John Henry Williams
John Henry Williams, a Black man, was held in Colquitt County, Georgia, and was in the custody of officers on June 18, 1921, when they were leaving the Moultrie courthouse with him. Newspaper accounts report that a mob took him from the officers, chained him to a tree stump near Autreyville and burned him to death. One account says the officers were overpowered. A later citizens' petition alleges that the county police chief took part in the lynching, and no arrests had been reported in the early coverage.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took John Henry Williams from deputies as they escorted him from the Moultrie, Georgia, courthouse and burned him to death near Autreyville; a citizens' petition alleges the county police chief took part in the lynching.
Reported by: The Cordele Dispatch (reporters); Associated Press (reporters); a number of citizens of Colquitt county in a formal petition.
News reports (9)
- The Ocala Evening Star, June 18, 1921, page 1
- The Lakeland Evening Telegram, June 18, 1921, page 1
- The Cordele Dispatch And Daily Sentinel, June 19, 1921, page 1
- The Montgomery Advertiser, June 19, 1921, page 1
- The Birmingham Age-Herald, June 19, 1921, page 1
- Palatka Daily News, June 19, 1921, page 1
- The Fitzgerald Leader Enterprise And Press, June 20, 1921, page 1
- The Hartford Republican, June 24, 1921, page 6
- Americus Times-Recorder, January 12, 1922, page 6