Morton, Louisville Courier Journal, February 5, 1897

Article Transcription

Title: A Warren County Negro Was Lynched.

HE INSULTED A WHITE WOMAN

Quick Work of a Small Mob From Rockfield.

THE GUARDS WERE OVERPOWERED

Bowling Green, Ky., Feb. 4.—(Special.)—Robert Morton, colored, was hanged by a mob about three miles from Rockfield, shortly after midnight last night. The lynchers went about their work in a quiet way, and the people of the vicinity were so reticent on the subject that nothing was known here of the affair until noon to-day. Rockfield is a little station on the L. and N., ten miles from this city.

It is said that the negro, a son of a section hand at Rockfield, yesterday wrote an insulting and insinuating note to Miss Tommie Johnson, a well-known white woman of Rockfield. When this became known a posse started at once to arrest Morton. When they found him, he ran, and the officers gave chase, capturing him only after threatening him several times. After his arrest, he was taken to a house on the Russellville pike, not far from town, and put under guard until he could be brought here and lodged in jail.

About 12 o’clock a party of men appeared at the house, overpowered the guards, and took the prisoner away from them. They then proceeded with him about three miles from Rockfield, and hanged him and quietly dispersed, going to their homes.

Morton’s body was found this morning at 9 o’clock and cut down. Morton was about twenty-one years of age, and did not bear a good reputation.