Harrison Gillespie

Harrison Gillespie was a Black boy, 16 according to most accounts, one of two young men named Gillespie who were held in the jail at Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina. Early on June 11, 1902, a mob of about fifty masked men broke down the jail door, found the two boys hidden in the attic, and took them out of town to the railroad yards, where both were hanged from a tree and their bodies shot, after the militia had disbanded. One report says no resistance was made at the jail, and the mayor had appealed to the crowd to disperse before the mob went on. His parents said he was at home when the crime occurred, and a Salisbury man told a newspaper there was grave doubt about the guilt of the younger boy. Governor Aycock said official information showed the boys were lynched by parties unknown and offered a $400 reward for each member of the mob.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). A mob took Harrison Gillespie from the Salisbury jail and hanged him; the parents of the younger boy said he was at home when the crime occurred, and a Salisbury man of standing reported grave doubt about his guilt, though the article does not say which boy was the younger.

Reported by: Governor Aycock's proclamation; The News and Observer (reporters); The Times, special dispatch from Salisbury (reporters); the parents of the younger boy.

News reports (14)

• San Antonio Daily Light, June 11, 1902, page 1 San Antonio Daily Light, June 11, 1902
• Americus Times-Recorder, June 12, 1902, page 1 Americus Times-Recorder, June 12, 1902
• Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, June 12, 1902, page 2 Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, June 12, 1902
• The Evening Bulletin, June 12, 1902, page 1 The Evening Bulletin, June 12, 1902
• The Times, June 12, 1902, page 3 The Times, June 12, 1902
• The Semi-Weekly Messenger, June 13, 1902, page 1 The Semi-Weekly Messenger, June 13, 1902
• The Montgomery Advertiser, June 19, 1902, page 1 The Montgomery Advertiser, June 19, 1902
• Oxford Eagle, June 19, 1902, page 4 Oxford Eagle, June 19, 1902
• Paris Express, June 19, 1902, page 2 Paris Express, June 19, 1902
• The News & Observer, June 19, 1902, page 1 The News & Observer, June 19, 1902
• The Farmer And Mechanic, June 24, 1902, page 8 The Farmer And Mechanic, June 24, 1902
• Crittenden Press, June 26, 1902, page 3 Crittenden Press, June 26, 1902
• Goldsboro Weekly Argus, June 26, 1902, page 7 Goldsboro Weekly Argus, June 26, 1902
• The News & Observer, July 15, 1902, page 1 The News & Observer, July 15, 1902