Mark Norris

Mark Norris was one of six Black men held at the Columbia County jail in Lake City, Florida, in May 1911. Early on Sunday, May 21, a group of more than a dozen men who had come by automobile, posing as officers, showed a forged telegram to the sheriff's 16-year-old son, who was in charge while the sheriff was away, and he handed the six men over. The men were driven about a mile outside town, made to stand in a line and shot repeatedly. Their bodies were found at daybreak, riddled with bullets.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of more than a dozen men posing as officers took him from the Lake City county jail on a forged telegram and shot him about a mile outside town; the sheriff's 16-year-old son released the prisoners.

Reported by: Lake City county jail (sheriff's 16-year-old son left in charge) (the agency that held him); Florida newspaper report (reporters).

Sources (33)

• The Birmingham Age-Herald, May 22, 1911, page 1 The Birmingham Age-Herald, May 22, 1911
• The Montgomery Advertiser, May 22, 1911, page 1 The Montgomery Advertiser, May 22, 1911
• The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, May 22, 1911, page 4 The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, May 22, 1911
• Norwich Bulletin, May 22, 1911, page 1 Norwich Bulletin, May 22, 1911
• The Topeka State Journal, May 22, 1911, page 8 The Topeka State Journal, May 22, 1911
• Daily Kennebec Journal, May 22, 1911, page 10 Daily Kennebec Journal, May 22, 1911
• The Daily Missoulian, May 22, 1911, page 1 The Daily Missoulian, May 22, 1911
• Omaha Daily Bee, May 22, 1911, page 1 Omaha Daily Bee, May 22, 1911
• Perth Amboy Evening News, May 22, 1911, page 5 Perth Amboy Evening News, May 22, 1911
• Albuquerque Morning Journal, May 22, 1911, page 1 Albuquerque Morning Journal, May 22, 1911
• The Salt Lake Tribune, May 22, 1911, page 1 The Salt Lake Tribune, May 22, 1911
• The Barre Daily Times, May 22, 1911, page 3 The Barre Daily Times, May 22, 1911
• The Bennington Evening Banner, May 22, 1911, page 1 The Bennington Evening Banner, May 22, 1911
• Yorkville Enquirer, May 23, 1911, page 3 Yorkville Enquirer, May 23, 1911
• The Madison Daily Leader, May 23, 1911, page 4 The Madison Daily Leader, May 23, 1911
• Keowee Courier, May 24, 1911, page 1 Keowee Courier, May 24, 1911
• The Bamberg Herald, May 25, 1911, page 4 The Bamberg Herald, May 25, 1911
• The County Record, May 25, 1911, page 4 The County Record, May 25, 1911
• Mountain Home Maverick, May 25, 1911, page 2 Mountain Home Maverick, May 25, 1911
• American Falls Press, May 25, 1911, page 2 American Falls Press, May 25, 1911
• Springfield Weekly Republican, May 25, 1911, page 10 Springfield Weekly Republican, May 25, 1911
• Jamestown Weekly Alert, May 25, 1911, page 6 Jamestown Weekly Alert, May 25, 1911
• The Palatka News And Advertiser, May 26, 1911, page 4 The Palatka News And Advertiser, May 26, 1911
• Montpelier Examiner, May 26, 1911, page 2 Montpelier Examiner, May 26, 1911
• The Wibaux Pioneer, May 26, 1911, page 6 The Wibaux Pioneer, May 26, 1911
• The Falls City Tribune, May 26, 1911, page 6 The Falls City Tribune, May 26, 1911
• Golden Valley Chronicle, May 26, 1911, page 3 Golden Valley Chronicle, May 26, 1911
• The Mingo Republican, May 26, 1911, page 3 The Mingo Republican, May 26, 1911
• The Savannah Tribune, May 27, 1911, page 4 The Savannah Tribune, May 27, 1911
• Bonners Ferry Herald, May 27, 1911, page 3 Bonners Ferry Herald, May 27, 1911
• Elk City Mining News, June 1, 1911, page 6 Elk City Mining News, June 1, 1911
• The Dillon Herald, June 15, 1911, page 6 The Dillon Herald, June 15, 1911
• The Alaska Citizen, June 26, 1911, page 6 The Alaska Citizen, June 26, 1911