Bowers, Hartford Republican, October 20, 1905.

Bowers, Hartford Republican, October 20, 1905.

Bowers, Virgil

Mob, hanged.

London, Ky., Oct. 17. – The only lynching in Laurel County in thirty-eight years took place here last night. Virgil Bowers, colored, was taken out of the county jail about midnight, carried about half a mile out the road leading to Barboursville, and hanged to an apple tree by the roadside. The body was not located until daylight this morning, when James Bowling, porter for a hotel here, found it. The hands were tied securely, and the body was hanging to a limb with the feet almost touching the ground. A regular hangman’s noose was pinned to the clothes, which reads as follows:
Since we have trusted our case in the hands of the court, through and packed and perjured jurors and attorneys, we did not get justice. Therefore we are forced to resort to this plan. Abe Lincoln said the voice of the people must rule in all instances. We find recorded in the Holy Scriptures that whosoever sheddeth man’s blood by man shall his blood be shed. Now, let us take warning. The least said is the best. Yours truly. THE WRITER.

Newspapers.com

Hartford Republican

1905-10-20

Katie Craig

Image.

Barboursville, Laurel County