December 16, 1918: Charles Lewis

  The Washington Times (Washington, D. C.) dated December 17, 1918:

KY. MOB LYNCHES NEGRO EX-SOLDIER

HICKMAN, Ky., Dec. 17.—A mob of masked men lynched Charles Lewis, a discharged negro soldier, at Tyler, Ky., ten miles from here, after he had beaten Deputy Sheriff A. Thomas when the latter attempted to arrest him on a charge of highway robbery.

Officers declare Lewis held up and robbed several negroes. Sunday morning Thomas attempted to arrest Lewis, who resisted, claiming that the deputy had no right to arrest a man wearing the uniform of the United States army. He knocked the deputy down four times and fled. Later he was captured by a mob of about seventy-five men and hanged to a tree.

Thank you for joining me and as always, I hope I leave you with something to ponder.