Lynch law — defeat of U.S.legality

Since 1900, 1,797 negroes have been lynched in the United States. This may go some way to make the following newspaper extracts understandable. Not one of these is the worst known case. In most cases multilation and torture occurred before death.

Savannah, July 26—A mob lynched the wrong negro at Eastman on July 14th, it was learned last night. The victim was not Ed Claus, suspected of raping a schoolteacher, but a different young negro. The real Claus was located near Darien yesterday. Before the lynching the victim had protested that he was not Claus, had never met the schoolteacher, and pleaded for time to prove his innocence. It is expected that the real Ed Claus will be lynched shortly.

Chicago Record-Herald, July 27, 1903.

Jennings, La., August 27—James Comeaux, a negro, was lynched by a mob here today after he struck a merchant who had swept dirt on his shoes.

Montgomery Advertiser, August 28, 1913.

Gainesveill, August 19—Five negroes—three men and two women—were found hanging from an oak tree here this morning.

Atlanta Constitution, August 20, 1916.

Tylertown, Miss., November 23—Cleveland Strange, white, was accidently shot through the abdomen during the lynching of a negro today. Strange was hitting the negro over the head with a gun, holding it by its barrel, when it accidently went off.

Atlanta Constitution, November 24, 1920.

Collidge, Tex. August 16—The body of Alexander Winn, a negro hanged here by a mob yesterday, was today snatched from a funeral parlor and burned by a second mob.

New York Sun, August 16. 1921,

Houston, Tex., March 8—A band of masked white youths hung a negro by his heels last night and carved two series of KKK's into his chest and stomach in reprisal for recent sit-in demonstrations by negro students at Texas Southern University.

Felton Turner, 27-year-old unemployed awning worker, told police that he was walking near his home in a negro section at 10.15 last night when a car with four masked white youths pulled up, grabbed him and forced him to come with them. They drove to a wooded area where he was tied and hung from a tree by his heels. The youths beat him with chains, cut off his clothes and carved K's about three inches high into his stomach and chest.

One of the white youths said the wounds were in reprisal for siting at lunch counters in Houston by Texas Southern University negro students.

Police Lt. Breckenridge Porter said he is looking into the possibility that the wounds were self-inflicted.

Birmingham News, March 8, 1960.