Joe Watts

Joe Watts, a Black man, was held in the Monroe jail in Monroe, Georgia. On June 27, 1911, a mob that had lynched Tom Allen earlier that day broke into the jail in broad daylight, took Joe from custody and killed him. The Savannah Tribune said the state had not provided enough protection for prisoners in the county. Several newspaper accounts report the lynching, and the jail's account of how its staff responded has not been published in these reports.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob stormed the Monroe, Georgia jail, took Joe Watts from custody and killed him, and the accounts do not say whether jail staff resisted or handed him over.

Reported by: Associated Press (reporters); The Savannah Tribune (reporters).

News reports (8)

• The Birmingham Age-Herald, June 28, 1911, page 11 The Birmingham Age-Herald, June 28, 1911
• The Montgomery Advertiser, June 28, 1911, page 10 The Montgomery Advertiser, June 28, 1911
• El Paso Herald, June 28, 1911, page 10 El Paso Herald, June 28, 1911
• The Pensacola Journal, June 28, 1911, page 1 The Pensacola Journal, June 28, 1911
• The Savannah Tribune, July 1, 1911, page 4 The Savannah Tribune, July 1, 1911
• The Dawson News, July 5, 1911, page 9 The Dawson News, July 5, 1911
• Okolona Messenger, July 6, 1911, page 2 Okolona Messenger, July 6, 1911
• The Palatka News And Advertiser, July 7, 1911, page 3 The Palatka News And Advertiser, July 7, 1911