James Gillespie
James Gillespie was a Black boy, reported at 13, 14 or 17 in different accounts, who was held at the jail in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, along with another boy, whom some reports name as his brother Harrison. Early on June 11, 1902, newspapers reported, about fifty masked men broke down the jail door, took the two boys out of town to the railroad yards, and hanged James from a tree there before shooting his body. The militia the governor had called out had disbanded shortly before the mob came, and the Times reported that the guard could not protect the prisoners. Governor Charles B. 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. A mob took James Gillespie from the Salisbury jail, hanged him from a tree in the railroad yards and shot his body, according to the Charlotte dispatch and Governor Aycock's proclamation.
Reported by: Governor Aycock's proclamation; Charlotte dispatch reprinted in the Worcester Spy (reporters); The Times, special dispatch from Salisbury (reporters); Yorkville Enquirer (reporters); The Manning Times (reporters); Columbia Herald dispatch from Salisbury (reporters).
Sources (36)
- Lynching of African Americans in Rowan County
- San Antonio Daily Light, June 11, 1902, page 1
- Evening Star, June 11, 1902, page 12
- Akron Daily Democrat, June 11, 1902, page 1
- The Providence News, June 11, 1902, page 8
- Americus Times-Recorder, June 12, 1902, page 1
- Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, June 12, 1902, page 2
- The Evening Bulletin, June 12, 1902, page 1
- The Times, June 12, 1902, page 3
- Evening Journal, June 12, 1902, page 5
- Ottumwa Semi-Weekly Courier, June 12, 1902, page 1
- The Portland Daily Press, June 12, 1902, page 7
- The Columbia Herald, June 13, 1902, page 4
- The Semi-Weekly Messenger, June 13, 1902, page 1
- Yorkville Enquirer, June 14, 1902, page 2
- Passaic City Record, June 14, 1902, page 4
- Keowee Courier, June 18, 1902, page 2
- The Manning Times, June 18, 1902, page 1
- The Montgomery Advertiser, June 19, 1902, page 1
- Oxford Eagle, June 19, 1902, page 4
- Paris Express, June 19, 1902, page 2
- The News & Observer, June 19, 1902, page 1
- Courier Democrat, June 19, 1902, page 2
- The Pioneer Press, June 19, 1902, page 3
- The Bolivar Bulletin, June 20, 1902, page 1
- The Marlboro Democrat, June 20, 1902, page 1
- Oakes Republican, June 20, 1902, page 6
- The Osceola Times, June 21, 1902, page 2
- The Washburn Leader, June 21, 1902, page 2
- The Farmer And Mechanic, June 24, 1902, page 8
- Crittenden Press, June 26, 1902, page 2
- Crittenden Press, June 26, 1902, page 3
- Goldsboro Weekly Argus, June 26, 1902, page 7
- Vernon County Censor, July 2, 1902, page 7
- The Worcester Spy, July 12, 1902, page 12
- The News & Observer, July 15, 1902, page 1