1 10 8 https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/e785b757a2c7eb0bfe88a7c6cd46c57d.jpg b9248f85a79266868cb42481b6b10d26 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woodford County Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Parker and Turpin, The Woodford Weekly, August 12, 1870 Subject The topic of the resource Parker, James Turpin, William Mob, 15-20 men Mob, masked Mob, shooting Description An account of the resource <h3>The Ku-Klux</h3> Grim Death Among Us We have to record the doings of the “King of Terrors” among us-- king of terror and terror of kings; the doings of Death. He came ghastly, if reports be true; and the work he did appeared ghastly enough on yesterday morning. He came on horses in ghastly form-- in the shape of men, but no visages of men men displayed; he came with white veil over the face; with visor up. What he left for the shocked and bewildered gaze of all beholders were the stiff forms of Will Turpin and Jim Parker, two negroes of Versailles, who must have made themselves obnoxious to his rule. Turpin was a Methodist preacher, who caused a split in a colored congregation in this place a year or so ago, and who with his followers, formed a new society of his own and built a house of worship a quarter of a mile from town, in a negro settlement on Clifton road, near the cheese factory. Turpin had the reputation of being a dictator among the negroes-- a leader of iron will. When a portion of his followers at one time elected a political deputation to Frankfort, which he did not like, he set about the constituting of another delegation more to his taste; and two delegations of n----rs went on one and the same errand. Lately, if reports be true, he has been subjecting his flock to military drill in his chapel. He appeared to be about 45 years old; an ugly, repulsive negro, of the lower stratum of the cornfield variety. Jim Parker is [?] as a man of no force of any sort hardly, but full of evil designs, and a pliant tool in the hands of the crafty. He was about 40 years old. The verdict of the jury summoned by Dr. Redd the Coroner, was to the effect that Turpin “came to his death from wounds inflicted by fire arms in the hands of a party of unknown men in mask, who came and left on horseback.” The verdict in Parker’s case was that he “came to death from wounds inflicted by fire arms in the hands of a party of unknown men in mask, who came and left on horseback.” The most of the witnesses were negroes, and they testify that there must have been at least fifteen or twenty men among the strange visitors, all on horses. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Woodford County Library History Room Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Woodford Weekly Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1870-08-12 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Micah Lynn Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Versailles, Woodford County 1870 1870-1880 Micah Lynn Parker Transcribed Turpin Versailles Woodford County https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/b5e9259a8e8abfbe8329a6ca2ec5254d.jpg aff2364ea1541c25e0df4f3a51c42b48 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woodford County Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James, Richmond Daily Register, March 17, 1921 Subject The topic of the resource James, Richard Mob, hanging Charge, murder Description An account of the resource <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Governor to Hear Jailer’s Plea on 23d</h3> Woodford Official From Whom Mob Took Prisoner to Lynch Says He Wasn’t at Fault Frankfort, Ky., March 17– John H. Edger, Versailles, who was removed from the office of county jailer of Woodford County by Governor Morrow following his surrender of the prisoner, Richard James, negro, to a mob which lynched him, has filed his petition with Governor Morrow for reinstatement. The governor set the hearing for March 23 at 10:30 o’clock. The petition follows: “Your petitioner, John H. Edger, respectfully represents that he is the same person who has been removed for mthe [sic] office of jailer of Woodford County, Kentucky, by proclamation of the governor following the lynching of one Richard James while in custody of petitioner as such jailer. “Your petitioner respectfully represents that his loss of the custody of said James and the subsequent lynching of said James by a mob was wholly without any failure on the part of this petitioner to perform his duty and wholly without any neglect of duty on his part, and your petitioner therefore respectfully requests that the governor of the commonwealth by proper order reinstate the petitioner in his said office as jailer of Woodford County, Kentucky. “Your petitioner avers that the lynching of said James, his prisoner, was not in any degree anticipated by the petitioner and he was wholly without any fault in the matter and he avers that he did everything in his power to protect the life and and person of said prisoner and in no way neglected or failed to perform his legal duties and respectfully requests that the governor fix a time for hearing the evidence in regard to the facts and that such evidence be permitted to be given orally, as petitioner desires only to have all the facts known and wishes to be fully interrogated himself by the governor and the legal representatives of the commonwealth.” Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-daily-register-edgers-plea/129489415/">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Richmond [Ky.] Daily Register Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Midway; Versailles, Woodford County Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1921-03-17 1920-1930 1921 James Midway Transcribed Versailles Woodford County https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/51bb3fa38d729214b78332a0621a1cb3.png 16c2d7daac375b239bf2bd8682b1b766 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woodford County Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James, NAACP Memo, March 29, 1921 Subject The topic of the resource James, Richard Charge, murder Mob, hanging Description An account of the resource <h3>Lynching Town Boycotted By State Medical Society</h3> The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 70 Fifth Avenue, today announced receipt of news that the State Medical Society of Kentucky had voted to call off a meeting which it had been planned to hold in Versailles, Kentucky. Versailles is the scene of the lynching of Richard James on March 13, as a result of which Governor Morrow removed the jailor [sic] who permitted the mob to take its victim from his custody. The change in the State Meeting of Kentucky’s medical society is a direct consequence of the lynching, according to the president of the society. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Papers of the NAACP Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1921-03-29 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Micah Lynn Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Midway; Versailles, Kentucky 1920-1930 1921 James Midway Transcribed Versailles Woodford County https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/998084d50f7ee926afb02e1458c6117d.png 72b9999e959313c46b1242eac4a3e13f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woodford County Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James, Letter to Walter White, March 24, 1921 Subject The topic of the resource James, Richard Mob, hanging Charge, murder Description An account of the resource <h3>Enclosed you will find important clippings relative to the Versailles lynching. You will note that the Governor has refused to reinstate the Jailer of Versailles. I think this article a very important one as it shown the attitude of out Governor to ferret out the criminals.</h3> I have made some private investigations through personal friends who live near the scene of the lynching. It is rumored that some of the [most?] prominent people in Versailles were members of the mob. It is hinted [that the ? ] were members of the mob. [remaining text unintelligable] Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Papers of the NAACP Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available NAACP Louisville Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1921-03-24 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Micah Lynn Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Midway; Versailles, Woodford County 1920-1930 1921 James Micah Lynn Midway Transcribed Versailles Woodford County https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/6f3a5b3f71a0ee8dfa8134fa89d22d7e.pdf 1969912f01e3e0422e7e5dd615bb43e7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woodford County Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James, Woodford Sun, March 17, 1921 Subject The topic of the resource James, Richard Description An account of the resource <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lynching Follows Hung Jury in Murder Trial</h3> Mob takes Richard James From Jail — Gov. Morrow Removes Jailer Edger — Judge Mulcahy Appoints Mrs. Edger — Special Grand Jury A mob took Richard James, a negro, charged with the murder of Ben T. Rodgers and Homer Nave in the Midway distillery the night of Oct. 8 last., from the county jail at about 1 o’clock Sunday morning and hanged him from a tree on the west side of the Midway turnpike, near its intersection with the Frankfort turnpike, a mile from Versailles. Jailer John H. Edger, awakened by knocks at the door, put on his trousers and a dressing gown went to the door. He ways the porch was filled with men and that those surrounding the door, if not all, wore masks. The leader said: “We have come for the negro and want the keys.” Mr. Edger states that he refused to give up the keys and began to remonstrate with the mob, when four masked men sprang upon him and help him helpless while the jail keys were being taken from his trousers pocket. He was then jammed into a corner of the hall, he says and held there while members of the mob entered the jail and secured the prisoner and until they were ready to start off with him. A rope was places about James’ neck and, it is said, he was dragged by the neck from the jail through the side entrance. Jailer Edger’s son-in-law, Ben Thompson, went out and pleaded with members of the mob as they dragged James up the stairway, but in vain. After the mob left, Jailer Edger telephoned to Sheriff Hawkins, chief of Police Dawson and County Attorney W. D. Jesse. Seven or more automobiles were in front of the jail and the negro was put into one of the cars and the procession started north on Main street. It is said that a number on [sic] other automobiles were waiting in the north end of town and fell behind. Several people living near Frankfort and Midway pike heard human cries of distress in the night that are supposed to have been uttered by James. The cottonwood tree from which James was hung is but a short distance from another tree from which John Henderson, colored, was lynched by a mob August 21, 1890, for the murder of Gilbert H. Satterwhite, a white farmer. James’ body was cut down at about 4 a.m. and was taken to a colored undertaking establishment. It was buried at Midway on Monday. Judge Stout on Monday called a special term of the Woodford circuit court for Saturday, March 26, when a grand jury will be empaneled to investigate the lynching of James. A jury summoned Tuesday by Coroner B. B. Smith returned the following verdict: “We, the jury, find Richard James came to his death in Woodford county on the 13th day of March 1921, and at the hands of parties unknown.” The trial of Richard James on the charge of the murder of Ben T. Rodgers, was begun last Thursday in the Woodford circuit court. Commonwealth’s Attorney V. A. Bradley, W. D. Jesse, county attorney, were assisted in the prosecution by H. A. Schoberth. Gov. Charles M. Harriss and Judge A. H. Nuckols, under appointment by the court, appeared for the defendant. The jury was composed of W. A. Cox, E. E. Eves, C. H. Jones, Miles Chapman, Jesse Curd, Z. K. Howard, John Montgomery, W. E. Anderson, Steven Hartley, J. B. Lancaster, Frank Sublette and [illegible] Hanks. The testimony showed that in the fight in the Midway distillery office between the negro whiskey thieves and the distillery guards, aided by Ben T. Rodgers, Homer Nave and Porter Hammond, James grappled with Rodgers and reached his right hand around Rodgers’ back: that a shot was heard and both men fell to the floor, Rodgers dead, with a wound in his spine, had under his arm James’ hat. James, in his testimony did not deny ownership of the hat. The bullet in Rodgers’ body corresponded to a bullet in a “38 special” revolver which James gave to another negro the day after the shooting. Rodger’s [sic] clothes were powder burned. James denied that he shot Rodgers and also denied that the “38 special” pistol was the weapon he had, claiming that he had another pistol the night of the tragedy that he threw away. James admitted attempting to rob the distillery, but testified that Samuel Seay, superintendent of the bottling department of the distillery, had entered into a conspiracy with him and other negroes by which the negroes were to steal whiskey from he distillery warehouse and dispose of it, dividing the proceeds “50-50” with Seay. <div class="wordads-ad-wrapper" style="display: inherit;"> <div id="atatags-26942-761305" data-adtags-width="1000"></div> </div> Seay took the stand and emphatically denied this. He admitted when questioned that there were at the present time charges against him in Federal Court in connection with alleged whiskey thefts at the distillery. The case was argued by Commonwealth’s Attorney Bradley and H. A. Schoberth for the Commonwealth and by Judge A. H. Nuckols and Gov. Charles M. Harris for the defense. It was given to the jury at 5 o’clock Friday afternoon. Eleven of the jury voted for the death sentence, but the twelfth man, W. E. Anderson, held out for life imprisonment and was immovable. He said the Bible was against taking any man’s life and he had misunderstood the questions asked him when he qualified for jury service. After the jury had been out for 24 hours it was discharged at 5:10 Saturday afternoon. Large crowds attended the trial and there was much feeling over the mistrial. The feeling was believed to have been allayed, however, when Judge Stout issued an order for a special term of court March 28 to re-try the case. After the jury was dismissed, Gov. Harriss and Judge Nuckols, who had defended James under appointment by the court, asked to be released from further connection with the case and Judge Stout granted their request. Judge Stout’s Comment Paris, Ky., March 14 — “So long as the better class of citizens in any community shirks jury duty and the courts are then compelled to take on persons unfit for jury service, just as long will the mob spirit occasionally rear its head,” said Circuit Judge Robert L. Stout here this morning in delivering his charge to the grand jury of the March term of Bourbon circuit court. “It is the duty of every good citizen to give up his time to the service of his State. If a criminal feels he has been given a fair trial, he is satisfied more or less, no matter what the verdict may have been. So long as the citizens believe that both the State and the defense has had a square deal, there will be no trouble. But if the juries are made up in part of persons upfit [sic] to serve then occasionally the mob spirit will arise. “This was demonstrated at Versailles Sunday when a mob took the negro Richard James, from the Woodford county jail and executed him. but for the presence in the case of one unfit juror this unfortunate incident count not have happened.” Second article under front page headline: Gov. E. P. Morrow, acting under the new law which provides for the removal from office of a peace officer who permits a prisoner to be taken from his custody by a mob, issued a proclamation Monday removing John. H. Edger from the office of county jailer. Mr. Edger will file a petition for reinstatement, as the law gives him the right to do. The law provides that after hearing the evidence “if the Governor be of the opinion that the officer had done all in his power to protect the life and person of such prisoner, and that the officer had not neglected to perform his legal duty, then the Governor shall order the immediate reinstatement of such removed officer.” Gov. Morrow also offered a reward of $500 for the arrest and conviction of any member of the mob and addressed letters to County Judge E. Mulcahy and County Attorney W. D. Jesse requesting them to make a searching investigation of the mob and if possible to ascertain the names of the members. The response of these officers to the Governor was that a special term of circuit court had been called for this purpose and that the grand jury then empaneled [sic] would have an authority not conceded to a court of inquiry. Judge Mulcahy on Monday appointed Mrs. John H. Edger as county jailer to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of her husband. Mrs. Edger too the oath of office and executed bond in the penal sum of $5,000, with W. H. Edwards, Jr., surety. Mrs. Edger, as far as we know, is the first woman to hold the office of jailer in Kentucky. In the event Gov. Morrow should fail to reinstate Mr. Edger, she will hold office for the remainder of the term, or until Jan 1, 1922. Mr. Edger and his attorney, Field McLeod, went to Frankfort yesterday and requested of Gov. Morrow a hearing of Mr. Edger’s claims for reinstatement as jailer. The Governor set the hearing for next Wednesday, March 23. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Woodford Sun Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Nicolas S. Martin Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1921-03-17 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Micah Lynn Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Midway; Versailles, Woodford County 1920-1930 1921 James Micah Lynn Midway Transcribed Versailles Woodford County https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/1878747b50ab51f585da5b1cbd10dc57.png f7cbd831cb006bd619108e835e2953c1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woodford County Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James, The Lexington Herald, March 13, 1921 Subject The topic of the resource James, Richard Mob, hanging Charge, murder Description An account of the resource Versailles, Ky., March 13– Aroused by the failure of a jury Saturday to agree on a death sentence for Richard James, a negro, charged with the murder of two distillery guards at Midway on October 8, a mob of more than fifty men men early this morning took the prisoner from the Woodford County jail here and hanged him from a tree less than a mile from town on Frankfort pike. The mob drove up to the jail shortly before 1:30 o’clock in seven automobiles, all heavily loaded. A guard was quietly thrown about the jail, following which four masked men knocked at the door of the home of John H. Edger, the jailer. When he came to the door the men seized him and wrested the keys to the jail away from him. “You won’t be harmed, but we are going to get James,” the men told Edger, he said today. The mob then entered the jail and went to the cell where James was confined. James Gives Fight According to a story prevalent about the streets of Versailles today, James resisted the attempts of the mob to take him from his cell and it was only after a struggle he was overpowered. It is said that when the first man entered James’ cell he struck him with his fist and engaged the others in a rough and tumble fight. It was only after the negro had been struck over the head several times with a blackjack that he was subdued sufficiently for the mob to take him from the jail. After taking James from his cell, he was placed in the waiting machines and taken half a mile from the city limits to the intersection of the pike leading from Versailles to Frankfort with a road that crosses to the old Frankfort pike. Here from a lower limb of a cottonwood tree a rope was swung and the noose fastened about the negro’s beck. After he had been pulled several feet from the ground the other end of the rope was fastened about the base of another tree and the mob drove off. Tried to Chew Rope in Two It is said that James made desperate attempts to free himself and the rope which which he was hung was said to bear James’ teeth marks showing where he had attempted to but the rope which was strangling him. The body, when cut down at 5 o’clock this morning was found dangling less than five feet from the ground. The tree from which James was hung is about 100 yards from another tree from which a negro was hung by a mob less than twenty five years ago. Mark Brower, a negro undertaker of Versailles, cut down the body and brought it to his establishment in the city after he had been notified by the coroner, B.B. Smith. Shortly after the mob had taken James from the jail, Mr. Edger, the jailer, called County Attorney Will D. Jesse. He immediately notified coroner Smith, who began a search for the body. Will Hold Inquest Today Inquest into the death will be held tomorrow morning, Coroner Smith announced today. Whether Jailed Edger was able to identify any of the men in the mob is not known. It is believed, however, that he did nog recognize any of the men, as the four who seized him when he came to the door of his home were masked. The others were some distance away and standing in the dark. The members of the mob are all believed to have come from the Midway section, as they came to Versailles in machines from that direction. Lynched Near Girls’ School The tree from which James was hung is about 400 yards from Margaret College, a girls’ school. The institution faces on a street of Versailles, but from the rear of the school the spot where the negro was hung can be plainly seen. Woodford County officials visited the scene of the hanging today. The rope with which James was lynched was turned over to the authorities by the undertaker. Hundreds of people today visited the scene of the hanging. Marks on the tree indicated one member of the mob had climbed it and fastened the rope about the limb. Ten or fifteen feet away stands a tree about which the rope was tied by the mob. Feeling has been high since the trial of James began, the authorities were not prepared for such action on the part of the citizens. James was accused of killing Rogers and Nave when he was apprehended while attempting to rob the Midway distillery. … Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Papers of the NAACP Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Lexington Herald Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1921-03-13 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Micah Lynn Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Midway; Versailles, Woodford County 1920-1930 1921 James Micah Lynn Midway Transcribed Versailles Woodford County https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/7b5db18f88949730d0311dde54fd5f07.jpg 565a61e78797a2cd31d3a617bf0fce3a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woodford County Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James, New York Age, March 19, 1921 Subject The topic of the resource James, Richard Charge, murder Mob, hanging Description An account of the resource <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lynch Negro After Jury Fails to Agree</h3> Versailles, Ky.– Richard James, colored, was tried last week before Circuit Judge R.L. Stout for the murder of Ben T. Rodgers, and Homer Nave, two distillery guards. Owing to the evidence, the jury reported to Judge Stout last Saturday it as unable to reach a verdict. Deciding a case of evidence did not please some citizens, who organized an automobile party and decided to have a big night; so a mob, composed of fifty persons sent to the Woodford County Jail, took the keys from John T. Edger, the jailer, and proceeded to James’ cell. The prisoner put up a game fight, (something the jailer failed to do) but “heroic action” was taken by one of the “brave” members of the mob who knocked James senseless with a blackjack. He was then taken in a machine to the intersection of the Frankford [sic] and Midway pikes, two miles from Versailles, and hanged to a tree. None of the members of the mob were identified by Jailer Edger. The two guards were killed while defending the distillery from an attack by a party of armed men who were attempting remove whiskey. It was thought by local authorities that Hames mihgt [sic] have been a member of the party. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-age-lynching/81309173/">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The New York Age Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1921-03-19 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Micah Lynn Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Midway; Versailles, Woodford County 1920-1930 1921 James Micah Lynn Midway Transcribed Versailles Woodford County https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/3125c780feaf5b8c95a624f8a5352a5d.jpg a6088d7fd5b6a93e0a0a77187990cd24 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woodford County Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Henderson, Lexington Herald-Leader, August 21, 1890 Subject The topic of the resource Henderson, John Charge, murder Mob, hanging Mob, masked Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-henderson-lynchi/119756669/">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Lexington Herald-Leader Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-08-21 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Micah Lynn Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Midway; Versailles, Woodford County Description An account of the resource <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lynched!</h3> John Henderson Strangled to Death on the Tree by Masked Men– Taken from the Versailles Jail at 2:30 O’clock This Morning– He Makes No Resistance Whatsoever so Far as Can be Ascertained– And Gives Himself Up to the Men Who Came After Him,– Saying, “I’m the Man Who Killed Satterwhite,” as He Surrenders– Jailor Shipp Compelled to Give Up the Keys at the Pistol’s Point– After Being Induced to Come to the Door for an Alleged Prisoner– The Hanging Occurs on the Farm of G.M. Fishback, Near Versailles– Story of the Unprovoked Murder that Led to the Lynching— How the News Was Received at Midway This Morning– Some Additional Circumstances Concerning the Murder This morning at about 3 o’clock John Henderson, the murderer of Gilbert Satterwhite, was lynched at Versailles. Henderson shot Satterwhite at Midway Monday night, besides fearfully mutilating his body. At the time it was claimed the killing was wholly unjustifiable by the friends of the victim, and it was reported all day Tuesday that a lynching would surely follow the crime. On Tuesday, however, the excitement had apparently subsided, and all seemed to be quiet. But it seems the mob, unlike most such reckless, thoughtless bodies, was biding their time while suspicion was being allayed. Yesterday about noon John Henderson, the victim of the mob’s awful vengeance, was examined by a physician, who Probed For The Ball In his shoulder, which was in all probability inflicted by a messenger from Satterwhite’s revolver, although the friends of the murdered farmer claim that Henderson shot himself to endeavor to make it seem that the shooting was done in self-defense. While the examination was going on it was noticeable that knots of people had congregated in the streets, some of them engaged in the Low, Earnest Conversation That is generally so fraught with significance. In this case it was evidently the first indication that death in the guise of retribution was coming to the man, who all unthinkingly reposed so quietly in the little jail at Versailles. What was particularly significant was the noteworthy fact that many of the Faces Were Strange, And not used to be seen in that village. The ball was successfully extracted, and, although it was done outside of the jail, no harm was offered to the prisoner, who seemed unconcerned as if he had yet many years to live instead of a short span of fifteen hours, before he was put to death in a most swift and terrible manner. The circumstances Are substantially as follows: About 2:30 o’clock this morning Jailor R.W. Shipp was awakened by a loud knocking at the front door of the jail where he and his family reside. He came to the window and inquired what was wanted. He was told that there was a policeman below from Frankfort with a prisoner, for whom a night’s lodging under the protection of the law was solicited. Arousing his deputy, Ed Yagel, the unsuspecting guardian came to the door. Alas! for his future reputation for caution and discrimination. That was an unfortunate moment in his career. The instant the great door swung back on its hinges an unknown man thrust A Pistol In His Face And demanded the keys at once. The unprepared deputy was similarly intimidated. While these two, helpless and dismayed, were held at the point of the revolver, about twenty-five others, all masked, as were their companions, walked into the jail and proceeded to hunt for their proposed prey. It was worthy of comment that everything was done in a most orderly and gentlemanly– if the word can be used in such connection– manner. There was no excitement, no unnecessary noise, no needless violence. Some difficulty was experienced in finding the cell in which the negro was incarcerated, when to the surprise of the party, who had themselves expected to do all the surprising, Henderson came forward and Gave Himself Up, Saying in a firm voice: “I’m the man who killed Gilbert Satterwhite. I suppose you’re looking for me.” “Yes, we’re looking for you,” said a big fellow grimly, with a gruesome accent on the “you,” stepping up and laying his hand on the murderer’s shoulder. The rest is soon told. It is a short, but terrible story. He was unceremoniously hustled out, unresisting, so far as anything can be found about the progress to the scene of execution, not even pleading for his life, perhaps realizing that such a course would be worst than useless. The Place Of His Death Was situated about one mile from the village on the Frankfort Pike, on the farm of G.M. Fishback. No further circumstances of the hanging are known, save that it must have occurred very near to 3 o’clock. At the jail, after the conspirators left it, was all hubbub. It was not known what direction the little party with its dread mission had taken, and consequently it was useless to give the alarm. It was first heard of in Versailles shortly after 5 o’clock. The news was brought by Mr. Fishback himself, who, on getting up in the morning to go about his farm duties, found the body of John Henderson, wet with rain, and swinging gently in the morning breeze Hanging To A Locust Tree Near the gate by the fence which separates the farm from the pike. It was right over the roadway where all passerby might view it– a ghastly fruit for such an honest tree– not less eerie in appearance because of the fact that it was clothed in a white night-shirt, which, saturated with the shower, clung close to the swarthy form like a shroud. Mr. Fishback states that the body when found depended about a foot from the ground. The Death-Dealing Rope Was what is known as “sea-weed,” a particularly stout sort of cord, and affected to a considerable extent in Kentucky lynching circles. It was of the regulation regulator’s size and did its work well. From the appearance of the face, when the man was found, death had evidently come in one of its most hideous shapes. The eyes were bulging almost from their swollen sockets, the tongue protruded and the complexion, dark as it was originally, had taken on the dull blue shade of suffocation. The man had been Strangled To Death And evidently died in horrible and slow agony, by a torture which even Kemmler’s execution could not have surpassed. When Mr. Fishback came to town he was naturally very indignant over the fact that a man had been hung right in his front yard on his well-kept lawn. His horror having partially subsided his sense of the eternal fitness of things welled up within him and he raised an awful row. He, however, informed Richard H. Gray and Coroner I.H. Parrish, and together they went to the Scene of Retribution And cut the corpse down. It was brought to town and an inquest was held upon it, after which it was conveyed to the undertaking establishment of W.S. Taylor to be properly prepared for burial. The county will pay for the interment, which will take place at Versailles. The Coroner’s Verdict Was short and to the point, and made without hesitation. It was as follows: “We, the Coroner’s Jury, find the body to be that of John Henderson, and that he came to death by hanging at the hands of unknown parties.” It was signed by the following: M.G. Shannon, A.J. Hay, Jefferson Young, Newton Scearce, Nathaniel Stone and John Hackett. The dead man’s wife is in jail at Versailles, charged with being an accomplice in the murder, for which her husband suffered the penalty of a mob’s anger. None of the names of the men, who took justice into their own hands, can be ascertained, but it is well-nigh a foregone conclusion that they were neighbors of Satterwhite’s. The Crime Short History of the Murder for Which Henderson Suffered Death The details of the crime for which John Henderson suffered Haman's [sic] fate are still fresh in the minds of readers of Tuesday's Leader, in which paper it appeared at some length. Monday night about 8 o'clock Henderson shot Satterwhite through the head with a revolver, then fearfully mutilated his victim's body with a razor. There was great indignation at the time, as Satterwhite was widely respected, and it was claimed that the murder was unprovoked and cruel. Henderson's statement was to the effect that he found Satterwhite on the side of the road in a compromising position with his wife. Physicians, however, who made an official examination of the murdered man and the woman Denied Any Intercourse Whatever had taken place. This put matters in a very bad light for the negro. Lynching was talked of at the time and the feeling grew instead of diminished with the result already given. Situation at Midway How the News was Received-- It Did Not Cause Much Surprise At Midway the news of John Henderson's death came with the rising of the sun. In fact, if reports are to be believed, the lynching did not break with that surprise upon the little town half way between here and Frankfort that might have been expected in the natural course of things The Town Was Prepared For it. A gentleman now in Lexington who passed through Midway last night said that as early as 9 o'clock a knot of determined-looking men gathered at the depot and talked in undertones of something which was pretty generally understood to be the lynching of the murderer of Gilbert Satterwhite. Mrs. Satterwhite has returned to Midway from Eminence, where she was visiting the family of James Williams, who married Mr. Satterwhite's sister. She is almost overwhelmed with grief. Nobody in Midway is sorry about the lynching. The negro was generally disliked. As an example of his disposition, a Lexington man, formerly of Versailles, stated to The Leader that he had had Henderson In His Employ And that he was vicious, vindictive, and combative in the last degree. He was soon discharged. His being discharged from Satterwhite's employ is believed to be the true reason why the murder was committed. J.O. McAllister and Robert Wallace, two Woodford county men, who are in the city today, state that several bullet holes have been found in Satterwhite's buggy, showing that the murdered man was shot at before he left his vehicle, and completely disproving Henderson's story of his wife's shame. Satterwhite's Funeral Occured Wednesday at his late house on the Big Creek pike near Midway. It was preached by Elder W.A. Broadhurst, who touched feelingly on the virtues of the deceased. After the services the remains were taken to Frankfort for burial. 1890 1890-1900 Henderson Micah Lynn Midway Transcribed Versailles Woodford County