Bumpus (Bumpass), The Courier Journal, August 31, 1904
subject: Bumpus (Bumpass), Joseph
subject: Mob, drowning
subject: Charge, assault
description: VENGEANCE Meted Out to Negro By Hickman Mob. -------------------- DRAGGED FROM JAIL TO RIVER. ------------------- ROCK TIED TO HIS BODY AND THROWN INTO WATER. ------------------ ASSAULT ON GIRL CHARGED. ----------------- Hickman, KY., Aug. 30.--[Special.]--About 12:30 this morning a mob composed of 100 men from the country came in town and went direct to the jail, where they told Jailer Noonan they had a prisoner. The Jailer coming to the door, was at once covered with guns, many men grabbing him, saying they wanted the negro Joe Bumpass. They then went below, where the keys were taken from the Jailer and the negro was taken out. A rope was at once placed around his neck and he was taken up the back street to the river, where he was thrown into it with a rock around his neck. The mob then disappeared and went quietly home. The crime for which the negro paid his penalty last night was the attempt to commit a criminal assault on Topsy Clay, a girl about eighteen, living on Will Hawkins’ place, eight miles east of town. She was the daughter of the late Nick Clay, who was one of the most highly respected farmers of the community. The girl left her home to go to Mr. Kimberlin’s, across the field, after some tomatoes. On her way back she was attacked by the negro, who was finally frightened away by the screams of the girl. The negro then went back to the hay baler where he was at work and later fled. Mrs. Hawkins, the next day, sent word to her husband, who was at once came home and, with others, started in pursuit of the negro, who was finally caught in Hickman county. When caught he denied his crime to the last and was brought here and put in jail. <path fill="#e3d881" d="M168 218.4C128.4 218.4 88.8 241.2 49.2 286.8 94.8 247.2 117.6 207.6 117.6 168 117.6 128.4 94.8 88.8 49.2 49.2 88.8 94.8 128.4 117.6 168 117.6 207.6 117.6 247.2 94.8 286.8 49.2 241.2 88.8 218.4 128.4 218.4 168 218.4 207.6 241.2 247.2 286.8 286.8 247.2 241.2 207.6 218.4 168 218.4Z" transform="rotate(45 1…
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publisher: The Courier Journal
date: 1904-08-31
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Adair County

Willis, Stanford (KY) Interior Journal, June 3, 1892
subject: Willis, Wick (or Wyck)
subject: Mob, hanging
subject: Charge, rape
description: Six men took Wick Willis from the jail at Lebanon and hung him. He was accused of attempting to rape Miss Dice in Adair county and was in the Lebanon jail to keep a mob from getting him.
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: Stanford (KY) Interior Journal
date: 1892-06-03
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Adair County

Willis, Hopkinsville Kentuckian, June 3, 1892
subject: Willis, Wick (or Wyck)
subject: Mob, hanging
subject: Charge, rape
description: Wick Willis, col., was lynched by a mob at Campbellsville, Kentucky., in Adair county, Monday night for an attempted outrage upon Miss Dice, a young white woman. The mob consisted of only six men and the jailer gave up the prisioner [sic] without resistance.
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Hopkinsville Kentuckian
date: 1892-06-03
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Adair County

Willis, Owensboro Messenger, June 1, 1892
subject: Willis, Wick (or Wyck)
subject: Mob, hanging
subject: Charge, rape
description: His Neck Cracked A Negro Ravisher Hanged to a Tree Near Champbellsville. ------------------------ The Marion County Jailer Overpower And The Brute Quietly Taken Out. ---------------------- He Was Started Back To The Scene of the Crime, but Daylight Overtook The Mob. A WARNING TO ALL OF HIS KIND- LEBANON, KY., May 31.--This morning at 12:15 o’clock six men came to the jail and roused up Jailer Clark, who asked what was wanted. They answered by informing him that Officer Brown, who was night policeman, had a prisoner that he wanted to place in jail. Mr. Clark got up and opened the door, and three men instantly grabbed him by both arms and the back of his neck. Five men then presented their pistols and told him to surrender the keys or death would be his portion. Mr. Clark could not do otherwise than obey their orders. He asked them to release their hold and not ask him to unlock the door. His request was promptly refused and he was forced to unlock the doors leading the cells. Before going into the cells they placed two men to guard Mr. Clark, while three of the men entered and struck matches, which enabled them to recognize Wick Willis among the other prisoners. They then pinioned his arms behind him. He was in his night clothing and they left the jail without giving him time to dress. They quietly left the town with their prisoner, going in the direction of Campbellsville. This morning Willis’ dead body was found hanging to a tree just outside of Campbellsville. The intention of the mob was to hang him at Columbia, but daylight coming on them, they were forced to hang him just where they did. His forehead bears a deep wound, caused by a blunt instrument. It is thought the wound was received while trying to make his escape. Last week Willis met Miss. Dice, who belongs to one of the best families of Adair county, on the highway, seven miles from Columbia, and tried to outrage her, and was only prevented by two or three men, who were attracted by the young lady’s screa…
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Owensboro Messenger
date: 1892-06-01
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Adair County

Willis, Louisville Courier Journal, June 1, 1892
subject: Willis, Wick (or Wyck)
subject: Mob, hanging
subject: Charge, rape
description: Lynched At Day A Black Devil Hanged To a Tree Near Campbellsville. ---------------------- Taken From the Lebanon Jail By An Adair County Mob. --------------------- His Crime the Attempted Outrage of a Helpless Young Woman. -------------------- Florida Negroes Swear Vengeance On a White Man, But Dispersed By a Posse. ---------------------- COL. H. CLAY KING’S TRIAL. Lebanon, Ky., May 31.--(Special)--Wick Willis, a negro brute, was taken from the jail here last night shortly after midnight and lynched just outside of Campbellsville by an Adair county mob. Last week Willis met Miss Ella Dice, who belongs to one of the best families of Adair county, on the highway, seven miles from Columbia, and tried to outrage her, and was only prevented by two or three men, who were attracted by the young woman’s screams. She became unconscious, and has only recovered consciousness at intervals since. Willis was tried at Columbia last week, and placed in jail here last Friday to prevent a threatened lynching. At 12:15 o’clock last night six men knocked on the jail door and aroused Jailer Clark. They told him that Policeman Brown had a prisoner whom he wanted to place in jail until morning. As Mr. Clark opened the door three men instantly grabbed him by both arms and the back of his neck. Five men then presented their pistols and told him to surrender the key, or they would kill him. The bjailer [sic] asked them to release their hold and not ask him to unlock the door. His request was promptly refused, and he was forced to unlock the doors leading to the cells. Before going into the cells they placed two men to guard Mr. Clark, while three of the men entered and struck matches, which enabled them to recognize Wick Willis among the other prisoners. They then pinioned his arms behind him. He was in his night clothing and they took him from jail without giving him time to dress. The mob quietly left the town with their prisoner, going in the direction of Campbellsville. This morning Will…
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: Louisville Courier Journal
date: 1892-6-1
contributor: Grace Yi
relation: Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky, Willis, Wick (or Wyck)
format: Image
coverage: Adair County