July 11, 1879: Neal Wimbush

Today we learn about a lynching in Georgia through the pages of  The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) dated July 15, 1879:

THE LYNCHED NEGRO.

Citizens of Clayton, and Not Fayette, Who Put Him Through.

The account of the lynching of the negro Neal Wimbush for an attempt to rape a young lady, which was contained in our Sunday's issue, had some mistakes as to the locality, which our Fayette county correspondent inadvertently made.

It appears that the offense was committed in Clayton, near Betsada, a church. Wimbush fled after making his devilish attempt, but was captured at the farm of Mr. William Betts near Jonesboro. He was taken under guard to the locality where he had made the attempt on the young lady. While there he was seized by a crowd of citizens and taken over into Fayette county, where he was found hanging to a tree last Friday morning. It appears that the people of Fayette county had nothing to do with this summary punishment of the negro.

The outrage for which he suffered was attempted on the daughter of one of the best families in Clayton county, and indignation over the affair was terrible in that county.

Saturday a coroner's jury was summoned and sat on the remains of the deceased Wimbush. The following was the verdict:

GEORGIA, FAYETTE COUNTY.—We, the coroner's jury, summoned and sworn by O. F. Banister, on the body of Neal Wimbush, who was found dead on the morning of the 11th inst., find that the said Neal Wimbush came to his death by being hung by the neck with, a hemp rope, to a limb of a tree, by the hands of unknown parties. And we further find that the said Neal Wimbush was a citizen of Clayton county, and had been arrested and was in the custody of an officer of Clayton county, and was taken from said officer by a body of men, and brought across the line into Fayette county and hanged. And we are satisfied from all the evidence and circumstances that the citizens of Fayette county were in nowise cognizant of, or in any way connected with the tragedy.

July 12, 1879.

A. E. STOKES, Foreman.

J. E. H. WARE, M. D.

J. M. CARLISLE.

R. H. DORSEY.

JOHN L. GRAVES.

THOMAS W. REDWINE. 

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