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
Brinkley, Ephraim Rape Hanging Civilian mob, approximately 40 members Mostly unmasked, some masked
Into Eternity Went Ephraim Brinkley at the End of a Rope Last Wednes-day Night. HANGED BY AN AVENGING MOB. The Slayer of Trouillas Meets Death Near Nebo, at the Very Door of the Man He Murdered. Ephraim Brinkley was hanged by a mob of men on last Wednesday night about four miles south of Ne-bo. Some two or three weeks since Cyprian Trouillas, a near neighbor of Brinkley’s was shot and killed as he was sitting at the supper table. While it has not been known posi-tively who did the killing, yet sus-picion pointed very strongly to Brinkley. Things have developed since that has only caused that sus-picion to become stronger. There have been mutterings of coming trouble in that country ever since the killing. The mob that did the work took Brinkley to the home of Trouillas and he was hanged on a limb in front of the place where the murder had occurred a short time before.
Brinkley, Messenger Inquirer, 23 July 1897
Brinkley, Messenger Inquirer, 23 July 1897 Ephraim Brinkley Hanged in Broad Daylight in Hop-Kins County. He Was Suspected of Having Murdered a Wealthy Farmer Named Troullias. A Georgia Negro Rapist Hanged in the Courthouse Yard by a Crowd of Citizens. PERFECT EPIDEMIC OF LYNCHINGS. MADISONVILLE, Ky., July 22 - Eph-raim Brinkley was taken from his home in this county this morning at 7 o’clock and hanged to a tree near the house. The mob was composed of about forty citizens, but few of whom were masked. They were very orderly and not a gun was fired or a loud or profane word used. They rode up to the house at the hour named and called for Brinkley. He came out and they caught him and told him what they were going to do. He begged for his life, but his entreaties fell on deaf ears, and the execution was pro-ceeded without a minute’s delay. When it was known that he was dead the party quietly mounted their horses and rode away. Two weeks ago a good citizen named Trouillias was shot and killed at his home while eating supper. It was not known who committed the hor-rid crime, but Brinkley was suspected of it for several reasons. He has borne a very bad reputation and lived largely, it is thought by stealing chickens, hogs, cattle, corn and any-thing else he could get his hands on. Whenever there was any trouble in the neighborhood it was always laid on Brinkley and it is believed that a good deal of meanness was attributed to him was perpetrated by others. How-ever this may be the people will breathe easier, as they had become very much afraid of him since the assassination of Trouillias. The identity of the members of the mob is not known, although they as-sembled and did their work in broad day light. It is thought, however, that at least the leaders belonged to the same gang of regulators that killed Hewlett Howton in Caldwell county two years ago. The leaders of that band, Capt. Beatty Steffy, and Jim Russell, are in the penitentiary, but the organization still exists, and their swift riders doubt-less had a hand in this morning’s work.
Colbert, Henry Charged, attempted robbery and attempted rape Mob
Hired to Assail a Woman. HICKMAN, Ky., June 12–Three months ago two negroes, Henry Colbert and Pete Hunt, made an assault on Mrs, Lizzie Pratcher. East of here. The men were arrested, and confessed that they had been hired by Hugh Wood, a white man, to commit the deed. Last night masked men forcibly took Colbert from the jail, set him on a horse, took him away and hanged him.
Campbell, Chicago Daily Tribune, December 25, 1880
Lynched By A Mob. LOUISVILLE, Dec. 24.--A Horse Cave special to the Courier-Journal says: “Yesterday morning about daylight Esquire John A. Gardner, who lives about one mile from Rawlett’s Station, In Hart County, was called to go to his barn by a negro boy, Sam Campbell, who lived with him, telling him that one of his cows was sick at the barn. Gardner went immediately to the place, and on entering the door was knocked down and robbed by the negro boy. John Campbell, who lived in the neighborhood, a brother to Sam, had staid all night at Gardner’s the night before. News was conveyed to Mrs. Gardner that her husband was lying at the barn with his head mashed. An alarm was given, and in a few hours the whole community was gathered in and Gardner had been carried to his house by negroes and medical aid procured. Upon investigation strong suspicion rested upon the two negroes Sam and John Campbell. They were arrested and searched, and found in possession of a pocketbook and money which was identified by Gardner’s wife and others as Gardner’s property. They were taken to Manfordville and committed to jail, where they remained until about 12 o’clock last night, when they were called for by a party of seventy-five or one hundred men. The key to the outer door and cell in which they were was demanded of the jailer. The jailer saw that it would be useless to resist, and surrendered the key, requesting that they would not disturb the other prisoners. He was answered that the rest would not be molested. The jail was then entered and the prisoners taken out, and though [sic] the streets of the town down a hill side between the town and river, where they were suspended between the earth and sky to a limb of a tree. It is said that before they were executed the younger one, Sam, confessed his guilt, and said that John had persuaded him into the perpetration of the crime. It is said that John was stubborn, and only said that his people lived in Taylor County, Kentucky. They were about 20 and 22 years of age. Mr. Gardner is in a very critical condition at this time and considered by his physician as dangerously ill. His wounds are upon his face and head, and are several in number. His face is severely mangled and his head swollen. The negro had only been in the county a few months. The coroner summoned a jury of six men and held an inquost [sic] upon the men and returned a verdict in accordance with the facts.
Newspapers.com
Campbell, Gold Hill Daily News (Nevada Territory), December 25, 1880
Lynching in Tennessee. LOUISVILLE, December 25.--John A. Gardner was nearly killed in his barn at Rowlett’s station yesterday. A negro named John Campbell and his brother Sam, who staid in the barn with him, were arrested on suspicion, and money was found on their persons which had belonged to Gardner. They were committed to jail, but last night at midnight 100 masked men overpowered the jailer, took them out through the town to the bills near the river, and hung them to a tree. Sam is said to have confessed, but John was obdurate.
The Gold Hill Daily News (Nevada Territory)
Campbell, Rock Island Illinois Argus, December 27, 1880
Two Negroes Lyncned. [sic] LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 24.--A Horse Cave special to the Courier Journal says; Side by side they hang on the banks of Green river. Yesterday morning, about daylight, Esquire John A. Gardner, who lives about one mile from Rawlett’s Station in Hart county, was called to go to the barn by a negro boy, Sam Campbell, who lived with him, telling him that one of his cows was sick at the barn. Gardner went immediately to the place, and on entering the door was knocked down and robbed. A negro boy, John Campbell, who lived in the neighborhood,--a brother to Sam,--had stayed all night at Gardner’s the night before. The news was conveyed to Mrs. Gardner that her husband was lying at the barn with his head mashed. The alarm was given, and in a few hours the whole community was gathered. Gardner had been carried to his house by the negroes and medical aid procured. Upon investigation strong SUSPICION RESTED UPON THE TWO NEGROES. Sam and John Campbell. They were arrested and searched, and there was found in their possession a pocket book and money which was identified by Gardner’s wife and others as Gardner’s property. They were taken to Manfordville and committed to jail, where they remained until about 12 o’clock last night, when they were called for by a party of sevanty [sic] five or one hundred men. The key to the outer door and the cell in which they were demanded of the jailer. The jailer saw that it would be useless to resist, and surrendered the keys requesting that they would not disturb other prisoners. He was answered that the rest would not be molested. The jail was then entered and lhe [sic] prisoners taken out and through the streets of the town down a hillside, between the town and river where they were SUSPENDED BETWEEN THE EARTH AND SKY to the limb of a tree. It is said that before they were executed the younger one Sam, confessed his guilt, and said that John had persuaded him into the perpetration of crime. It is said that John was stubborn, and only said that his people lived in Taylor county, Kentucky. They were about 20 and 22 years of age. Mr. Gardner is in a very critical condition at this time and considered by his physician as dangerously ill. His wounds are upon his face and head, and are several in number. His face is severely mangled and his head swollen. The negro had only been in the county a few months. The coroner summoned a jury of six men and held an inquost [sic] upon the men and returned a verdict in accordance with the facts.
Campbell, Sacramento Daily Record Union, December 25, 1880
Two Negroes Lynched in Kentucky LOUISVILLE, December 24th.-- John A. Gardner was nearly killed in his barn at Rowlett’s Station yesterday. A negro named John Campbell and his brother Sam, who staid in the barn with him, were arrested on suspicion, and money was found on their persons which had belonged to Gardner. They were committed to jail, but last night at midnight, a party of masked men overpowered the jailer took [sic] them out through town to a hillside near the river and hanged them to a tree. Sam is said to have confessed, but John was obdurate.
Hill, Mt. Sterling Advocate, December 23, 1908
LYNCHED. Elmer Hill Taken from Monticello Jail and Hanged. Monticello, Ky., Dec. 17. – Elmer Hill, the youth charged with assaulting and murdering little Mamie Womack, in Russell county, was taken from the Wayne county jail here last night and hanged by a mob. Sheriff Wright and Jailer Ramsey were completely taken off their guard and he was secured. TWENTY-SIX IN THE MOB. It was about midnight when 26 men appeared in town, and at the jail found Sheriff Wright on guard. He was soon looking into the barrel of a Winchester rifle. They quickly found Hill, and were on their way to Greasy Creek, about five miles from Jamestown, and hanged him without delay. THE CRIME. Mamie Womack, a thirteen-year-old girl, living not far from Russell Springs, failed to return home from school at the usual time one day last week, and her parents, becoming alarmed, aroused the neighbors. The child’s mutilated body was found in the woods near her home. She had been assaulted and murdered. There was no clew to the slayer. At the funeral some one remarked in the presence of Hill, that bloodhounds were on the way and that the murderer would soon be captured. Hill turned pale and hurriedly left the church. RUN DOWN BY BLOODHOUNDS. Since that time until his arrest he was not seen, and it required a long chase by the dogs to capture him. Finally, after riding ninety miles, the officers caught him. He was taken to Jamestown, and a mob was formed. To prevent violence the jailer brought him to this place. On the first night here a mob attempted to get him, but were unable to cross the river. It is supposed the members of the mob were Russel county citizens, but their identity is unknown.