Cleo Wright
Cleo Wright, a Black man who worked at an oil mill, was held in the Sikeston city jail in Missouri. On January 25, 1942, a crowd of 50 or more tried to break down the jail door while no local police were on duty, and state police dispersed them. The crowd gathered again hours later, forced the jail doors and took him out. Justice Department officials said the mob tied him by the feet to an automobile, dragged him through the Black section of town, poured gasoline on his body and set it on fire, while the Arkansas State Press reported that he was left in the street and that Black residents then left their homes in large numbers for safety. A federal grand jury was set to hear the evidence in May.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob stormed the Sikeston jail, took Cleo Wright from custody and dragged him behind an automobile before setting him on fire, according to Justice Department officials.
Reported by: Department of Justice officials (outside investigators); news reports.