Polk Hill
Polk Hill, a Black man, was held in the Carrollton jail in Pickens County, Alabama, awaiting a preliminary hearing that had not concluded. On the night of Thursday, September 14, 1893, a masked mob overpowered the sheriff, according to a news report datelined Columbus, Miss., and demanded the cell keys. Another account says the sheriff was called from his room and gave up the keys after the mob showed a number of rifles. The mob fired through the cell bars and killed Polk Hill, along with others held there. Sources do not agree on details of the sheriff's response, and no one has been named as responsible.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A masked mob overpowered the sheriff, demanded the cell keys and shot Polk Hill through the bars of his cell in the Carrollton jail.
Reported by: news report datelined Columbus, Miss. (reporters).