Ray, Owensboro Weekly Messenger, May 1, 1895.
Dublin Core
Title
Ray, Owensboro Weekly Messenger, May 1, 1895.
Subject
Ray, George
Charge, lawless conduct
Mob, hanging
Charge, lawless conduct
Mob, hanging
Description
Work of Whitecaps.
A Bad Negro Lynched in Washington County Before His Trial.
An Old Man at Paducah Stabs and Kills a Young Medical Student.
French Testifies in the Murder Case at Barboursville-Flannery Acquitted at Brandenburg.
Bloody Record in Kentucky.
SPRINGFIELD, Ky., April 26. - George Ray, a disreputable negro was hung near Jensonton, this county, last night by whitecaps. The hanging took place about seven miles from this place and was neatly done. Some time ago Ray was taken from his home and given a sound thrashing, for his conduct and given orders to leave the country. He paid no attention to the orders and persisted in his lawlessness. He made threats against a number of prominent men who he charged with having a hand in the whipping. On several occasions he threatened to kill several men in the Jensonton neighborhood, burn their houses and barns and then the law might take its course with him.
The officers have been unable to get hold of him yesterday, when he was arrested and brought to town and placed under guard. His trail was set for today. The mob was composed of unknown men.
For some time past, by his many deeds of lawlessness and threats he has been regarded as a desperate character and nearly everyone in the neighborhood was afraid of him, and while it would have been better to allow the law to take its course, it is doubtful whether he would have gotten his just deserts, and as it stands the work of last night only adds another blot to Washington county’s already dark record of crime.
Ray has had illicit relations with some white women of low character of that neighborhood and this mainly is what is thought led to the lynching last night.
County Attorney Thurman was on his way to Jensonton where Ray’s trail was to take place before a magistrate to prosecute him, when he was informed of the action of the mob last night.
The officers have been unable to get hold of him yesterday, when he was arrested and brought to town and placed under guard. His trail was set for today. The mob was composed of unknown men.
For some time past, by his many deeds of lawlessness and threats he has been regarded as a desperate character and nearly everyone in the neighborhood was afraid of him, and while it would have been better to allow the law to take its course, it is doubtful whether he would have gotten his just deserts, and as it stands the work of last night only adds another blot to Washington county’s already dark record of crime.
Ray has had illicit relations with some white women of low character of that neighborhood and this mainly is what is thought led to the lynching last night.
County Attorney Thurman was on his way to Jensonton where Ray’s trail was to take place before a magistrate to prosecute him, when he was informed of the action of the mob last night.
Source
Newspapers.com
Publisher
Owensboro Weekly Messenger
Date
1895-05-01
Contributor
Katie Craig
Format
Image.
Coverage
Washington County
Files
Collection
Related Articles
Citation
“Ray, Owensboro Weekly Messenger, May 1, 1895.,” DRVK News Articles , accessed July 26, 2026, https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/items/show/66.