Morton, Brookhaven Semi-Weekly Leader, February 10, 1897

Article Transcription

Title: HE WROTE A LETTER.

For That Offense Robert Morton, a Negro, Was Hanged by a Kentucky Mob.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., Feb. 6.—Wednesday night near Rockfield, a little station on the Louisville & Nashville, ten miles from this city, a negro, Robert Morton, was hanged. Wednesday Morton wrote an insulting note to Miss Tommie Johnson, a popular young white woman, and when it became known a posse went to arrest him. He ran, and they gave chase, capturing him after shooting him several times. While the officers were guarding Morton a mob overpowered them and took the prisoner out of their custody and carrying him three miles from town hanged him. The body was found yesterday morning.