John Dukes

John Dykes was postmaster at Green Head in Washington County, Florida, and was described in the press as a prominent citizen of the county. He was held in the county jail when, according to the Pensacola Journal, a group of fifteen or twenty men entered early on Sunday, April 16, 1916, demanded the keys and took him from his cell. The paper reports that the mob confronted the deputies guarding the jail and that the jailer surrendered the keys. Other accounts say a mob overpowered the jailer and lynched him, and the Pensacola Journal says he was shot about fifty yards from the building, but no one involved has been identified.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob overpowered the jailer, took John Dykes from the Greenhead jail and killed him, according to Associated Press and Bonifay dispatch reports.

Reported by: Associated Press (reporters); Bonifay (Fla.) Dispatch (reporters).

Sources (10)

• The Montgomery Advertiser, April 17, 1916, page 1 The Montgomery Advertiser, April 17, 1916
• The Birmingham Age-Herald, April 17, 1916, page 2 The Birmingham Age-Herald, April 17, 1916
• The Pensacola Journal, April 17, 1916, page 1 The Pensacola Journal, April 17, 1916
• The Washington Herald, April 17, 1916, page 2 The Washington Herald, April 17, 1916
• The Washington Times, April 17, 1916, page 12 The Washington Times, April 17, 1916
• Perth Amboy Evening News, April 17, 1916, page 2 Perth Amboy Evening News, April 17, 1916
• The Democratic Banner, April 18, 1916, page 1 The Democratic Banner, April 18, 1916
• Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, April 20, 1916, page 7 Pine Bluff Daily Graphic, April 20, 1916
• The Hazard Herald, April 20, 1916, page 4 The Hazard Herald, April 20, 1916
• The Monroe Journal, April 21, 1916, page 3 The Monroe Journal, April 21, 1916