Skaggs, Nashville Tennessean, April 17, 1891

Article Transcription

Title: KENTUCKY. A Young Negro Boy Brutally Shot to Death by a Mob.

BOWLING GREEN, April 16.—[Special.] At an early hour this morning a mob, composed of seven masked men, visited the house of Boyd Johnson, a negro, in the old Union neighborhood, about fifteen miles from this city, and shot an 18-year-old negro boy named Will Skaggs, killing him. The facts, as near as could be learned, are as follows: Several days ago the negro was in Allen County, and became involved in a difficultly with a white man, the result being the negro worsted his adversary by cutting him severely with a pocket knife. The negro immediately returned to the home of his father, John Skaggs, but left there yesterday and went to the house of Boyd Johnson, a neighbor living near by. Just before day this morning the mob called at the house of the boy’s father and asked the whereabouts of his son. Not knowing their intention, his son having said nothing to him of the cutting, he told them. They immediately left the house of Johnson. When in a short distance from the place they saw the young negro leave the house by the back door. Five shots were fired at the fleeing boy and he fell. Upon examination it was found that all of the balls had entered the body, causing instant death. After the killing the mob dispersed quietly. It is thought that they were friends of the white man from Allen County.