June 16, 1943: Cellos Harrison

This first article is from The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio) dated June 16, 1943.

Accused Florida Slayer Lynched

MARIANNA, FLA.—(AP)—Cellos Harrison, 31-year-old charged with killing a white man, was taken from the Jackson county jail early today by four masked men and apparently clubbed to death.

Harrison's body was found at daylight on a road five miles south of Marianna.

Deputy Sheriff A. J. McMullen said Harrison had been killed by blows on his head.

Harrison once was convicted for the 1940 killing of Johnnie Mayo, filling station operator, in a robbery attempt.  His conviction was affirmed by the supreme court, and then, on a rehearing of the court, it was reversed on the ground that a confession was not properly admissible as evidence.

The indictment against Harrison then was not pressed by circuit court, and Harrison was released.  A new indictment was returned by the Jackson county grand jury a few weeks ago, and Harrison was being held in jail awaiting trial.

This second article is from the El Paso Herald-Post (El Paso, Texas) dated June 16, 1943.

Florida Negro Taken From Jail, Lynched

International News Service

MARIANNA, Fla., June 16—Cellos Harrison, 26-year-old Negro who twice had been convicted of the murder of Johnnie Mayo, filling station operator, was seized from the jail in Marianna early today and lynched.

The body of the Negro, who had been killed by a blow on the head, was found lying beside a highway five miles south of Marianna.  The body was discovered several hours after Night Jailer Tom Belcher was overpowered and the Negro carried away by a small group of men.