Frank Smith
Frank Smith, known as "Prophet" Smith, was head of the Church of God movement in his area, and he was a Black man. On the night of June 19, 1901, according to press reports, about 200 armed men overpowered the sheriff and jailer at the Benton, Louisiana jail, took the keys, and led him out to a tree on the Arkansas road about a mile and a half away, where he was hanged alongside another man. Accounts say he denied any part in the killing before he died and that he prayed as he was led from the jail, saying "Lord, you promised to be with me now." The lynchers were reported to have said the killing was necessary to protect white men in the locality, and accounts differ on the size of the mob.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about 200 armed men overpowered the sheriff and jailer, took the keys, and hanged him from a tree on the Arkansas road; the lynchers said the killing was necessary to protect white people in the area.
Reported by: Shreveport, La. news dispatch (reporters); the lynchers, who said the killing was necessary to preserve the lives of white men in the locality.
Sources (15)
- Daily Public Ledger, June 20, 1901, page 3
- The San Francisco Call, June 20, 1901, page 9
- The Evening Times, June 20, 1901, page 1
- The Indianapolis Journal, June 20, 1901, page 1
- The Topeka State Journal, June 20, 1901, page 2
- The Butte Inter Mountain, June 20, 1901, page 3
- Akron Daily Democrat, June 20, 1901, page 5
- The Daily Ardmoreite, June 21, 1901, page 1
- Phillipsburg Herald, June 21, 1901, page 1
- The Norfolk Weekly News-Journal, June 21, 1901, page 4
- The Stark County Democrat, June 21, 1901, page 7
- The Butler Weekly Times, June 27, 1901, page 6
- The Lewiston Teller, June 27, 1901, page 2
- The Kootenai Herald, June 28, 1901, page 3
- The Nebraska Advertiser, June 28, 1901, page 6