Charles Young

Charles Young, a Black man, was held in the county jail at Forrest City, Arkansas, when a mob came for him on the night of Monday, October 20, 1902. Newspaper accounts say several hundred men broke into the jail with sledgehammers, took him from his cell, bound him at a spot about half a mile outside town, and burned him to death. Sheriff W. K. Williams pleaded with the crowd and asked that they wait for a trial, but could not stop them. Accounts disagree about the deputy: one says he refused to give up the cell keys until the sheriff could be reached, while another says the mob overpowered him and took them.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob broke into the Forrest City, Arkansas jail, took Charles Young from his cell and burned him; the sheriff protested and the deputy gave up the cell keys, according to news accounts.

Reported by: Forrest City Gazette special dispatch (reporters); Richmond Planet (reporters); The Tupelo Journal, reporting from Forrest City (reporters); news report.

News reports (11)

• The Weekly Corinthian, October 21, 1902, page 1 The Weekly Corinthian, October 21, 1902
• The Houston Daily Post, October 21, 1902, page 2 The Houston Daily Post, October 21, 1902
• The Waxahachie Daily Light, October 21, 1902, page 2 The Waxahachie Daily Light, October 21, 1902
• The Paducah Sun, October 21, 1902, page 1 The Paducah Sun, October 21, 1902
• Bryan Morning Eagle, October 22, 1902, page 4 Bryan Morning Eagle, October 22, 1902
• The Tupelo Journal, October 24, 1902, page 2 The Tupelo Journal, October 24, 1902
• Newport Weekly Independent, October 24, 1902, page 5 Newport Weekly Independent, October 24, 1902
• Sharp County Record, October 24, 1902, page 2 Sharp County Record, October 24, 1902
• The Forrest City Times, October 24, 1902, page 3 The Forrest City Times, October 24, 1902
• Macon Beacon, October 25, 1902, page 1 Macon Beacon, October 25, 1902
• Richmond Planet, October 25, 1902, page 4 Richmond Planet, October 25, 1902