Potter, Indianapolis Freeman, April 29, 1911

Potter, Indianapolis Freeman, April 29, 1911

Potter, William

Mob, shooting

Charge, attempted murder

Audience Shoots a Negro Lynched in Opera House

Kentucky Town is Scene of Most Melodramatic Act of Vengeance Ever Enacted
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PRICE PAID FOR SHOOTING NEGRO

        Calhoun, Ky., April 21.--With militia upon the scene to prevent a race war, the authorities set out today to investigate the lynching of William Potter, a negro, who met his death last night at Livermore, eight miles from here in the most melodramatic scene of vengeance ever enacted.
        Accused of fatally shooting Frank Mitchell, a young white man of Livermore, the assailant was strung up above the stage of the Livermore opera house and a crowd of 100 men and boys, all armed, who filled the theater, riddled his body with bullets. So much per shot was charged, the sum to be turned over to the Mitchell family. When Potter’s body was cut down it was hanging in shreds.
      Persons who were willing to pay for orchestra seats were charged double prices for the privileges of emptying their rifles or revolvers into the body of the swaying figure. Those in the gallery were granted a lower rate. The opera house was an inferno of gun shots, and the sheriff, who tried to force his way in, was ordered away upon penalty of severe treatment.
       Finally a detachment of militia arrived on the scene and, reinforced by a posse drove the mob from the theater.
       The entire community was aroused and from midnight until dawn armed farmers from the surrounding country who had heard vague rumors of trouble streamed into the town, thinking a race war was in progress. All negroes in the town were warned to keep indoors today.

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The Indianapolis Freeman

1911-04-29

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