Jim Wesley

Jim Wesley was held in the custody of officers in Hempstead, Texas, and was Black. On October 21, 1902, a mob that had earlier tried to break into the courtroom entered during proceedings, and the Watchman and Southron reported that officers in the room were overpowered. The mob took him and hanged him from a telephone pole in the public square. The sheriff had asked the governor for troops, but according to the Lancaster Ledger the district judge withdrew that request after citizens pledged to prevent mob action, and the troops did not come.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (neglect alleged). A mob overpowered court officers and took Jim Wesley from the courtroom to hang him, and the district judge had withdrawn his request for troops after citizens pledged to prevent mob action, according to a news dispatch.

Reported by: Richmond Planet (reporters); news dispatch from Hempstead, Tex. (reporters).

Sources (6)

• The Lexington Dispatch, September 17, 1902, page 7 The Lexington Dispatch, September 17, 1902
• The Watchman And Southron, October 22, 1902, page 4 The Watchman And Southron, October 22, 1902
• The Washington Times, October 24, 1902, page 2 The Washington Times, October 24, 1902
• The Lancaster Ledger, October 25, 1902, page 1 The Lancaster Ledger, October 25, 1902
• Richmond Planet, October 25, 1902, page 4 Richmond Planet, October 25, 1902
• The Birmingham Age-Herald, November 26, 1902, page 4 The Birmingham Age-Herald, November 26, 1902