Charles Mitchell

Charles Mitchell, a Black man, was being held in the Urbana jail in Ohio. In the early morning of June 4, 1897, a mob took him from the jail and hanged him from a tree in the courthouse yard. According to press accounts, the sheriff handed the keys to the crowd, though one report says he gave up the prisoner only after being urged to. Ohio National Guard troops fired on the crowd during earlier attacks on the jail, and two spectators were killed.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took Charles Mitchell from the Urbana, Ohio, jail and hanged him, after the sheriff delivered up the keys, according to several accounts.

Reported by: news reports; Courier-Journal editorial (reporters).

News reports (9)

• Birmingham State Herald, June 5, 1897, page 1 Birmingham State Herald, June 5, 1897
• The Paducah Daily Sun, June 5, 1897, page 1 The Paducah Daily Sun, June 5, 1897
• The Norfolk Virginian, June 5, 1897, page 1 The Norfolk Virginian, June 5, 1897
• Richmond Dispatch, June 5, 1897, page 1 Richmond Dispatch, June 5, 1897
• The Twice-A-Week Courier-Journal, June 9, 1897, page 4 The Twice-A-Week Courier-Journal, June 9, 1897
• The Marietta Journal, June 10, 1897, page 4 The Marietta Journal, June 10, 1897
• The Free Press, June 10, 1897, page 2 The Free Press, June 10, 1897
• Hopkinsville Kentuckian, June 11, 1897, page 6 Hopkinsville Kentuckian, June 11, 1897
• Richmond Planet, June 12, 1897, page 4 Richmond Planet, June 12, 1897