Henry Sykes
Henry Sykes, a Black man, was being moved from Okolona, Mississippi, toward the jail at Houston by a deputy sheriff when he was taken from the officers near Van Vleet, about five miles south of Okolona. According to the Columbus Commercial, a small group of local citizens overpowered the deputy, and the mob hanged Sykes from a nearby tree on October 22, 1907. The San Antonio Light attributes the killing to a mob that took him from officers while he was in their custody. The Columbus Commercial reported the town was quiet the following day.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took Henry Sykes from officers near Van Vleet, Mississippi, while he was being moved toward the county jail at Houston, and hanged him from a tree.
Reported by: news reports.