Charles Craven

Charles Craven, a Black man, was held in the Leesburg jail in Loudoun County, Virginia, on July 31, 1902. The Richmond Dispatch reported that a mob of about 150 men broke into the jail with hammers and crowbars, took him from his cell, and hanged him from a tree on the pike east of town, where he was shot many times. The Virginia Gazette reported that the mob overpowered the guard, while the Free Lance reported that the jailer and his guard resisted before the crowd overcame them. A coroner's jury found that he was shot by several persons and implicated ten men, and several people were arrested. Papers reported that Craven protested his innocence before he died and asked a man he had known for years to carry a farewell to his family.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A coroner's jury found Charles Craven was shot by several persons after a mob took him from the Leesburg jail, and a 1902 account says the mob overpowered the guard and broke through the jail doors.

Reported by: coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); Birmingham Age-Herald editorial (reporters); Columbia (S. C.) State (reporters).

News reports (19)

• The Brunswick News, August 1, 1902, page 1 The Brunswick News, August 1, 1902
• The Times, August 1, 1902, page 1 The Times, August 1, 1902
• Richmond Dispatch, August 1, 1902, page 1 Richmond Dispatch, August 1, 1902
• Virginia Gazette, August 2, 1902, page 8 Virginia Gazette, August 2, 1902
• The Free Lance, August 2, 1902, page 6 The Free Lance, August 2, 1902
• The Savannah Morning News, August 6, 1902, page 1 The Savannah Morning News, August 6, 1902
• The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 6, 1902, page 1 The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 6, 1902
• The Montgomery Advertiser, August 6, 1902, page 9 The Montgomery Advertiser, August 6, 1902
• The Houston Daily Post, August 6, 1902, page 2 The Houston Daily Post, August 6, 1902
• Woodruff County News, August 7, 1902, page 1 Woodruff County News, August 7, 1902
• Newport Weekly Independent, August 8, 1902, page 4 Newport Weekly Independent, August 8, 1902
• The Grenada Sentinel, August 9, 1902, page 2 The Grenada Sentinel, August 9, 1902
• The Osceola Times, August 9, 1902, page 3 The Osceola Times, August 9, 1902
• Richmond Dispatch, August 12, 1902, page 4 Richmond Dispatch, August 12, 1902
• The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 18, 1902, page 4 The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 18, 1902
• The Free Lance, August 19, 1902, page 1 The Free Lance, August 19, 1902
• The Times, September 12, 1902, page 1 The Times, September 12, 1902
• Alexandria Gazette, September 12, 1902, page 2 Alexandria Gazette, September 12, 1902
• The Times, September 21, 1902, page 4 The Times, September 21, 1902