Scott, Earlington Bee, June 30, 1898
subject: Scott, George
subject: Charge, attempted criminal assault on a married White woman Charge, making an indecent proposal to a White woman
subject: Mob, about 50-60 men
subject: Mob, hanging
subject: Mob, masked
description: Saturday night a mob took George Scott, colored, from the jail in Russellville and hung him to a tree in the suburbs. The mob was composed of about forty persons most of whom were boys, and but few were disguised. The jailor did not recognize any one in the party, but as the wires leading to Adairville were cut, it is supposed that the mob came from that section. Scott’s crime was an attempted assault upon a Mrs. Scroggins, who lives near Adairville.
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Bee [Earlington, Ky.]
date: 1898-06-30
contributor: Kailly Oum
format: Image
coverage: Logan County, Adairville, Russellville, Springfield

Scott, Russellville Herald-Ledger, July 1, 1898
subject: Scott, George
subject: Charge, attempted criminal assault on a married White woman Charge, making an indecent proposal to a White woman
subject: Mob, about 50-60 men
subject: Mob, hanging
subject: Mob, masked
description: HANGED BY A MOB. Geo. Scott Answers for his Crime to Judge Lynch Approached and Threatened Mrs. Scroggins—Had Planned to Assault and Kill Her. AN ACCOUNT BY AN EVANSVILLE PAPER Russellville was again the scene of a lynching Saturday night. The affair was very quiet. Scarcely anybody in town besides the jailer knew about until the next morning. The victim was a colored boy about 19 years of age named George Scott who had been in jail about three weeks charged with attempting or planning an assault upon Mrs. Will Scroggins near Adairville. Jailer Price was aroused by the trample of horses about one o’clock in the night. He proceeded hurriedly to dress, but before he could put on his clothes the mob which had ridden up at a brisk gait had come to a halt, a part of the men had dismounted and were in the yard calling and knocking loudly at the door. The road was full of men and horses for thirty yards, apparently fifty or sixty men. “Who are you and what do you want!” called Mr. Price out of the upstairs window. “We want the negro who tried to assault Mrs. Scroggins,” was the reply, “and we intend to have him if we have to tear the jail down.” “Wait until I put my clothes on,” and Mr. Price took in his head. “Break in the door, burst it open, he’s up there telephoning all over town for help,” came the cries from the street. “Don’t break it; I’ll open it,” said Mr. Price. As soon as the door was opened the hall rapidly filled up with men armed with double barreled shot guns. They demanded the keys and said they wanted them without delay. Not giving him time to dress the negro was hurried into the hall. “Cross your hands behind,” said one of the mob. The boy looked about in a dazed manner, scared out of his wits and not seeming to understand. The order was repeated the third time. Then he quietly obeyed turning his face to the wall. His hands were bound and he was lead [sic] to the gate where a spring wagon was waiting. “Jump in, we are going to take you riding.” The negro…
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Herald-Ledger [Russellville, Ky.]
date: 1898-07-01
contributor: Kailly Oum
format: Image
coverage: Logan County, Adairville, Russellville, Springfield

Coffey, Nashville Tennessean, October 27, 1901
subject: Coffey, Robert
subject: Charge, labor troubles in coal mines
subject: Mob, unknown number
subject: Mob, shooting
description: GUARD KILLED Robert Coffee Assassinated Near Empire Mines. STRIKERS FIRED ON MINERS Coffey Started in Pursuit and Was Shot From Ambus. SEVEN MEN UNDER ARREST Five of Them Are Union Miners and Striker — Excitement Over the Affair. Special Dispatch to The American. HOPKINSVILLE, Ky., Oct. 26.—One of the most dastardly crimes in all the history of mining troubles in this section of the State was the assassination of Robert Coffey, chief of the guards on duty at the Empire mines, in the northern portion of this county, who was shot from ambush and instantly killed by unknown parties while in the discharge of his duties at an early hour this morning. Matters had quieted down so much at the Empire mines that the lawless outbreak of this morning was a surprise to every one, while the foul murder of Mr. Coffey has sent a thrill of indignation throughout the entire community. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST The particulars of the awful crime, as brought out at the Coroner’s inquest, are to the effect that at half-past [illegible] o’clock this morning the miners had gathered to go to work, when they saw on the summit of the hall half a mile off a party of people, numbering about 200. These men were recognized as unionists, who had been threatening for some time to visit Empire, where they were not wanted. There was only one guard with the miners, John Fields, who held his place after the shooting commenced. As these unionists advanced on the miners they opened fire, and bullets fell all around. The miners concealed themselves as best they could, and Fields would have been shot had he not dropped to the ground and hid in the bushes near. Other guards were attracted to the scene by the firing, and on their arrival they prepared to join in the fight, but the assailants had fled down the hill. COFFEY KILLED. Robert Coffey, one of the mine’s guards, and Deputy Sheriff Charles Garner promptly organized a pursuing party and gave the would-be murderers chase, and while the woods in the vicin…
source: <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; color: #1155cc;" data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"https://www.newspapers.com/image/604239938/?clipping_id=139998602"}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-hyperlink="https://www.newspapers.com/image/604239938/?clipping_id=139998602">Newspapers.com
publisher: The Tennessean [Nashville, Tn.]
date: 1901-10-27
contributor: Kailly Oum
format: Image
coverage: Christian County, Hopkinsville, Empire

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…
source: Bumpus, Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky umpass, Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky <circle cx="71" cy="71" r="71" fill="#dbbc74"></circle> <path fill="#e6cb05" d="M119.5 191.7C91.3 191.7 63.2 196 35 204.5 43.5 176.3 47.8 148.2 47.8 120 47.8 91.8 43.5 63.7 35 35.5 63.2 44 91.3 48.3 119.5 48.3 147.7 48.3 175.8 44 204 35.5 195.5 63.7 191.2 91.8 191.2 120 191.2 148.2 195.5 176.3 204 204.5 175.8 196 147.7 191.7 119.5 191.7Z" transform="rotate(45 119.501 120)"></path> <path fill="#e6cb05" d="M119.5 191.7C91.3 191.7 63.2 196 35 204.5 43.5 176.3 47.8 148.2 47.8 120 47.8 91.8 43.5 63.7 35 35.5 63.2 44 91.3 48.3 119.5 48.3 147.7 48.3 175.8 44 204 35.5 195.5 63.7 191.2 91.8 191.2 120 191.2 148.2 195.5 176.3 204 204.5 175.8 196 147.7 191.7 119.5 191.7Z" transform="rotate(45 119.501 120)"></path> <path fill="#ffed8a" d="M168 235.2C128.4 235.2 88.8 252.4 49.2 286.8 83.6 247.2 100.8 207.6 100.8 168 100.8 128.4 83.6 88.8 49.2 49.2 88.8 83.6 128.4 100.8 168 100.8 207.6 100.8 247.2 83.6 286.8 49.2 252.4 88.8 235.2 128.4 235.2 168 235.2 207.6 252.4 247.2 286.8 286.8 247.2 252.4 207.6 235.2 168 235.2Z" transform="rotate(45 168 168)"></path> <path fill="#ffcf5f" d="M168 243.6C128.4 243.6 88.8 258 49.2 286.8 78 247.2 92.4 207.6 92.4 168 92.4 128.4 78 88.8 49.2 49.2 88.8 78 128.4 92.4 168 92.4 207.6 92.4 247.2 78 286.8 49.2 258 88.8 243.6 128.4 243.6 168 243.6 207.6 258 247.2 286.8 286.8 247.2 258 207.6 243.6 168 243.6Z" transform="rotate(45 168 168)"></path> <path fill="#ffed8a" d="M168 235.2C128.4 235.2 88.8 252.4 49.2 286.8 83.6 247.2 100.8 207.6 100.8 168 100.8 128.4 83.6 88.8 49.2 49.2 88.8 83.6 128.4 100.8 168 100.8 207.6 100.8 247.2 83.6 286.8 49.2 252.4 88.8 235.2 128.4 235.2 168 235.2 207.6 252.4 247.2 286.8 286.8 247.2 252.4 207.6 235.2 168 235.2Z" transform="rotate(45 168 168)"></path> <path fill="#f8ffc4" d="M134.3 241C102.7 241 71.2 236.9 39.7 228.6 31.4 197.1 27.3 165.5 27.3 134 27.3 102.5 31.4 70.9 39.7 39.4 71.2 31.1 102.7 27 134.3 27 165.8 27 197.3 31.1 228.8…
publisher: The Courier Journal
date: 1904-08-31
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Adair County

Stone, Courier Journal, November 28, 1896
subject: Stone, James (Jim)
subject: Mob, hanging
subject: Charge, assault
description: Feeling At Mayfield Has Not Abated Against Stone--Little Doubt of His Guilt. Mayfield Ky., Nov. 27.--(Special)-- The feeling here against Jim Stone, held for the outrage Monday night on Mrs. J. M. R. Green, one of the most highly respected women in the city, is still very strong, and if the negro is brought back here there will surely be a hanging. The story told by Stone to Pr--- effect that Mrs. Green says he is not the man who outraged her is wholly without foundation. The Courier-Journal correspondent has just had a conversation with C. H. McNutt, Chief of Police here, and he says “Mrs. Green has never made any such statement. There was no light in the room when the deed was committed, and she can not positively identify him as her assailant, but the circumstantial evidence is so strong and he has contradicted himself so often as to his whereabouts on the nihgt [sic] of the assault that few here doubt his guilt. Although he lives three miles from town, he was seen only a short time before the crime was committed by at least six persons. He has served a term in the prison for forgery and is known and recognized as a thoroughly depraved negro. The citizens here are not anxious to hang him merely as an example, as reported, but because they believe that he committed the deed with which he is chaged [sic]. If he is brought back here there is little doubt he will be summarily dealt with.
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Courier Journal
date: 1896-11-28
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Graves County

West and Dever, Crawford Avalanche, January 9, 1896
subject: West, Martha
subject: Dever, William
subject: Mob, burning alive
subject: Mob, shooting
subject: Charge, murder
description: Meet Death By Fire MAN AND WOMAN BURNED ALIVE IN KENTUCKY. -------- Mrs. T. J. West Cremated and W. A Deveres [sic] Bullet-Ridden-Prayer of a Little Child Has No Effect on the Band of Brutal Outlaws. -------- Mob’s Awful Deed. In Marion County, Ky., the other night a mob of about fifty men surrounded the house of Mrs. T. J. West and called for W. A. Deveres [sic]. Mrs. West came to the door and asked what was wanted. The mob fired on her and she ran back. The men continued to fire, and as Deveres [sic] did not make his appearance they applied the torch to the house. The blackened and disfigured corpses of the victims were found in the ruins of the woman’s home the next day. The tragedy was one of the most brutal ever enacted. Despite the pleadings for her father’s life of a half-clad, frightened child, and the prayers and tears of the ill and helpless woman, the mob went through with its work with cold-blooded, cruel deliberation, and only left when certain that both man and woman were dead. Several months ago Deveres [sic], a middle-aged widower, and Thomas West, a prosperous farmer, began a quarrel which continued throughout the fall until West instituted divorce proceedings and declared Deveres [sic] must die. The men met in Lebanon. West snapped his revolver, which missed fire, and Deveres [sic] killed him on the spot. On the plea of self-defense the murderer secured bail and scandalized the neighborhood by taking his two daughters and moving into West’s house. The relatives of the murdered husband swore vengeance, and Saturday night it came. Close to 10 o’clock a band of men rode up to the West homestead and demanded admittance. “Tom West is dead. Now it’s your turn,” the spokesman called, and Deveres [sic] awoke to find the house surrounded. Mrs. West rushed to a darkened window and began a wild appeal for mercy. A dozen bullets answered her cries, and the demand for immediate surrender was repeated. A hurried consultation was held inside the house, and then, …
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Crawford Avalanche
date: 1896-01-09
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Marion County

West and Dever, Newton (KS) Daily Republican, December 31, 1895
subject: West, Martha
subject: Dever, William
subject: Mob, burning alive
subject: Mob, shooting
subject: Charge, murder
description: To The End of the Law Governor Bradley Will Do All in His Power to Punish the Guilty. Cincinnati, O., Dec. 31.--The Commercial Gazette’s special from Frankfort, Ky., says: Governor Bradley feels that the law has been greatly outraged and the state disgraced by the brutal murder of William Deveres [sic] and Mrs. T. J. West at the hands of a mob near Lebanon yesterday. The governor dropped work on his message, with which he was busy, and acquainted himself with all of the facts obtainable. He is in communication with the local authorities. In his inaugural address the governor condemns lynching very vigorously. He will offer a reward of $500, the limit of the law, for the arrest and conviction of the unknown members of the mob, Governor Bradley tonight gave out the following to the press: “I regard the work of the mob at Lebanon as the most outrageous and barbarous crime ever committed in Kentucky. I shall spare neither labor nor force to bring its perepetrators [sic] to the punishment which they so richly deserve. I believe that the good people of Marion county and of the state at large both look with the same horror on this crime and will not be slow to give me their unflinching support.”
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Newton (KS) Daily Republican
date: 1895-12-31
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Marion County

West and Dever, Louisville Courier Journal, January 6, 1896
subject: West, Martha
subject: Dever, William
subject: Mob, burning alive
subject: Mob, shooting
subject: Charge, murder
description: Prompted by Revenge Theory of the Double Assassination in Marion County. ------------- Even this Belief Affords No Clew To the Murderers. ------------- WEST A DANGEROUS MAN Lebanon, Ky., Jan. 6.--(Special.)--At the end of a week the identity of the murderers of Mrs. Patty West and W. A. Dever is as profound a mystery as ever, nothing having occurred that so much as indicates the direction the guilty persons came or went. This at least could have been accomplished on last Sunday, but it seems that in the excitement no one attempted anything of the kind and as a result a very important clew [sic] was lost on the start. The West home was situated on Burdett’s Creek, a small tributary of Cartwright Creek, and about one mile from the latter. The house was a double log affair, one portion of which was weatherboarded. A rock chimney in the middle furnished a fireplace for either room. A meat and buggy house stood a few feet away, both of which were burned together with the dwelling. The rock chimney stands as a monument to the awful night’s work. The farm is a reasonably good one and will probably be sold at no distant day. The immediate neighborhood of the double crime the past twenty years has been in a lawless state. About the first or beginning of this bad state of affairs was the robbery of two brothers named Burdett. They were honest, upright citizens and lived on the little creek. By hard work a sum of several thousand dollars had been laid by. One night a band of robbers got the last dollar of it. Nothing was ever heard of the robbers after getting the money. There was a lull for awhile and then a system of thieving began which has extended down to a few months ago. Sheep, hogs, corn, orchard grass seed, in fact, everything that came in the way was stolen. Occasionally farmers’ meat-houses were broken into and their provisions hauled away. All efforts on the part of the good people along Cartwright’s creek to apprehend the thieves proved futile. In fact many were a…
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Louisville Courier Journal
date: 1896-01-06
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Marion County

West and Dever, Louisville Courier Journal, December 30, 1895
subject: West, Martha
subject: Dever, William
subject: Mob, burning alive
subject: Mob, shooting
subject: Charge, murder
description: Shocking Assassination. Horrible Crime of a Marion County Mob. ------ WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH. ------ Her Paramour Shot Down As He Fled. ------ DONE AT MIDNIGHT. ------ Mrs. T. J. West and William Dever the Victims. ----- THEIR MURDERERS UNKNOWN. ----- Three Weeks Ago Dever Killed the Woman’s Husband. ----- HER INFIDELITY THE CAUSE ----- Lebanon, Ky., Dec. 29.--(Special.)--One of the most shocking and outrageous crimes ever committed in Kentucky was perpetrated near Lebanon shortly after midnight last night when a handful of men forced Mrs. T. J. West and William Dever to pay with their lives the penalty for their sins. Mrs. West was burned to death in her house and Dever was shot down in an effort to escape the mob. They had been living in open adultery, and Dever had been warned to leave the country, but had refused to do so. Dever was fearfully burned, as he did not leave the house until his hair, eyebrows and whiskers had been burned off. Three weeks ago Dever shot and killed Thomas J. West, Mrs. West’s husband, who had filed suit against her for divorce on the ground of her intimacy with Dever. West tried to kill Dever, but Dever was too quick and sent a ball through West’s heart, killing him instantly. He was tried and acquitted, his plea being self-defense. It was common talk that Dever and Mrs. West had been too intimate, and as soon as he was acquitted he took up his residence at the West house, which is situated on Cartwright creek, about four miles from Lebanon. Mrs. West had three grown daughters, but when he, with his fourteen-year-old daughter Alma, moved into the West house they left and have not since seen their mother. About ten minutes after 12 o’clock Saturday night the mob appeared at the West house, and, knocking at the door, demanded that Dever come out. Dever’s child answered the knock and opened the door. One of the men pulled her out and told her to run for her life if she did not want to be killed. They then called for Dever to come out, but …
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Louisville Courier Journal
date: 1895-12-29
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Marion County

West and Dever, Maysville Public Ledger, December 30, 1895
subject: West, Martha
subject: Dever, William
subject: Mob, burning alive
subject: Mob, shooting
subject: Charge, murder
description: Burned Alive. A Mob Wreaks Vengeance on a Faithless Woman. ---------------- They Attack the House in Which She and Her Paramour Resided. -------------- Failing to Get the Couple Out They Fire the Dwelling--The Man, Attempting to Escape, is Shot to Death--The Woman Perishes in the Flames. Lebanon, Ky., Dec. 30.--A mob inflicted horrible vengeance on a faithless woman and her paramour Saturday night when they burned Mrs. T. J. West alive and killed W. A. Dever, her paramour, at Mrs. West’s house on Cartwright’s creek on the Springfield pike, three miles north of this city. The mob is said to have numbered about seventy-five and it was about twelve o’clock when they appeared at Mrs. West’s house. Mrs. West, Dever and his little daughter were the only persons in the house, and when the mob called to Dever to come out Mrs. West and the little one responded, but Dever remained inside. Just as Mrs. West reached the door several shots were fired at her and she ran back, but the child remained on the outside. The mob then fired several shots into the house, none of which took effect, and after several attempts to get Dever to come out the mob fired the building. Intense heat finally forced Dever to run out, and with pistol in hand, he started to a cornfield, a few steps from the house, where he took shelter behind a corn shock and was shot to death. Mrs. West perished in the burning house, and Sunday morning her remains were found in the chimney where she had taken refuge. Her legs and the upper portion of the body were almost entirely burned off. The little girl gave the alarm Sunday morning, but meager information can be gained from her. W. A Dever [sic] is the man who shot and killed T. J. West, husband of the burned woman, December 7, at Beaver Green, on Cartwright’s creek. Dever had a preliminary hearing and was released on the ground of self defense. The killing is thought to have been caused by intimacy on the part of Dever and West’s wife. After Dever was released he…
source: Newspapers.com
publisher: The Maysville Public Ledger
date: 1895-12-30
contributor: Grace Yi
format: Image
coverage: Marion County