Richard James
Richard James, a Black man, was held in the Woodford County jail in Versailles, Kentucky, in March 1921. Reports say a mob of about 50 men came for him on the night of March 12 or early Sunday, March 13, took him from the jail, and hanged him a short distance outside the city. According to the jailer, John H. Edger, the mob came to his house for the keys, and he did not call for help or resist, fearing for his own life and his family's. Governor Edwin P. Morrow removed Edger from office and refused to reinstate him, saying a jailer's duty is to resist a mob, and a grand jury was called to consider indictments against those responsible.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Governor Edwin P. Morrow said a mob took Richard James from the Woodford County jail in Versailles and hanged him, and he removed the jailer from office for not resisting.
Reported by: Governor Edwin P. Morrow.