Scott, Danville Advocate-Messenger, January 25, 1934

Youth Accused of Slugging is Lynched by Mob

20-Year-Old Negro Is Taken From Hazard Jail and Shot to Death– Three Men Arrested– Investigation Is Started By Officers In Perry County Today

Hazard, Ky., Jan. 25– Four men were held for questioning today in connection with last night’s lynching of Rex Scott. No charges have been made against them. A special grand jury will be impanneled [sic] Monday to investigate.

Indignation Expressed

Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 25– Citizens throughout the state, indignant because Kentucky was the scene of the year’s first lynching, flooded Governor Laffoon with telegrams today; demanding that he act in the investigation.

The governor is mum pending an official report from Perry County officials.

The House unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Governor in any steps he takes.

Body Bullet Riddled

Hazard, Ky., Jan. 25– Rex Scott, 20, negro, was hanged to a beech tree in the Cornett Hill graveyard in Knott County last night about an hour after he was forcibly removed from the Perry county jail here by 30 or 40 masked leaders of an armed mob of approximately 300 men.

The body was found by members of a possee [sic] who reached the scene in time to see the members of the mob scatter. There were approximately 40 bullet wounds in the body.

Scott was accused of slugging Alex Johnson a miner, on a street here Saturday night. Johnson died at 10:30 last night, never having regained consciousness, within an hour of Scott’s lynching.

Deputy Jailer W.C. Knuckles, was standing across the street from the jail when he said armed and masked men began swarming aroun dthe [sic] the jail. He walked toward the jail door, where he was met by jailer Troy P. Combs, who said “get in here quick, Bill.”

Knuckles was not molested until he had started through the door, then several man punched pistols into his side and one remarked, “You’ll be al lright [sic] if you stand still.”

The leaders of the mob forced themselves inside and demanded the key to Scott’s cell from jailer Combs who denied he had the keys. Jailer Combs was roughed by the men who finally were convinced he did not have the keys. They then cornered Knuckles in a corridor of the jail and found the keys on him. They unlocked Scott’s cell dragged him outside, and placed him in an automobile.

Sheriff McIntosh hastily summoned all city and county authorities and organized a posse of approximately 50 to pursue the mob.

Noticing the machines bearing the officers approaching, the crowd scattered. Three stragglers were arrested for questioning.

The negro’s body was not cut down until a coroner’s jury had been empaneled from Knott county. In the absence of the coroner, Magistrate John Everidge presided. The verdict was that he came to his death at the hands of persons unknown to the jury.