John Osborne

John Osborne, a Black man about 24 years old, was in the custody of two deputies who were taking him toward the Union County jail near Indian Trail, North Carolina, on the night of July 2, 1903. According to newspaper accounts, a crowd stopped the buggy on a wooded road, overpowered the deputies and dragged them out, then took Osborne and hanged him from a tree by the roadside. One report says the driving deputy fired a pistol before he was disarmed. Another report says no bullet wounds were found on the body.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched

Reported by: Charlotte, N.C. news dispatch (reporters).

News reports (9)

• The Savannah Morning News, July 4, 1903, page 1 The Savannah Morning News, July 4, 1903
• The Birmingham Age-Herald, July 4, 1903, page 8 The Birmingham Age-Herald, July 4, 1903
• The Times Dispatch, July 4, 1903, page 7 The Times Dispatch, July 4, 1903
• Bryan Morning Eagle, July 5, 1903, page 4 Bryan Morning Eagle, July 5, 1903
• The Free Lance, July 9, 1903, page 1 The Free Lance, July 9, 1903
• Newport Weekly Independent, July 10, 1903, page 4 Newport Weekly Independent, July 10, 1903
• The Newark Journal, July 10, 1903, page 1 The Newark Journal, July 10, 1903
• The Scranton Chronicle, July 18, 1903, page 1 The Scranton Chronicle, July 18, 1903
• The Osceola Times, July 18, 1903, page 3 The Osceola Times, July 18, 1903