Mitchell Adams

Mitchell Adams was one of eight Black men held in the Barnwell Court House jail in West Virginia on December 28, 1889. At about 2 a.m. that Saturday, a mob of several hundred men overpowered the jailer, tied him up and forced him to go along. The mob took the prisoners out of the jail and out of town, and shot them to death. The jailer was compelled to accompany the mob.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of several hundred men overpowered the jailer, took eight Black prisoners out of the Barnwell Court House jail and shot them to death, according to the reporting.

Reported by: news reports.

Source

• The Cambria Freeman, January 3, 1890, page 2 The Cambria Freeman, January 3, 1890