Peter Bell
Peter Bell 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, reported at about 200 to several hundred, broke into the jail, overpowered the jailer and took the men to the edge of town, where they were shot dead. One account says the jailer was bound, while another does not say whether he resisted. Local leaders condemned the killings, and the governor was asked for troops to keep the peace.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A masked mob of several hundred broke into the Barnwell County jail, overpowered the jailer, took Peter Bell and seven other men out of town and shot them, according to the accounts.
Reported by: Barnwell citizens' advisory committee statement; Fisherman & Farmer, reprinting regional reports (reporters).