March 4, 1900: Jim Crosby, cont.

Today we learn about an Alabama lynching through the pages of the Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) dated March 5, 1900:

NEGROES WILD FOR REVENGE.

Assassination of Jim Crosby May Lead to More Bloodshed

LETOHATCHEE, Ala., March 5.—Jim Crosby, a negro, was called to the door of his house at midnight Saturday night and riddled with buckshot. When he fell the assassins rushed into the house, dragging his wife and little daughter from the bed, cut and shot them several times, leaving them for dead. The wife and daughter crawled to the home of a neighbor and told their story.

The news quickly spread and yesterday negroes came from every town within a radius of fifty miles. They declare they know the assassins, who are white men, and that they will have revenge. The whites are well armed.

Sam Howell, a prominent merchant, was shot several days ago by a negro, who was apprehended and lynched. This set the negroes wild. They declared they would avenge their comrade's death, and in this declaration Jim Crosby was the most fearless spokesman. His assassination followed. Several officers have come from Montgomery to assist in preserving the peace.

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