Willis, Louisville Courier Journal, June 1, 1892
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 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. The negro’s forehead bears a deep wound, caused by a blunt instrument. It is thought the wound was received while trying to make his escape.
Newspapers.com
Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky, Willis, Wick (or Wyck)
Willis, Owensboro Messenger, June 1, 1892
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 screams. She became unconscious, and has only recovered consciousness at intervals since. Willis was tried at Columbia last week, and lodged in jail here last Friday to prevent a mob hanging him there. In appearance and intelligence he was much above the average negro. The mob certainly could not have numbered over twenty men. Everything is quiet here today, as if nothing had happened.
Willis, Hopkinsville Kentuckian, June 3, 1892
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.
Willis, Stanford (KY) Interior Journal, June 3, 1892
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.
Bumpus (Bumpass), The Courier Journal, August 31, 1904