John Moore
John Moore, a 20-year-old Black man, was held in the Craven County jail in New Bern, North Carolina, in August 1905. Early on the morning of August 27 or 28, according to most of the reports, a mob of about one hundred masked men forced the jailer to surrender the keys, took him from his cell, and led him about a third of a mile to the Neuse River bridge. There they hanged him and shot his body, and the Birmingham Age-Herald reported that Sheriff J. W. Biddle pleaded that Moore be left to the law. Naval reserves were called out to try to stop the lynching, but the mob carried out its plan.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (neglect alleged). A coroner's inquest found he died of gunshot wounds at the hands of persons unknown, and a newspaper criticized that no guard was posted at the jail.
Reported by: Craven County coroner's inquest (medical examiner or coroner); Charlotte Observer correspondent (reporters); Associated Press report (reporters); Newbern dispatch (reporters).
Sources (20)
- The Birmingham Age-Herald, August 28, 1905, page 1
- Los Angeles Herald, August 28, 1905, page 1
- New-York Tribune, August 28, 1905, page 10
- The Morning Astorian, August 28, 1905, page 1
- Deseret Evening News, August 28, 1905, page 7
- The Salt Lake Tribune, August 28, 1905, page 1
- Bryan Morning Eagle, August 29, 1905, page 2
- Hopkinsville Kentuckian, August 29, 1905, page 4
- The News & Observer, August 29, 1905, page 1
- The Monroe Journal, August 29, 1905, page 3
- Potosi Journal, August 30, 1905, page 2
- Iron County Register, August 31, 1905, page 2
- River Falls Journal, August 31, 1905, page 2
- Times-Promoter, September 1, 1905, page 2
- The Forrest City Times, September 1, 1905, page 12
- The Semi-Weekly Messenger, September 1, 1905, page 7
- Barton County Democrat, September 1, 1905, page 7
- The Grenada Sentinel, September 2, 1905, page 2
- Macon Beacon, September 2, 1905, page 1
- The Leader, September 2, 1905, page 2