Mat Chase

Mat Chase was one of three Black men held in the Marshall, Texas, jail when a mob broke in early on April 30, 1909, took the men out and hanged them. Militia had been guarding the jail for several days, and the mob formed after the militia was sent away. One account says the mob arrived about 2 a.m. and that the jail authorities were taken by surprise, but none of the accounts say whether jail officers resisted or handed over the keys. Mat Chase's name appears in only one of the reports, and the others give no names for the three men.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took Mat Chase from the county jail at Marshall, Texas, and hanged him after the militia guarding the jail was withdrawn.

Reported by: Palestine Daily Herald (reporters).

News reports (8)

• Palestine Daily Herald, April 30, 1909, page 3 Palestine Daily Herald, April 30, 1909
• The Paducah Evening Sun, April 30, 1909, page 1 The Paducah Evening Sun, April 30, 1909
• Alexandria Gazette, April 30, 1909, page 3 Alexandria Gazette, April 30, 1909
• The New Haven Union, April 30, 1909, page 6 The New Haven Union, April 30, 1909
• The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, April 30, 1909, page 12 The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, April 30, 1909
• The Washington Times, April 30, 1909, page 10 The Washington Times, April 30, 1909
• Evening Star, April 30, 1909, page 1 Evening Star, April 30, 1909
• Laredo Weekly Times, May 2, 1909, page 11 Laredo Weekly Times, May 2, 1909