Black on Black Lynching

We are so conditioned to think of lynching as a crime committed against blacks by white racists that we tend to forget white lynching victims.  But these two incidents involve black victims, black murderers, and a black lynch mob.

Sunnyside, Tex. (1897)

Before 5/1/1897: Robbers seeking $30 stolen from “a German named Brenham” and supposed to have been conveyed to a “Henry Daniels, an old negro,” forced entry into Daniels’ home, beat to death Daniels, raped his stepdaughter “and a seven year old child.”  They then threw the seven year old down a well, and burnt the house down around Daniels and his stepdaughter.

Category: family non-resident

Suicide: no

Cause: robbery

Weapon: blunt object, drown, arson[1]

Sunnyside, Tex. (1897)

Before 5/1/1897: Authorities and local citizens hunted down the gang responsible for murders in previous entry.  The gang confessed under the weight of the evidence, including a bloody shirt.  They were taken from custody by a black lynch mob and hung.

Category: public

Suicide: no

Cause: lynch

Weapon: hanging[2]

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[1] “AJust Retribution,” Roanoke [Va.] Times, May 2, 1897, 1.

[2] “AJust Retribution,” Roanoke [Va.] Times, May 2, 1897, 1.