Mathew Blount

Matthew Blount was a Black preacher of some local notoriety in Plymouth, North Carolina, and he had previously lost an arm. He was held in the Plymouth jail in January 1888 when masked men took him out, carried him about a mile into the woods on the edge of town, tied him to a tree and shot him. The Fisherman & Farmer, citing unnamed reports, dates the killing to about midnight on January 26, while other newspapers give January 28. The Fisherman & Farmer says two other men were taken from the jail the same night.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Masked men took Matthew Blount from the Plymouth, North Carolina, jail, carried him to woods on the edge of town, tied him to a tree and shot him, according to the newspaper accounts.

Reported by: Fisherman & Farmer (reporters); Charlotte Messenger (reporters); St. Landry Democrat (reporters).

News reports (7)

• Fort Worth Daily Gazette, January 29, 1888, page 1 Fort Worth Daily Gazette, January 29, 1888
• Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, January 31, 1888, page 2 Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, January 31, 1888
• The Brookhaven Leader, February 2, 1888, page 1 The Brookhaven Leader, February 2, 1888
• The Russellville Democrat, February 2, 1888, page 1 The Russellville Democrat, February 2, 1888
• Fisherman & Farmer, February 3, 1888, page 8 Fisherman & Farmer, February 3, 1888
• St. Landry Democrat, February 4, 1888, page 1 St. Landry Democrat, February 4, 1888
• Charlotte Messenger, February 4, 1888, page 3 Charlotte Messenger, February 4, 1888