March 10, 1901: Unknown Negro

It took a while to find an article on the lynching of an unknown negro in Florida but I eventually found it in The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) dated March 12, 1901:

Mob Fires on Negroes.

Branford, Fla., March 11.—A mob of unknown men fired several loads into a negro camp at the turpentine works of H. F. Sears & Co., at Call, Lafayette county, and killed one and seriously wounded three others. Feelings against negroes on account of the recent murder of Sheriff Matthis is supposed to have been the cause.

Our article of interest comes to us from the day before in the same paper:

DONE TO DEATH BY WHITECAPS

Scene of Latest Northern Outrage Is Laid in New Jersey.

Bordentown, N. J., March 10.—Thomas Applegate, a well known farmer of Extonville, a few miles from here, was found dead in a pool of blood in the stable of his farm early this morning by Franklin Shinn. There is every evidence that Applegate was murdered. His head was badly battered. The condition of the stable indicated a fierce struggle. There are no clews.

It is said that Applegate received a communication last December from the president of the Burlington county whitecaps that if he did not stop beating his wife he would be tarred and feathered, and that on January 5th a dozen masked men desisted from executing the threat only on the pleading of Applegate's wife.

I'm not sure why it is not referred to as a lynching if it is believed it was committed by whitecaps. Thank you for joining me and as always, I hope I leave you with something to ponder.