklyn, Maryland, December 25, 1911
Biography:
King Johnson was lynched December 26, 1911 in Brooklyn, Maryland.. The 28 year old African American resided in Fairfield, Anne Arundle County. He was originally from St. Mary's County. The lynching occurred after King Johnson shot and killed Frederick Schwab, a 29 year old white blacksmith. Schwab lived in the Fairfield area. The incident took place after a verbal confrontation over a game of pool between Johnson and Frederick Schwab's brother, Frank.The argument turned sour. Upon leaving the saloon Johnson was approached by Frederick Schwab. Frederick was upset that Johnson called his brother several vile names during the argument. Johnson reported that he already feared Frederick because of previous encounters. Therefore, when Frederick struck him he pulled his pistol and fired several shots. The first shot hit Frederick in the chest, killing him, the next two shots were fired over Frederick's fallen body. However, witnesses claim they did not see Frederick strike Johnson.
Frank Schwab returned to the saloon where the argument occurred. He called Chief Irwin of the Anne Arundle County Police. King Johnson was later arrested along with witness, Hubert (Reedbird) Chase, at his home. There was no reported resistance and Johnson pleaded self-defense as his only motive. Johnson and Chase were both taken to the Brooklyn jail. They were to be transported to Annapolis for safekeeping that same day. The lateness of the Coroner's trial,which ruled on the cause of Frederick Schwab's death, caused both men to be held over night. The December 26, 1911 issue of the Baltimore Sun reported that around two o'clock in the morning on December 26, 1911, Johnson was taken from his cell at the Brooklyn jail and lynched.
The paper reported that eight white men broke into the Brooklyn jail. There were no guards on duty at the time. The men mistook the witness Chase for Johnson because of the darkness. However, Chase pleaded with them that he was the wrong man. The men found Johnson in another cell. Johnson was beaten over the head with a blunt object and then his body was dragged down the jail house stairwell, out of the jail. He was then dragged 200 yards to Second Avenue, a newly built road in the community. He was shot four times, causing his death. His body was found around 5:45 that same morning by a young man named George Coulbourne. Johnson had been thrown into an embankment on the side of the road. His body was later viewed by Chief Irwin and Dr. Charles H. Brooke.
The investigation of the lynching did not undercover the persons responsible for the lynching. However, the investigation did provide knowledge of how such injustices were able to take place in Maryland. Poor protection of those accused of crimes and community silence were the two most important elements of this crime being able to take place and go unsolved. The lynchers were able to break into the jail and apprehend Johnson because there were no guards on duty. The only witness, Chase, was threatened into silence. According to Chief Irwin and the other officers on duty, they left the jail unprotected a little earlier than usual. The officers claimed they had no cause to be alarmed. Officials criticized the police officers for not providing proper protection for those persons being held within the jail. There were also reports of anonymous letters giving the names of those involved, mostly friends and family of Frederick Schwab. No one in the community would speak up with evidence that supported the accusations. The only witness to the lynching, Hubert Chase, refused to change his plea of ignorance. He claimed he was asleep and heard only sounds of what he thought were guards on duty. The investigation lasted two weeks and ended with the Grand Jury ruling that the death of King Johnson was due to lynching by persons unknown.
Link
to Lynching Profile Questionnaire
by Dana Z. Sutton
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