John Smith

John Smith, a Black minister, was held in the Jackson County jail in Scottsboro, Alabama, in March 1897. Accounts in the Oxford Eagle, Macon Beacon and The Leader say an armed mob came to the jail to take him out and hang him. Unable to get in, the men fired on him as he stood at his cell window, and the reports say he was riddled with bullets. The Oxford Eagle reports the mob was unable to enter the jail, and none of the accounts say whether jail officers resisted, gave up keys or handed him over.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. An armed mob tried to break into the Jackson County jail to take John Smith out and hang him, then fired on him at his cell window and killed him.

Reported by: news reports.

News reports (3)

• The Leader, March 24, 1897, page 2 The Leader, March 24, 1897
• Oxford Eagle, March 25, 1897, page 4 Oxford Eagle, March 25, 1897
• Macon Beacon, March 27, 1897, page 1 Macon Beacon, March 27, 1897