Oscar Shellfield

Oscar Shellfield, a Black man, was held in the Gainesville jail in Texas while awaiting trial. According to a newspaper account published April 18, 1915, early on April 17 a mob forced the jail, took him out, and shot him and hanged him from a tree in the public square. The account reports that people who went to the jail to investigate were driven back by shots fired by the mob. It also reports that no police or officials were on duty at the jail when it was stormed.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (neglect alleged). A newspaper account says a mob forced the county jail, took him out and shot him, and that no police or officials were reportedly on duty when the jail was stormed.

Reported by: newspaper account.

Source

• The Sun, April 18, 1915, page 1 The Sun, April 18, 1915