May Hearn

May Hearn, the son of J. R. Hearn, whom the Age-Herald described as one of the most respected farmers in the Luxora neighborhood, was held in the Osceola county jail in Arkansas. In the early morning of April 6, 1901, a mob of about fifteen men rode into Osceola from Luxora, posted sentries, and seized the deputy sheriff and the night watchman. The mob forcibly took the jail keys from the deputy, entered the jail, took Hearn from his cell, and hanged him from a tree, and the Age-Herald reported that his body was left hanging until about 9 a.m. Several papers reported that Hearn begged for mercy before he was killed and that his pleas went unheeded, and they said citizens of both Luxora and Osceola condemned the mob's action.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took May Hearn from the Osceola jail and hanged him, according to accounts from the time.

Reported by: Historical newspaper accounts of the 1901 killing (reporters).

News reports (9)

• The Savannah Morning News, April 7, 1901, page 1 The Savannah Morning News, April 7, 1901
• The Age-Herald, April 7, 1901, page 3 The Age-Herald, April 7, 1901
• Richmond Dispatch, April 7, 1901, page 17 Richmond Dispatch, April 7, 1901
• The Forrest City Times, April 12, 1901, page 1 The Forrest City Times, April 12, 1901
• De Queen Bee, April 12, 1901, page 2 De Queen Bee, April 12, 1901
• The Monticellonian, April 12, 1901, page 1 The Monticellonian, April 12, 1901
• The Van Buren Press, April 13, 1901, page 4 The Van Buren Press, April 13, 1901
• The Times-Journal, April 17, 1901, page 3 The Times-Journal, April 17, 1901
• The Conway Log Cabin, April 23, 1901, page 1 The Conway Log Cabin, April 23, 1901