Bernice Ruley
Bernice Ruley, a 20-year-old Black man, had worked as a porter at the St. Charles Hotel in New Albany, Indiana, until about two weeks before his death. He was held in the jail at Brandenburg, Kentucky, when a mob demanded admission early on April 30, 1902, took him, hanged him and then shot his body many times. County Judge Hagan had the body cut down and held an inquest, which found that he died at the hands of persons unknown. The Circuit Court grand jury was to investigate the lynching, and his mother, Mrs. Henry Woods, and his sister, Hassie Ruley, were notified of his death.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. County Judge Hagan's inquest found he died at the hands of a mob of persons unknown after the mob took him from the Brandenburg jail.
Reported by: County Judge Hagan's inquest (court).