George Robertson
George Robertson, a Black man, was held in the Laurens city jail in Laurens, South Carolina, in April 1920. According to news reports citing the Associated Press, a mob broke into the jail, took him from custody, and hanged him from a railroad bridge on the edge of town, and his body was later shot. Police said they did not know of the lynching until they returned to the jail. The coroner empaneled a jury and opened an investigation into the killing.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob stormed the Laurens city jail, took George Robertson and hanged him from a railroad bridge, according to Associated Press reports; police said they did not know of the lynching until they returned to the jail.
Reported by: Laurens city police (the agency that held him); Associated Press (reporters); Associated Negro Press (reporters); the coroner.