Wednesday, September 30, 2015

February 5, 1886: Unknown Man

Today we learn about a lynching in Virginia by North Carolinians through the pages of The Leavenworth Weekly Times (Leavenworth, Kansas) dated February 11, 1886:

The North Carolina Way.

DANVILLE, Va., February 9.—Much excitement prevails among the people of Patrick, Henry and adjoining counties in North Carolina over the lynching, Friday morning last, of an unknown white man for mule stealing. About two weeks ago it is alleged the man stole a mule from a citizen near Patrick court house and took it over to North Carolina and sold it there. After receiving the money the man remained in the same neighborhood for some days and then stole the same mule again, but when running off further south was overtaken and captured by a party of North Carolinians, while a party of Virginians from the neighborhood of Patrick court house arrived and claimed the prisoner for the original theft of the mule. He was given up to them and the Virginians with the prisoner started to take him to Henry county. When they reached the neighborhood of the county line of Henry and Patrick counties they were overtaken by the North Carolinians who demanded and again took possession of the prisoner, when they dragged him into the woods near by and hanged him to a tree.


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


Monday, September 28, 2015

October 9, 1885: Benjamin Little

Today we learn about a Texas lynching through the pages of The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana) dated October 12, 1885:

TEXAS

MOUNT PLEASANT.

The Lynching of Little.

GALVESTON, Oct. 11.—A special to the News, from Mount Pleasant, says:  On Friday night, about 11 o'clock, a body of unknown men took Benjamin Little, a negro, from his cabin, on Austin's plantation, and hung him to a tree.

It appears that a few days ago, Little and another negro, named Charles Young, robbed a white man, who was asleep , of $1.60. They were arrested, but Little was subsequently released on bail.

On the back of the corpse was pinned a note stating that Little was not hanged because of the robbery but for slandering a respectable white family residing here. The note read:  "Furthermore, we feel that we have done a great and noble act for our country and as gentlemen."

"CITIZENS OF MOUNT PLEASANT."

An inquest was held on the body and the coroner's jury found that Little came to his death at the hands of persons unknown.


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

Sunday, September 27, 2015

July 21, 1897: Ephraim Brinkley

Today we learn about a Kentucky lynching through the pages of The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) dated July 23, 1897:


BY A MOB.

Ephraim Brinkley Hanged To a Tree Near Nebo.

THE HANGING NO SURPRISE.

Victim Had Been Accused of Assassinating Cyprian Troulias. [sic]

A MAN OF BAD REPUTATION.

Madisonville, Ky., July 22.—(Special.)—Ephraim Brinkley, who lived about four miles south of Nebo, was hanged by a mob last night.

The hanging was no surprise to a great many of the people who were acquainted with the circumstances leading up to the tragedy. About three weeks since Cyprian Trouillas, a near neighbor of Brinkley's, was shot and killed one evening while eating his supper. While it was not positively known who did the killing, suspicion pointed very strongly to Brinkley as the murderer. Since that time circumstances have occurred that strengthened the conviction that Brinkley was the guilty man. There have been mutterings among the people of the neighborhood that the crime was likely to go unpunished. For several days it had been known that threats were being made that the guilty man should be dealt with. These threats were put into execution last night.

Brinkley, it is alleged, was a man of bad character. He had been accused of stealing hogs and cattle from his neighbors, but from some cause he was always able to escape the penalty of the law. Since the night of the murder every one who knew anything of the surroundings was satisfied in his mind that Brinkley was the guilty man. As a result of this feeling the people of that community think it is a good riddance.

The hanging took place on a tree in front of the house of the man who, it is alleged, Brinkley killed. The body was left hanging to the tree until about midday, when Esquire Heschel Porter, the nearest magistrate, was called upon to hold an inquest. The inquest disclosed no evidence as to who were the parties composing the mob. There has never been a hanging by a mob in this part of the State where there was so much general approval as in this case. The people of that part of the county had been terrorized by Brinkley until forbearance had ceased to be a virtue. Brinkley was about thirty years of age and was married.

It is common talk that Brinkley and Trouillas' wife were on terms of criminal intimacy, and there is very strong feeling against the woman. On the night of the killing of Trouillas his wife went to Brinkley's and reported that her husband had been shot. Brinkley was in ? when she got there and said that he ? too tired and sleepy to go to see about the matter. The wife of the murdered man then went to bed and they all slept until the next morning. Then they went to the home where the murder had been committed and raised the alarm. Brinkley was one of the chief managers of the funeral. He went to Nebo and secured the burial clothes and also drove the hearse to the cemetery. His actions at every move aroused the suspicions of his neighbors. It is rumored that before hanging Brinkley the mob strung up Trouillas' wife and she confessed that Brinkley did the shooting. The woman was released. 


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

Friday, September 25, 2015

May 1, 1884: John Wesley, Henry Brown, Ben Wheeler, and William Smith

Today we learn about a lynching in Kansas through the pages of The Atchison Daily Globe (Atchison, Kansas) dated May 2, 1884:

BANK ROBBERS LYNCHED

The Four Men Who Rob the Medicine Bank Captured and Lynched.

Two of Them Turn Out to be an Ex-Marshal and Ex-Deputy Marshal.

The Robbers Make a Stand, But are Surrounded and After a Short Fight Surrender.

KANSAS CITY, May 2.—A special to the Times from Harper, Kas., says:  The terrible tragedy at Medicine Lodge yesterday, caused by the attempted robbery of the Barber County bank, had a terrible sequel last night, when the four robbers and murderers were lynched by the excited populace, who followed them from the bank immediately after the killing of Mr. Geppert, the Cashier, and mortal wounding of Mr. Payne, the President. There has been great excitement at this point  since the news of the tragedy arrived by courier, and this morning a number of citizens went to Medicine Lodge to view for themselves the scene of the unfortunate and cowardly killing and to take part in the pursuit and punishment of the robbers if their assistance was needed. Long before they reached the seat of action, however, the four men who had planned the attack upon the bank, which resulted in the death of Mr. Geppert, had been tried, found guilty and  executed by Judge Lynch, and the verdict of the entire southern section of Kansas is that they only received

THEIR JUST DUES.

The latest particulars of the attempted robbery go to show that the affair was planned several days since at Harper, or some point east or south, and it was the work of the four men who so quickly paid the penalty of their crime. Their names are Henry Brown, at one time Marshal of Caldwell, Kas.; Ben Wheeler, ex-Assistant Marshal of the same place; John Westley [sic], a noted cowboy, desperado and dead shot, and William Smith, by occupation a cowboy. They reached Medicine Lodge some time on Tuesday, but did not show themselves together until just before the attack. The streets during Wednesday were almost deserted in consequence of the heavy rain which had been falling since the early morning. Watching their opportunity the four men approached the bank a few minutes past ten o'clock, and while two of them entered the remaining two staid [sic] outside.At the time the Cashier and President were alone. A third party who had been transacting some business, passing out as the robbers entered. Mr. Geppert looked up as the men came into the bank, and when ordered to throw up his hands, turned and tried to reach his revolver, but was instantly killed by one of the men, supposed to have been Wesley. Mr. Payne was also shot through the body and fell to the floor, and promiscuous firing ensued. The first intimation anyone had of the trouble was the report of pistol shots and cowboy yells in the bank, which was taken up by the two outside, who yelled and fired promiscuously. They quickly drew a crowd, who

RETURNED THE FIRE

with spirit, making it so hot that the robbers mounted their horses and quickly started for the Indian Territory. Instantly the citizens began arming for pursuit, first ten, then fifty and finally a hundred taking the saddle. The chase was short, however, as the pursued became convinced that flight was useless and so made a stand on the hill three miles west of the town. Here they were surrounded and a lively skirmish ensued until nearly two o'clock, when finding themselves completely surrounded and their ammunition gone the robbers held up their hands and surrendered. Upon being brought to town they were heavily ironed and placed in jail under a strong guard, but the sight of the murdered Cashier and dying President so exasperated the citizens that it was seen that nothing short of a genuine necktie party would satisfy them. After waiting a few hours the crowd began to gather at the jail, and a demand was made for the men. This was refused by the officers, but the crowd would not be put off, and suddenly a move was made upon the jail, the guard overpowered, the doors broken open, and a wild rush made for the cells holding the trembling prisoners, who fully realized that their hour had come. Wesley had in some way concealed a revolver about his person, and as the mob approached the cell he opened fire, but was almost instantly

RIDDLED WITH BULLETS,

and fell dead with a dozen bullets in his body. It was an easy matter to force the cell doors, and ropes being produced, the remaining three men were led out and nooses placed about their necks. They were then half dragged to a small grove a short distance from town and hanged to separate trees. Two of them died game, but the third begged for mercy, however, and he was hung with the the [sic] others. Before the lynching all the men were recognized, and Wesley was identified as a well-known desperado and one of the best shots in the State. By his resistance at the jail he met death more speedily and evaded the halter. Before death the men admitted nothing and offered no excuse. Geppert, the cashier, was shot in the head and breast, dying instantly. Mr. Payne was shot in the left breast, just above the heart, and is reported dying. He was proprietor of the Index, and one of the wealthiest men in this section. The robbers had with them wire cutters and powder with which to blow up the safe had they obtained the chance. Not a dollar was taken from the bank, however.


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

Thursday, September 24, 2015

July 16, 1893: "Dub" Meetze (Mutze)

Today we learn about a lynching in south Carolina through the pages of the Logansport Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Indiana) dated July 18, 1893:

SHOT A BAD MAN TO DEATH.

Mysterious Killing, by Judge Lynch Probably, in South Carolina.

COLUMBIA, S. C., July 18.—"Dub" Meetze, white, was killed in Lexington county Sunday night by persons unknown. He was regarded as a "wolf's head" in Lexington, having a most unsavory reputation. He was run out of the state a year ago for horse stealing and warned not to return. He did return, however, and dodged around in the woods to escape notice. He wanted his wife to mortgage her place in order to raise money for him. She refused and she threatened to burn her house. Last Wednesday night her house was burned to the ground and she and her children narrowly escaped death.

It was reported that Dub Meetze had threatened to kill one or two people, and to burn the house of several others who exposed some of his former villanies. The sheriff and a posse searched for him, but without avail. Sunday night the sheriff was at the house which Meetze had threatened to burn. He heard shots, and going to the barn of Mrs. Meetze found Meetze lying with wounds. He died shortly after being discovered without naming his slayers, and the coroner's jury brought in a verdict of death from wounds inflicted by unknown parties.


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

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

September 1, 1894: Daniel Hawkins, Robert Haynes, Warner Williams, Ed Hall, John Hayes and Graham White; September, 1894: In-Ki-Wish

Today we learn about 2 different lynchings. The first is a mass lynching of six men and we find it in the pages of The Kansas City Gazette (Kansas City, Kansas) dated September 2, 1894:

A Deputy in Charge of Six Negroes Accused of Incendiarism Is Halted by a Mob and the Prisoners are Shot

SIX NEGRO FIREBUGS SHOT.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 2.—For over a year the people in the northern part of the county about Millington have been kept in a continual state of excitement by incendiarism. Barns and dwellings have been burned and recently the buildings on the Millington fair grounds were destroyed. Suspicion finally pointed to Daniel Hawkins, Robert Haynes, Warner Williams, Ed Hall, John Hayes and Graham White, negroes, and yesterday they were arrested near Kerryville, in the western part of the county, by Deputy Sheriff Richardson.

The deputy started with his prisoners, all chained together, in a wagon for Millington. When they reached Big Creek, 2 miles west of Millington, somebody in the woods by the roadside called out:  "Don't try to cross there! The bridge is down—come this way." Richardson got down and taking the horses by the head, led them into a path that opened in the direction from whence the warning had come. It was dark in the woods, but suddenly Richardson saw two guns aimed at him and a stern voice said:  "Throw up your hands!"

"What does that mean?" demanded the officer.

"None of your business," was the reply, "throw 'em up."

The officer obeyed, and when the negro prisoners, divining the purpose of the unseen mob, attempted to leap from the wagon, a volley rang out from forty or fifty guns and they fell back, wounded and dying. A dozen of the mob leaped into the wagon, and threw them out. Volley after volley was poured into the struggling mass, and in a few minutes all was still. Hawkin's [sic] head was almost shot from his shoulders, and some of the others were terribly mangled.

The mob, after making sure all six were dead, mounted and rode away. Atchison, who was with the deputy, then mounted one of the mules and hastened to Justice Hill's house, some distance away and notified him.

The lynchers were not masked, but the officers recognized none of them.

An inquest was held on the bodies this morning and the jury, which included two negroes, found that the prisoners had come to their death in the manner stated "at the hands of persons unknown."

Hawkins was first arrested a year ago with several others, charged with the burning of barns and houses in the Kerrville neighborhood. They were brought to trial, and two of them were sentenced to terms in the penitentiary after they had made full confessions, implicating Hawkins as the leader of the band of firebugs. Hawkins got a new trial, however, and after spending some months in jail, was released a few weeks ago. Since that the burnings had re-commenced, and the Millington neighborhood as well as Kerrville suffered.


Our second lynching is unusual in the fact that the lynchers were a gang. We learn about the lynching through the pages of The Sunday Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) dated September 17, 1894:

THE DOOLINS' REVENGE.

Strung an Old Indian Up by the Heels and Shot Him to Death.

WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 17.—At Cob Creek, near Minco, I. T., and old Cado Indian, In-Ki-Wish, was found strung up to a tree by the heels and shot through the head. On his breast was pinned a paper warning the Indian police to keep their hands off a band of outlaws known as the Doolin gang.

It seems that the old man's son, who is an Indian police scout, got on the track of this gang recently and with a posse routed them from their rendezvous. In revenge the outlaws murdered the old man.


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


Monday, September 21, 2015

June 25, 1900: Jordan Hines

Today we learn about a lynching in Georgia through the pages of The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) dated June 27, 1900:

TAKEN FROM HIS BED TO DEATH

Unknown Men Kill a Negro at Molena.

Molena, Ga., June 26.—(Special.)—Jordan Hines, a young negro was pulled from his bed last night, taken about a mile from his home and shot to death by unknown parties. So far no cause for the killing is known.


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

Saturday, September 19, 2015

January 12, 1894: Charles Willis

Today we learn about a lynching in Florida through the pages of The News (Frederick, Maryland) dated January 15, 1894:

Brutal Florida Lynchers.

ROCHELLE, Fla., Jan. 15.—Thursday night Charles Willis, a negro desperado, was shot and seriously wounded by Thomas Petrower, a white man. Friday night unknown parties went to the house where Willis was lying wounded, riddled him with buckshot and the fired the bed on which the negro was resting, his body being cremated. The parties were evidently afraid the negro would recover from the wound inflicted by Petrower.


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

Thursday, September 17, 2015

September 17, 1935: Ellwood Higginbotham

Today, on the 80th anniversary, we learn about a lynching in Mississippi through the pages The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah) dated September 19, 1935:

Accused Negro Slayer Lynched

Mob Seizes Victim While Jury Deliberates Over Verdict

OXFORD, Miss., Sept. 18 (AP)—While a jury weighed evidence in his trial on a charge of killing a white farmer, Ellwood Higginbotham, 28-year-old negro, was lynched near here last night.

The screaming, terrified negro, accused of shooting Glen Roberts, planter, was seized in the county jail by a mob of between 100 and 150 persons and hanged to a tree two and a half miles from town.

The jury, which had been deliberating a verdict since late yesterday, was dismissed by Judge Taylor McElroy. It was not learned how it stood.

Belief was expressed that failure of the jury to return a quick verdict prompted the lynching. 

Members of the mob stormed the jail and overpowered Sheriff S. T. Lyles and three deputies.

The body was left swinging from the tree. It was cut down later by the sheriff and his aids.


At least two other papers listed the murder victim as Lyn Roberts. Thank you for joining me and as always, I hope I leave you with something to ponder.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

February 17, 1901: Isham and Henry Fed

Today we learn about a Mississippi double lynching through the pages of The Evening Herald (Ottawa, Kansas) dated February 19, 1901:

Two Negroes Shot to Death by a Mob.

Macon, Miss., Feb. 19.—Isham and Henry Fed, negroes, were shot to death by a mob six miles from Macon Sunday night. They were charged with burning the barn of L. T. Cole, who lives near Macon.


I found a large number of articles about this lynching; unfortunately, this was the most informative. Thank you for joining me and as always, I hope I leave you with something to ponder.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

September 26, 1884: Jesse Greene

Today we learn about a Texas lynching through the pages of the Dunkirk Evening Observer (Dunkirk, N. Y.) dated September 30, 1884:

A Hard Character Lynched.

GALESVILLE, Texas, September 30.—News has just reached here that Jesse Greene last Friday evening met his fate at the hands of lynchers in the northern part of this (Coryell) County, near the Hamilton line. Greene bore a hard character, and was implicated in the recent wholesale negro poisoning.


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

Sunday, September 13, 2015

May, 1911: J. W. King and three other men

Today we learn about an unusual lynching in Kentucky through the pages of The Washington Herald (Washington, D. C.) dated May 24, 1911:

FOUR PEARL HUNTERS LYNCHED IN KENTUCKY

Motive for Hanging of Men Not Fathomed and Feeling in Vicinity at High Pitch.

Canton, Ky., May 23.—Swinging in the branches of a big tree in a deserted portion of Letcher County the bodies of four pearl hunters, who, it is said, have found many valuable pearls within the past week, were found to-day by a passer-by. It is believed by the Letcher County authorities that the men were lynched by thieves and their bodies swung from the tree. One of the bodies was identified by Dr. F. H. Lewis as that of J. W. King, a pearl hunter, who found a pearl a few days ago valued at $1,000. The other three were not identified.

The motive of the hanging has not been fathomed, and feeling is at a high pitch. The other three men are said to be from Oregon, who, attracted by the large finds along the Kentucky River at this point, came here to seek pearls.

The bodies had been hanging in the open air for probably a day or two. No clothing or anything about the four men was to be f[o]und which would lead to their identification.

There has been no trace of the guilty parties found. There has been no robberies in Letcher County in many months, and there were no strangers in the neighborhood the crime is clouded in mystery. Tales of rich finds have caused many people to come here in search of pearls, and if the men were robbed there was no trace left by the guilty parties. The bodies were brought to Campton, and an autopsy will be held by the coroner to-morrow.


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

Friday, September 11, 2015

February 8, 1893: Frank Harrel and Willie Felder

Today we learn about a double lynching in Mississippi through the pages of The Public Ledger (Maysville, Kentucky) dated February 10, 1893:

Two Negro Boys Lynched.

MAGNOLIA, Miss., Feb. 10.—Frank Harrel and Willie Felder, two Negro boys, arrested for robbing and burning Lee Robinson's store, at Dickery, were lynched by a mob near the scene of their crime. The proof against the Negroes was positive; they made a full confession and produced the goods stolen by them.


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

Thursday, September 10, 2015

October 26, 1906: "Slab" Pitt

Join me in learning about a Texas lynching found in the October 28, 1906 edition of The Sun (New York, N. Y.):

COWBOYS LYNCH A NEGRO.

Got Into Part of Texas Reserved for Whites and Lived With White Woman.

TOYAH, Tex., Oct. 27.—Western Texas had its first lynching last evening when a mob of cowboys gathered in town and stretched up Slab Pitt to the crossarm of a telegraph pole.

The offence of which Pitt was guilty was living with a white woman.

Negroes are barred from this town and a surrounding radius of 100 miles. When the town was located following the building of the Texas and Pacific Railroad many years ago the declaration went forth that it was to be a white man's country.

Since then negroes have been under the ban. Pitt was treated very leniently, all things considered, the cowboys say.

When Pitt crossed the New Mexico line and located at Toyah a few days ago he invited trouble. The people of this section would have let him off easy, however, if he had heeded the warning to leave town. Instead he sent for a white woman with whom he had been living in New Mexico.

This settled Slab Pitt's fate. Word was sent around among the cowboys of the violation of social usages and every cowboy in the county wanted to be the leader of the mob.

The hour for the lynching was given out and the town began to fill up with cowboys. They came galloping in from all directions and awakened the cho-es with their yells and pistols.

On the pommel of each saddle was a lariat, so there was no lack of means for hanging the negro.

A leader was selected and the cavalcade of cowboys rode over to the hut occupied by Pitt and the white woman. The negro was called out and told that his time had come to die, and that the cowboys were there to put the finishing touches on him in the most approved style.

Pitt begged hard for his life. He promised to leave town at once if his life was spared. The mob was determined and his pleadings fell upon unheeding ears. The white woman also made a tearful plea, but it availed nothing.

At a signal one of the cowboys circled his lariat around his head and dropped the noose over Pitt's neck. The negro was dragged by the rope to the nearest telegraph pole, where he was strung up without further ceremony.

A purse was then made up for the white woman and she was ordered to leave town on the first train. She went.


In the October 29, 1906 edition of The El Paso Herald (El Paso, Texas) is found an article concerning Roswell, N. M. which has a small paragraph about "Slab" Pitts:

RAISING COTTON NEAR ROSWELL

Bale Is Auctioned Off and Brings $50—Carrie Nation Lecturing.  

Roswell, N. M., Oct. 29.—. . . J. I. "Slab" Pitts, the negro killed at Toyah by a number of cowboys for consorting with a white woman, Eva Ruff, was from Roswell, and was run out of this town and of Pecos, Texas.


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

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

September 10, 1930: "Pig" Lockett and Holly White

Today we learn about a Mississippi lynching through the pages of The Anniston Star (Anniston, Alabama) dated September 11, 1930:


BLACKS HANGED IN MISSISSIPPI; CITIZENS IRATE

Scooba Residents Condemn Lynching of Two Negroes Near City

SCOOBA, Miss., Sept. 11. (U.P.)—Citizens of Scooba today openly condemned the hanging of two negroes charged with highway robbery near here yesterday. Although officials remained silent it was believed an investigation would be conducted to determine the leaders of the mob.

Doubt was manifest by both citizens and authorities as to the guilt of the negroes. The victims, "Pig" Lockett and Holly White, were alleged to have robbed Thomas McCoy and his wife, of Fayetteville, Tenn., of $45, on the highway between here and Athens, Ala., last Friday. They denied any part in the crime and were to be arraigned here yesterday. A third negro is being sought for the robbery.

The lynching took place six miles north of here in a thickly wooded section. Members of the mob stopped the car in which the negroes and J. J. Dotson and Guy Byrd, deputy sheriffs, were riding and demanded that Lockett and White be turned over to them. The officers refused and were overpowered and tied to nearby trees. They watch helplessly while ropes were hastily placed around the negroes' necks and their bodies jerked from the ground.

The mob dispersed quietly immediately after the lynching.


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

Saturday, September 5, 2015

March 17, 1886: Andrew Robertson, Charles Brown, Ed Brown, Joe Lang, John Morey, Simon Cave, William Harris, Amos Matthews, Scott Moore, French Hughes, Coley Lytle, and Jim Johnson.

Today we learn about a horrible lynching in Mississippi through the pages of The Coffeyville Weekly Journal (Coffeyville, Kansas) dated March 27, 1886:

An Awful Tragedy.

GRENADA, MISS., March 17.—News of a terrible tragedy enacted at Carrollton, an interior town six miles southwest of here, was received this evening.

Fifty men rode into the town to-day and repaired to the court house  where thirteen negroes were waiting for their trial to commence. 

The white men walked into the court room and shot ten of the negroes dead and mortally wounded the other three.

The shooting grew out of the attempted assassination of James Liddell, a prominent citizen, who was shot and seriously wounded by these negroes several weeks ago.

THE NEGROES LAWLESS AND DEFIANT.

WINONA, Miss., March 17.—At Carrolton [sic] to-day a fearful tragedy occurred in which ten negroes were killed and three wounded.

Some weeks ago two negroes attempted to assassinate J. M. Liddell, jr., inflicting some painful but not serious wounds. The negroes engaged in this dastardly attempt are known to be the most defiant and lawless in the county, and since the attempt of Mr. Liddell's life had been more openly defiant than ever. For some reason not known they swore out a warrant a few days ago for Mr. Liddell's arrest. It was at this trial to-day that the killing occurred. The negroes present were mostly armed.

SHOT DOWN BY ARMED MEN.

About 1 o'clock a part of armed men numbering about forty or fifty persons rode up to the court house. They dismounted and entering the building at once commenced firing on the negroes with the above result. They then returned by the same route they came. They do not live near Carrollton.

At the trial about twenty colored men were present when the fifty white men well mounted and each carrying a Winchester rifle came galloping up and surrounded the court house. They then fired into the building, instantly killing ten negroes and wounding three others, so that they died soon after and with the exception of a few who escaped through a window all the other negroes in the building were wounded, some of them seriously.

CAUSE LEADING TO THE TRAGEDY.

The trouble between Liddell and the negroes occurred three weeks ago. Liddell had interfered in a row between two negroes and afterward heard the crowd cursing him. He walked up to then and inquired why they were abusing him. An altercation ensued and several shots were fired, Liddell being severely wounded.

THE REPORTS IN JACKSON.

JACKSON, MISS., March 17.—It has just been reported from Carrollton county that thirteen men were killed in the court house there during a riot to-day. No particulars have as yet come to hand.

James M. Liddell, jr., a prominent young lawyer of that county,was shot and wounded about a month ago by three negroes and the trial was set for to-day.

It is supposed here that the riot was caused by the trial of the would be assassins. One negro, supposed to be implicated, was lynched two weeks ago.

There is great excitement among members of the legislature and others having friends in Carrollton.

The scene of the rioting is fourteen miles from a railroad and intelligence is slow and sparse.

Latest Particulars.

WINONA, MISS., March 18.—Some months ago Robert Moore, a young man from Leflove county, went to Carrollton. There he met Ed Brown, colored, with whom he had an altercation, and the negro smeared and poured on him molasses which he carried in a jug. J. M. Liddell, jr., of Greenwood, a friend of Moore, happened to meet with Brown and made some allusion to his treatment of Moore. Brown replied impertinently and Liddell started at him but was prevented by bystanders from attacking him. The negro then armed himself and induced others to do likewise. They stationed themselves on the street, some concealing themselves behind trees. When Liddell came after supper from the hotel he saw them and asked what they meant, whereupon Ed Brown responded that it was none of his business. At that Liddell struck at Ed Brown with his fist and Ed and Charles Brown, his brother, both simultaneously fired upon Liddell, one ball striking the elbow of his right arm. About this time some fifteen to twenty shots were fired from different quarters. Liddell pulled his pistol and hit Ed Brown in the abdomen and received one shot in the fleshly part of his leg. Charles Brown was shot in the shoulder.

NEGROES THREATEN MURDER.

The parties who had taken part in the affray were brought before the mayor forthwith, waived examination and were bailed to appear before the next circuit court. Threats were continually made by the Brown brothers that they would have Jim Liddell's blood. Further, they said that they had "five double-barrelled shot guns loaded seven fingers, and would kill the first man who put foot on their ground."

March 12 the Browns made affidavit against James Liddell and others, including some of the best citizens of the place and men who knew nothing of the difficulty, charging them with assault with intent to murder in the previous difficulty.

Previous to the opening of the trial yesterday Brown boasted on the street that he had his body guard and would shoot the first man that made a motion in his direction. The case was called at noon, when the court house was immediately filled with negroes, who stationed themselves around and about the Brown brothers. The attorneys were proceeding with the case when there suddenly appeared about 100 white men all well armed.

THE FIRST SHOT BY A NEGRO.

Perceiving their entrance Ed Brown drew his pistol and fired in the direction of Liddell, who was between his attorneys, and thereupon the firing became general. Ten negroes were instantly killed and two others have since died. Some escaped by jumping through the windows, a distance of at least twenty feet from the ground.

On most of the dead bodies arms were found. The room was completely filled with smoke.

The judge's bench is on the north side of the room and the benches facing it are toward the south. It is a very large court room with windows all around. On the south wall were counted 135 shot-holes, in the wall of  the passage leading down stairs ten shot-holes and in the benches thirty shot-holes. One shot struck the east window sash and glanced into the wall. Five other shots show on the north wall from the direction of the benches. Large pools of blood were on the floor of the court room. The mob then left as quickly and as quietly as it came.

The general impression is that this will end further trouble, as heretofore a few of the negroes killed  were constantly creating bad feeling and led other negroes, peaceably inclined, to produce strife between whites and blacks.

LIST OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.

The good people of Carrollton deprecate all this and regret that a few innocent colored people were drawn into the fuss. The following is a list of the killed:  Andrew Robertson, Charles Brown, Ed Brown, Joe Lang, John Morey, Simon Cave, William Harris, Amos Matthews, Scott Moore, French Hughes, Coley Lytle, Jim Johnson.

The following is a list of the wounded:  Will Dodd, Jim Keys, Christian Preacher, Jim Howe, Jake Kane, very seriously; bill Ewing, Charles Price, Henry Cole and Coley Thompson; badly and reported dead. Peyton Hemingway and Walter McLoud jumped through a window carrying the sash along with them. The former received a slight shot wound in the hand but was otherwise uninjured. Amos Matthews was shot dead while trying to make his escape in the same way.

One colored man rolled himself out of one of the west windows, falling on the brick pavement outside, but got up and made his escape unhurt. As he was getting out three shots were fired at him, two of which struck the window sill and one went through the glass. All is quiet now.

The principals of the gang were Charles and Edward Brown, who were among the killed.

It is impossible to get any one to state the names of any persons in the mob, and it will be very difficult to ascertain them as nobody in the excitement took any notice of any of the persons who entered the court house. No arrests have been made.


An excerpt from an article found in The Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) dated February 24, 1886 gives a little information on the lynching that occurred two weeks before:


SOUTHERN CIVILIZATION.

. . . It happened at Carrollton, Miss. Some days since an attempt was made to assassinate one William Liddell, a resident of the above place, and a negro was arrested charged with the crime. A lynching party was organized to hang him, but the Sheriff, getting wind of the affair, removed him to a place of safety. When the party arrived at the jail and found that their victim had escaped from their vengeance they took out a negro boy who had been imprisoned for killing a white boy in self-defense and hanged him to a tree. 

The Picayune's account says:

It is said that Judge Campbell, who committed the negro boy, remarked that the prisoner had made out a good case of self-defense, and had the victim been a negro and the accused a white boy he would have been instantly acquitted by a jury without leaving their seats.


Our final article comes to us through the pages of the Evening Gazette (Pittston, Pennsylvania) dated March 26, 1886:

MISSISSIPPI'S SHAME.

THE VOICE OF THE SOUTHERN PRESS UPON THE MASSACRE.

A Most Disgraceful and Barbarous Slaughter of Over Twenty Colored Men In a Court House By One Hundred Chivalrous (?) Citizens.   

JACKSON, Miss., March 26.—The recent slaughter of negroes at Carrollton is still the all-absorbing theme of comment discussion through the state. It is universally condemned by everybody. The circuit court, Judge Campbell on the bench, is now in session there, and it is supposed that the grand jury is investigating the matter. Thus far no warrants have been sworn out and no arrests made. no actions have been taken by the state authorities looking into the ferreting out and bringing the murderers to justice. In view of the statement of Liddell's brother and the local notice of the massacre which appeared in The Carrollton Conservative, neither of which stated that the Browns began the firing, it is now generally believed that the attack by the mob was premeditated and preconcerted, and that the shooting was begun by the mob and not by the negroes. Public sentiment cries loudly for the arrest and punishment of the actors in this atrocious crime. One of the most prominent citizens of the state said that the people would sustain the governor in offering a reward of $10,000 for the capture and conviction of the culprits.

The universal comment of the press is that of condemnation. The Clarion says:  "In another place in this paper we print The Picayune's account of the horrible massacre at Carrollton, which tells how eleven citizens of Mississippi were shot to death and nine others mortally wounded. We are far from believing that this account contains 'the whole truth,' but its sickening details, with what measure of truth it does contain, present a spectacle of butchery hideous enough to curdle the blood of the most phlegmatic." The story, though terrible and ghastly, is simple. Then follows a detailed statement and analysis of the different versions of the affair, which closes by expressing the opinion that "the mob fired first and did not wait for provocation, and that Edward Brown, if he fired at all, fired at them." The editor concludes his article as follows:  "But why consume time in discussing disputed matters? Enough is admitted to damn the hideous affair. it is admitted the Browns had given bond to answer at the circuit court for any offense against the laws of the state of which they had been guilty. It is admitted that they had caused the arrest of James Liddell and others on affidavits cgarging them with a felony. It is admitted that these defendants had been arrested and were being tried by a lawful officer of the state, holding a lawful court in the very sanctuary of the law, when 100 armed men appeared upon the scene and surrounded the temple of justice and shot to death under the eye of the court eleven citizens of Mississippi and mortally wounded nine others. It is admitted that not one white man was hurt.

"It is hard to realize that there could be found in Mississippi 100 men who could be led to avenge the personal wrongs and injuries of a friend in the heartless, conscienceless and cold-blooded manner which characterized the conduct of the mob at Carrollton. It is harder still to realize that the place selected for this exhibition of hideous atrocity should be the temple of justice and at the very horns of the altar. It comes to this—that there is no place so sacred that the bloodthirsty will not enter to do their damnable deeds. If so, then indeed we are worse than heathens.

"The people of Mississippi realize that at the door of the court room in Carrollton the bloody bodies of its slain citizens lie heaped one upon another. They have not been removed. There they will stay, a monument to the foulness and wickedness of their ruthless slayers. There can be no adequate  punishment for the injury which has been inflicted upon the good people of Mississippi by the murderous mob at Carrollton. There will be no punishment of any kind. Time spent in an attempt to bring them before the bar of that temple whose sanctity they have so grossly violated would be time thrown away. We do not know who took part in the bloody deed. we do not care to know. For their sakes, would that all knowledge and all remembrance of them could be blotted out. They may be powerful and influential citizens, whose favor it were well to court and whose displeasure it were dangerous to arouse. To such considerations we can close our eyes and our ears, but we cannot be blind or deaf to the appeals of the weak, who claim and deserve our protection, nor can we be unmindful of the indelible blot that has been put on the reputation of the state.

"The people of Mississippi who do not wish to rest under the odium of acquiescence in wholesale butchery have a duty to perform. They must speak out in denunciation of all deadly assaults upon the persons of the citizens. There must be an assertion of the rights of all life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We know that a large majority of our citizens are law abiding citizens, but if they do not condemn such an outrage as that at Carrollton, the judgement they will receive and merit from the civilized world would aptly fit a nation of savages. We must reassure the negro. We must call a halt to his murderous enemies."

The Natchez Democrat, one of the oldest and most conservative journals in the state, strongly denounces the outrage, and The New Orleans Christian Advocate, edited by rev. c. b. Galloway, the most prominent and best known Methodist minister in the Mississippi valley, pronounces it the most barbarous act that ever disgraced the fair name of Mississippi. Of the matter of The Chickasaw Messenger, published at Okolona, and edited by F. Burkitt, a member of the present legislature, says:  "The massacre of thirteen negroes in the court room at Carrollton, Miss., on the 17th inst., is one of the most terrible affairs of modern times."


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

Thursday, September 3, 2015

April 24, 1912: Unknown Negro

Today we learn about a lynching in Louisiana through the pages of The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) dated April 26, 1912:


RACE RIOT FEARED; TROOPS ON GUARD

Trouble Follows the Lynching of a Negro at Monroe, La.

Monroe, La., April 25.—Company D of the Louisiana national guard, stationed at Monroe, left here at 9 o'clock this morning for Delhi, 30 miles east, where serious trouble with negroes developed last night. One negro was lynched and further trouble was anticipated.

The military company is in command of Captain Philip Gayle.

The trouble which resulted in the lynching is attributed to the surliness and impudence of negro flood refugees, many of whom have refused to work since the government began distributing free rations amongst them. Yesterday several negroes were playing a slot machine in a store at Delhi when an officer stepped up and put a penny in the machine.

With an oath a negro is alleged to have stepped up and tried to put the officer out, declaring "I'se playing dat machine."

After the white man had given the negro a good beating the latter is said to have threatened violence to white people in Delhi.

During the night a crowd gathered, caught the negro and lynched him.

At noon Delhi was reported quiet.


Another article can be found in The Monroe Star News (Monroe, Louisiana) dated April 25, 1912:

EXAGGERATED RUMORS

SQUAD OF COMPANY D SENT TO DELHI TODAY.

One Negro Lynched by Citizens of That Section—No Occasion for Exaggerated Reports of Riot.

A report, circulated on the streets this morning to the effect that the Ouachita Guards had been ordered to Delhi to suppress an impending race riot, created considerable excitement. Upon investigation it is found the report was well founded, in so far as the order to the Guards was concerned, Capt. P. M. Gayle having received the order from the governor some time after midnight.

Further reports were circulated that six or sixty negroes had been strung up. These exaggerated rumors were, however, allayed by the arrival of the morning train when the passengers and train crew denied the story. However, Capt. Gayle, obeying orders, left on the 9:30 Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific train this morning for the scene of the supposed trouble, taking with him eighteen men and necessary equipment.

At noon today the News-Star was in communication with Delhi and this is about the version of the affair given by a reliable citizen of that town:

Yesterday afternoon, over some trivial matter, a negro, one of the several hundred high water refugees, became involved in a difficulty with a white citizen of the town. The negro, on account of his impudence, was severely whipped. This incident led another negro, more bold, and who was feeling his keeping on the free government rations dished out to him, to express his displeasure and also to threaten to make trouble for the "white folks." These threats were reported to the citizens and the negro was locked in the town bastile [sic] last night.

Some time during the night a vigilance committee, composed of who, no one probably will ever know, went to the jail and mobbed the negro. This and the excitement attending it led the mayir [sic] of the town to call upon the governor for the malitia [sic] to take charge of the situation.

A later report from Delhi, after the Guards arrived, stated there was absolutely no excitement and no alarm felt among the citizens; that the negroes would not attempt to resent the occurrence of yesterday and last night.

A list of the men composing the squad who went to Delhi this morning follows:

Captain, P. M. Gayle; sergeants, Roddy, Utley and Lemle; privates, Petty, Cason, D. Seligman, W. Seligman, Sublett, Johnson, Hendry, Parks, -olleigh, Sellers,Waldorf, Barr, Trousdale, Wall and Renaud.


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

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

December, 1895: Andrew Brown

Today we learn about a Mississippi lynching through the pages of The Times (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) dated January 1, 1896:

A CATTLE THIEF LYNCHED

Andrew Brown, an Ex-Convict, Hanged Where He Stole Three Fat Cattle.

JACKSON, Miss., December 31.—News has reached here of the lynching of Andrew Brown, a negro ex-convict and notorious cattle thief in Simpson county.

Brown attempted to sell three fat cattle at Westville and was arrested. A constable started with him to a Justice of the Peace near where the theft was committed. On the way he was taken from the officers by a mob, swung to a tree and riddled with bullets.


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