Morrell

Rafe Morrell was one of eight Black men held in the Barnwell County jail in South Carolina. Before dawn on December 28, 1889, a mob of masked men broke into the jail and overpowered the jailer, who was bound. The men were taken to the edge of town and shot dead. The Richmond Dispatch reported that local leaders condemned the killings and that the governor was asked to send troops to keep the peace.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of several hundred masked men broke into the Barnwell County jail, overpowered the jailer, and shot Rafe Morrell and seven others on the edge of town; local leaders condemned the killings.

Reported by: Barnwell citizens' advisory committee statement; News and Courier (reporters); Charleston, S. C. newspaper dispatch (reporters).

News reports (9)

• The Morning News, December 29, 1889, page 1 The Morning News, December 29, 1889
• Richmond Dispatch, December 29, 1889, page 3 Richmond Dispatch, December 29, 1889
• The Evening Bulletin, December 30, 1889, page 1 The Evening Bulletin, December 30, 1889
• Shenandoah Herald, January 3, 1890, page 2 Shenandoah Herald, January 3, 1890
• The State Chronicle, January 3, 1890, page 3 The State Chronicle, January 3, 1890
• Huntsville Gazette, January 4, 1890, page 1 Huntsville Gazette, January 4, 1890
• The Weekly Messenger, January 4, 1890, page 1 The Weekly Messenger, January 4, 1890
• The Valley Virginian, January 9, 1890, page 4 The Valley Virginian, January 9, 1890
• Lynchings are part of Georgia’s past and present The Augusta Chronicle, July 13, 2020