Bumpus (Bumpass), Louisville Courier Journal, September 2, 1904
Rock Tied Around His Neck. Body of Joe Bumpass, Who Was Lynched At Hickman, Found. Hickman, Ky., Sept. 1.--[Special.]--The body of Joe Bumpass was found in the river this afternoon by Jim Ringgold. When found his feet and hands were bound and a large stone tied around his neck. The feet were first seen by the fisherman. Bumpass attempted an assault on little Topsy Clay two weeks ago and was placed in prison, but was lynched last Monday night. A Coroner’s inquest was held and a verdict of drowning by unknown parties was rendered.
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Bumpus (Bumpass), New York Times, August 31, 1904
Kentucky Mob Drowns Negro Takes Him from Jail and Throws Him Into the Mississippi. Special to The New York Times HICKMAN, Ky., Aug. 30.--Joe Bumpass, a negro, was taken from the county jail at 1 o’clock this morning by a mob and drowned in the middle of the Mississippi River. The mob, after taking the keys from the jailer, wanted to shoot the prisoner in his cell, but the officer begged them not to, so, placing a rope about the negro’s neck, his captors led him to the river. He was placed in a skiff, rowed to the middle of the stream, where his hands and feet were tied, and he was thrown overboard. The negro was charged with attacking the thirteen-year old daughter of Tuck Clay, a farmer.
Bumpus (Bumpass), The Union City (TN) Commercial Courier, September 2, 1904
The Union City Tennessee Commercial Courier
Butcher, Washington Bee, September 14, 1895
William Butcher, a negro, was taken from jail to Hickman, Ky., and shot to death, because in a quarrel with some negroes he threw a brick which struck a white man.
Butcher, Arizona Republican, September 7, 1895
A MOB’S WORK. Negro Killed on General Principles. Pulled a Gun on Another Negro. Then Resisted Arrest by Throwing Bricks. The Offense Was Sufficient for a Mob to Take Him from Jail and Blow Out His Brains. By the Associated Press. HICKMAN, Ky., Sept. 6. – William Butcher, colored, was a victim to mob violence last midnight. The crime seems to have been committed on general principles. Butcher, a worthless, quarrelsome negro, had been arrested during the evening for drawing a pistol on another negro. He was drunk and attempted to resist arrest by throwing bricks at the officers, one of which struck a bystander. Butcher was taken to the city lockup. About midnight a handful of men came to the lockup and took Butcher out. The men, eight or ten in number, were masked. They were not disturbed in their work. Butcher was taken to the edge of town and a shotgun placed against his head and discharged. The head was almost torn off and the body was filled with holes when it was taken care of by the coroner in the morning. It is thought the detection of the mob will not be an easy matter, but it is not likely that any serious investigation will be made.
Butcher, Arizona Weekly Journal Miner, September 11, 1895
HICKMAN, Ky., Sept. 6. – William Butcher, colored, was a victim to mob violence last midnight. The crime seems to have been committed on general principles. Butcher, a worthless, quarrelsome negro, had been arrested for drawing a pistol during the evening on another negro. He was drunk and attempted to resist arrest by throwing bricks at the officers, one of which struck a bystander. Butcher was taken to the city lock up. About midnight a handful of men came to the lock up and took Butcher out. The men, eight or ten in number, were masked. They were not disturbed in their work. Butcher was taken to the edge of town and a shot gun placed against his head and discharged. The head was almost torn off, and the body was filled with holes, when it was taken care of by the coroner in the morning. It is thought that the detection of the mob will be an easy matter, but it is not likely that any serious investigation will be made.
Butcher, Vermont Phoenix, September 6, 1895
William Butcher, a negro, was taken from the city jail at Hickman, Kentucky, on Sunday night and shot dead by lynchers. Butcher’s offence was resisting arrest by the police for disorderly conduct and throwing a brick which struck a white citizen.
Butcher, Owensboro Twice-A-Week Messenger, September 4, 1895
A HICKMAN MOB Short Work Made of William Butcher, a Desperate Negro. ST. LOUIS, Sept. 2. – A special from Hickman, Ky., says: At 2 a. m. today William Butcher, a desperate negro, was taken from jail bu a mob. His head was shot off and his body was riddled with bullets. Masks of some of the mob were found near the negro’s dead body.
Butcher, Louisville Courier-Journal, September 4, 1895
The lynching of the negro William Butcher at Hickman Monday night is another disgrace which Kentucky must bear. Butcher seems to have been a worthless and vicious man, but he had committed no serious crime, and his murderers ought to be hanged. But they will not even be apprehended.
Butcher, Louisville Courier-Journal, September 3, 1895
RIDDLED. End of Disorderly Hickman Negro. SHOT TO DEATH Taken From the Lock-Up By Unknown Men. Confined For Breach of Peace a Few Hours Before. OTHER KENTUCKY NEWS. Hickman, Ky., Spt. 2. –(Special.)– William Butcher, a negro, was taken from the city lock-up some time last night and shot to pieces by a band of supposed whitecaps. The negro was a drinking, crap-shooting loafer; always in trouble when out of the city calaboose. He was released from the lock-up on Thursday evening, and on Saturday night had two flights, one with a negro from the country, who drew knives upon him, and would have killed him had it not been for the City Marshal. On Sunday morning the Cit Marshal took an old pistol away from the negro and cautioned him to stop his disorder and misbehavior. On Sunday evening about 7 o’clock the Marshal returned from his supper and found Butcher cursing upon the street and threatening to kill at sight the men with whom he had trouble the night before. The Marshal ordered Butcher to go home or he would be arrested. Butcher picked up a brick, saying he would as soon kill one man as another, and started toward the Marshal. The Marshal hit him over the head with a walking cane, knocking him to his knees, but before he could be captured he started to run, throwing bricks at the Marshal and hitting W. T. Buckner, a prominent citizen. The Marshal pursued the negro, who turned and threw another brick, hitting the Marhsal on the shoulder, knocking him down. The negro was finally captured after a severe struggle and put in the city lock-up at 8 p. m. After being locked up he threatened the life of the Marshal and said he would “do him up” when he got out. This morning the door of the calaboose was found open and a bar of iron with which the lock was broken was lying just outside the door. The dead body of the negro was found lying on the rocks of the river bank a little above town. Nine white muslin masks were found a short distance from the body. An examination of the body showed one wound in the back of the head made by a load of buckshot, part of which passed entirely through the head. Twenty-four shot were found in the back and hips and twenty-one pistol balls were found in his arms, legs and head. He was barefooted, and the feet were cut by the sharp rocks upon which it was lying, seeming to indicate that Butcher had escaped his captors and was shot as he ran. Evidence before the Coroner’s jury showed that the shots were heard at 3 o’clock this morning. Zolla Hanna, who lives next door to the lock-up, states that he saw the men when they came for the negro. He says that Butcher begged for his life before the door of the lock-up was broken, and continued to ask for mercy as he was led off by his captors. He also states that every man had on a white mask and that several rode horses. The grand jury is now in session and will fully investigate the killing, although it is claimed there is absolutely no clew to the identity of any one who took part in it. The police know nothing of it, it is said.