Clifford, Union City Commercial Courier, August 23, 1907
Charge, rape and murder of a 50-56 year-old married White woman
The Commercial Courier [Union City, Tn.]
Mabel, Hickman County, Tiptonville (Tn.), Lake County (Tn.)
Clifford, Maysville Public Ledger, August 19, 1907
Clifford, Stanford Interior Journal, August 20, 1907
Will Clifford, a Negro, who confessed that he assaulted Mrs. Mary Cowan and threw her body into to the river, and that he had killed another white woman a year ago, was lynched by a mob at Maple, this State. Clifford was arrested at Tiptonville, Tenn.
Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky, Clifford
Scott, Nashville Tennessean (Nashville American), June 3, 1898
Charge, attempted criminal assault on a married White woman Charge, making an indecent proposal to a White woman
SPIRITED HIM AWAY. Charged With Attempted Assault, a Negro is Hidden by Officers. SPRINGFIELD, June 2.—(Special.)—The community around Adairville, in Logan County, Ky., is greatly wrought up over an attempted assault upon Mrs. William Scoggins, by George Scott, a negro. It is reported that Scott, who is employed as a farm hand by Mr. Scoggins, yesterday made an insulting and indecent proposal to the lady during the absence of her husband. The black brute was repulsed and frightened away and the aram was quickly given. In the meantime Mr. Scoggins had returned, and when the state of affairs was explained to him he took up his shotgun to follow the negro. He soon came in sight of him and fired both barrels at the fleeing man, both charges taking effect. The shot were small, however, and did not seriously injure the negro. Scott ran faster and made in the direction of Springfield. Late in the afternoon he was captured about two miles south of town, by Constable W. H. Pope and Justice C. A. Burr. He was quickly hustled to jail here, and the affair kept very quiet. Scott denies the whole affair in toto, but the evidence against him is strong and seems conclusive. He is a coal-black negro, about 20 years of age. He has an unsavory reputation and has been in jail here before. He is badly frightened and has simulated fits all day. This afternoon Deputy Sheriff Ernest Sory spirited the negro from jail, and the most persistent questioning by the American correspondent failed to located the destination of the pair. The officers here propose to take no chances on the negro being mobbed, hence his removal. It has been whispered around to-day that a mob from Adairville, which is twelve miles south of Springfield, might be here for the negro to-night, but if they come they will find that the bird has flown.
Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky, Scott, George
Nashville American/The Tennessean [Nashville, Tn.]
Logan County, Adairville, Russellville, Springfield
Scott, Nashville Tennessean (Nashville American), June 5, 1898
Article Transcription Title: Safe in Kentucky SPRINGFIELD. June 3.—(Special.)—George Scott, the would-be negro rapist, has been turned over to the Sheriff of Logan County, Kentucky. The negro was induced to return to Kentucky without requisition papers, it being explained to him that he would be much safer there, as he could be shipped to Bowling Green or Louisville should a mob attempt to lynch him. The officers here were very glad to get rid of him.
Scott, Cincinnati Enquirer, July 27, 1898
LYNCHED By a Determined Mob Was George Scott, the Colored Assailant of a White Woman SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE ENQUIRER RUSSELLSVILLE, KY., June 26.—George Scott, a negro, was hanged by a mob here this morning at 1 o’clock. The mob overpowered Jailor Price, took his keys, and took the negro out on the Nashville pike and hanged him on the same tree that the notorious Proctors were hanged on. Scott attempted to assault Mrs. WIlliam Scroggins at her home near Adairville several weeks ago. At the time her husband pursued him and fired at him, but he escaped to Tennessee. He was captured there and placed in the Springfield Jail and later brought here. Scott was evidently expecting the mob, as he had told his comrades in jail, and he had an iron poker concealed in his cell, telling them that he “would get one of them” when they came for him, but the mob was too quick for him. There were about 60 men. The negro made no resistance whatever.
The Cincinnati Enquirer [Cincinnati, Oh.]
Scott, Louisville Courier-Journal, June 27, 1898
TO A TREE George Scott, Colored, Was Hanged By a Mob IN RUSSELLVILLE SUBURBS WAS IN AIL FOR AN ATTEMPT TO ASSAULT CRIMINALLY LYNCHING A QUIET AFFAIR Russellville, Ky., June 26.—[Special.]—Last midnight a mob took George Scott, colored, from the county jail and hanged him to a tree in the southern suburbs of town. The gallows-tree was the same from which Dink and Arch Proctor were hanged about eighteen months ago. The mob was composed of about forty men, the majority of whom are said to have been mere youths, and some had been drinking. Jailer Price was aroused about 12 o’clock by a loud knocking at the door. He went out and a masked man presented a pistol and demanded the prisoner. He thought it was useless to resist and the request was promptly complied with. This morning the negro’s corpse was found hanging to the famous Proctor tree. Four shots had been fired at him to finish the work. Three bullets struck him in the region of the heart, and one in the leg. The body was cut down about 9 o’clock, and, after the Coroner’s inquest, was buried at the county farm. The crime with which the negro was charged was attempted criminal assault upon the person of a Mrs. Will Scroggins, of near Adairville. Reports concerning it are conflicting, but from what can be learned it appears that the negro went to the house, and, finding Mrs. Scroggins alone, made an insulting proposal to her. She screamed and the negro ran, but did not leave the place. It is further said that later in the day Scroggins returned home, and on hearing what had occurred took his gun and went in search of the negro. Scott was hand on the farm, and was found at his cabin. When Scroggins approached with the gun the negro began to beg Scroggins not to shoot him. It is said that Scroggins raised his gun and the negro fled, and that SCroggins shot twice without effect. The negro was captured next day near Springfield, Tenn. This occurred about three weeks ago, and Scott has been here in jail ever since. Little had been said about the case, and the lynching occasioned great surprised. A few members of the mob were masked, but the majority were not disguised. The jailer failed to recognize any of them. The telephone wires between this point and Adairville were cut from which it is supposed that the mob came from that vicinity. This lynching was so tame an affair compared with the Proctor lynching that it has caused little more than a ripple of excitement.
Newspapers.com
Scott, Hartford Ohio County News (Hartfold Herald), June 29, 1898
Lynched at Russellville. RUSSELLVILLE, KY., June 26.—Last night a mob took George Scott, colored, from the county jail and hanged him to a tree in the southern suburbs of town. The gallows-tree was the same from which Dink and Arch Proctor were hanged about eighteen months ago. The mob was composed of about forty men, the majority of whom are said to have been mere youths, and some had been drinking. Jailer Price was aroused about 12 o’clock by a loud knocking at the door. He went out and a masked man presented a pistol and demanded the prisoner. He thought it was useless to resist and the request was promptly complied with. This morning the negro’s corpse was found hanging to the famous Proctor tree. Four shots had been fired at him to finish the work. Three bullets struck him in the region of the heart, and one in the leg. The body was cut down about 9 o’clock, and, after the Coroner’s inquest, was buried at the county farm. The crime with which the negro was charged was attempted criminal assault upon the person of the Mrs. Will Scroggins, of near Adairville. Reports concerning it are conflicting, but from what can be learned it appears that the negro went to the house, and, finding Mrs. Scroggins alone, made an insulting proposal to her. She screamed and the negro ran, but did not leave the place. It is further said that later in the day Scroggins returned home, and on hearing what had occurred took his gun and went in search of the negro. Scott was a hand on the farm, and was found at his cabin. When Scroggins approached with the gun the negro began to beg Scroggins not to shoot him. It is said that Scroggins raised his gun and the negro fled, and that Scroggins shot twice without effect. The negro was captured next day near Springfield, Tenn. This occurred about three weeks ago, and Scott has been here in jail ever since. Little had been said about the case, and the lynching occasioned great surprise. A few members of the mob were masked, but the majority were not disguised. The jailer failed to recognize any of them. The telephone wires between this point and Adairbille were cut, from which it is supposed that the mob came from that vicinity. This lynching was so tame an affair compared with the Procter lynching that it has caused little more than a ripple of excitement.
The Ohio County News [Hartford, Kentucky]
Scott, Hopkinsville Daily Kentuckian, June 4, 1898
Lynching Probable. Nashville, Tenn., June 3.—George Scott, a young colored man, is in jail at Springfield, Tenn., charged with attempting criminal assault on Mrs. William Scoggins, wife of a well-to-do farmer living just across the line, in Logan county, Kentucky. Mrs. Scoggins successfully resisted the negro’s assault, and her husband chased him some distance, getting close enough to pepper him with a bird shot from head to feet. He will be lynched, it is thought, when taken back to Adairville.
The Daily Kentuckian [Hopkinsville, Ky.]