John Maxey

John Maxey, a Black man, was held in the Frankfort, Kentucky jail in early June 1909. A masked mob broke the jail doors, took him out and hanged him from the St. Clair street bridge over the Kentucky River, and police arriving after gunfire found the mob gone and the coroner cut the body down. Several papers say the jailer resisted but was quickly overpowered, while one says he was overpowered and gave up the keys. Governor Willson pledged to use every means at the state's disposal to bring the mob's members to justice, and rewards were offered.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody

News reports (17)

• Alexandria Gazette, June 3, 1909, page 2 Alexandria Gazette, June 3, 1909
• Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, June 4, 1909, page 1 Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, June 4, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, June 4, 1909, page 2 The Montgomery Advertiser, June 4, 1909
• The Pensacola Journal, June 4, 1909, page 1 The Pensacola Journal, June 4, 1909
• The Interior Journal, June 4, 1909, page 3 The Interior Journal, June 4, 1909
• The Bourbon News, June 4, 1909, page 8 The Bourbon News, June 4, 1909
• Hopkinsville Kentuckian, June 5, 1909, page 4 Hopkinsville Kentuckian, June 5, 1909
• The Port Gibson Reveille, June 10, 1909, page 3 The Port Gibson Reveille, June 10, 1909
• The Mena Weekly Star, June 10, 1909, page 6 The Mena Weekly Star, June 10, 1909
• The Citizen, June 10, 1909, page 5 The Citizen, June 10, 1909
• The Hazel Green Herald, June 10, 1909, page 2 The Hazel Green Herald, June 10, 1909
• The Vanceburg Sun, June 10, 1909, page 7 The Vanceburg Sun, June 10, 1909
• The Citizen, June 10, 1909, page 9 The Citizen, June 10, 1909
• The Citizen, June 10, 1909, page 8 The Citizen, June 10, 1909
• Greene County Herald, June 11, 1909, page 1 Greene County Herald, June 11, 1909
• Mount Vernon Signal, June 11, 1909, page 5 Mount Vernon Signal, June 11, 1909
• The New South-News, June 12, 1909, page 2 The New South-News, June 12, 1909