Kirby, Paducah News-Democrat, June 16, 1926

Elkton, Ky., June 15– Todd county officials tonight were investigating the lynching early today of Primus Kirby, 26, negro, on the Guthrie road. Quiet prevailed here tonight.

Coroner MacBell, who conducted a brief inquest, said the identity of none of the members of the mob was disclosed. Judge S.P. Slaughter said the county grand jury, which convened the second Monday in July, would investigate the case.

Kirby was taken from county officers near Guthrie today, after he had shot and seriously wounded Ed Bringhurst, a railroad employe [sic] who had been deputized to arrest in arrasting [sic] the nergo [sic]. The mob, variously estimated between 15 and 250, hanged the negro and fired several shots into his body. Kirby was being sought for slaying his former wife at Earlington, Ky., Monday.

Bringhurst, who was wounded in the stomach, was taken to a Clarksville, Tenn., hospital, where it was said tonight he had an even chance to recover. His ife [sic], a French war bride, and their four year old son, were scheduled to sail for America tomorrow from France, where they had been visiting her relatives.

L.L. Weakly, one of the officers from whom the negro was taken, was the only witness at the inquest. He said the men were masked and that he did not recognize any of them.