Irving Arthur
Irving Arthur, a Black man reported to be 19 years old, was held with his brother Herman in the jail on the top floor of the courthouse in Paris, Texas. On the evening of July 6, 1920, a crowd broke down the iron outer door of the jail, took the two brothers to the fairgrounds north of the city, and burned them at a stake. One account said no guards were posted at the jail, while another said guards had been stationed there. Afterward, the sheriff reportedly said the mob had made a grievous mistake and killed the wrong men, and some officials questioned whether the right men had been taken.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob stormed the Paris, Texas jail, took Irving Arthur and his brother out and burned them at a stake at the fairgrounds; the sheriff later said the mob killed the wrong men.
Reported by: news reports; Paris, Texas sheriff (the agency that held him).
News reports (10)
- The Montgomery Advertiser, July 7, 1920, page 1
- Brownsville Herald, July 7, 1920, page 1
- El Paso Herald, July 7, 1920, page 1
- The Log Cabin Democrat, July 7, 1920, page 1
- Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, July 7, 1920, page 1
- The Pensacola Journal, July 7, 1920, page 1
- Alexandria Gazette, July 7, 1920, page 4
- Atlanta Tri-Weekly Journal, July 8, 1920, page 1
- Richmond Planet, July 17, 1920, page 1
- Richmond Planet, July 17, 1920, page 2