John Holmes
John Holmes, whom one report gives as 29 years old, was held at the San Jose jail in California. On Sunday night, November 26, 1933, a mob of about 100 men broke into the jail, took him and another man from custody, and hanged them in a park, according to a United Press report. A crowd estimated at 6,000 watched. An Atlanta Daily World editorial said Governor James Rolph called the killing a blessing and declined to arrest any members of the mob. The Times-News reported that authorities were inclined to agree with the governor, and that the ringleaders might never be punished.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took John Holmes from the San Jose jail and hanged him in a park, and the sheriff and jailers gave no effective resistance to the mob.
Reported by: United Press report (reporters); San Jose newspaper editorial (reporters).