January 9, 1906: Ben Harris

Today we learn about a lynching in Texas through the pages of The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) dated January 11, 1906:

NEGRO IS LYNCHED IN TEXAS.

Said He Killed His Victim Just for Fun.

Houston, January 10.—Ben Harris, the negro charged with the assassination of Ozro Polk, at Berings Mill, Monday night, and who was taken from officers last night at La Salle by a mob, was lynched early this morning at Moscow, Texas. There were about seventy men in the mob. The negro's hands were handcuffed behind him and his legs drawn back and tied to his hands before he was suspended in mid air. The negro, when asked why he killed Young Polk said first it was an accident. Later he said he killed Polk "for fun." Harris victim was a clerk in the commissary of the mill.

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