Betsie McCray

Betsie McCray, a Black woman, was held in the Carroll County jail at Carrollton, Mississippi. On the afternoon of August 1, 1901, a mob of hundreds of white men took her from the jail along with her son and daughter, hanged the three of them from a tree by the public road outside town, and shot their bodies. Judge W. F. Stephens and W. S. Hill pleaded on the jail steps for the law to take its course, but their appeals failed. The Leader reported that jailer Duke protested and was overpowered when he tried to stop the mob from getting the keys, while other papers reported only that the mob demanded the keys. Governor Longino of Mississippi issued a statement condemning the officers in the strongest terms.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about 500 white men took Betsie McCray from the Carrollton, Mississippi, jail and hanged her from a tree, then shot her body, and Governor Longino condemned the officers in the strongest terms.

Reported by: Governor Longino of Mississippi; Pascagoula Democrat-Star (reporters); Jailer Duke (the agency that held her).

News reports (9)

• The Age-Herald, August 2, 1901, page 1 The Age-Herald, August 2, 1901
• Daily Public Ledger, August 2, 1901, page 3 Daily Public Ledger, August 2, 1901
• The Leader, August 7, 1901, page 2 The Leader, August 7, 1901
• The Big Stone Gap Post, August 8, 1901, page 1 The Big Stone Gap Post, August 8, 1901
• The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, August 9, 1901, page 2 The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, August 9, 1901
• Newport Weekly Independent, August 9, 1901, page 2 Newport Weekly Independent, August 9, 1901
• Highland Recorder, August 9, 1901, page 1 Highland Recorder, August 9, 1901
• The Grenada Sentinel, August 10, 1901, page 8 The Grenada Sentinel, August 10, 1901
• The Conway Log Cabin, August 13, 1901, page 4 The Conway Log Cabin, August 13, 1901