Richard Robertson

Richard Robertson, a Black man, was held in the Mobile County jail in January 1909 when a group of men took him from his cell and hanged him a short distance away. Newspaper accounts say the men obtained the cell keys from jail deputies, with some reporting that the deputies were held at gunpoint and the state's charges saying they did not resist. The Alabama attorney general and the governor pursued charges against Sheriff Frank Cazalas, Sr., alleging neglect of duty and that warnings of an attack had reached him beforehand, while a counter-petition from Mobile expressed confidence in the sheriff, and whether he was at fault remained disputed. In June 1909 the Alabama Supreme Court removed the sheriff from office, finding that his neglect had allowed the mob to take Robertson.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (neglect alleged). The Alabama attorney general and the state Supreme Court say Sheriff Frank Cazalas Sr. was warned of a mob but took no precautions, so his neglect let the mob take Richard Robertson from the jail and hang him.

Reported by: Attorney General of Alabama (outside investigators); Alabama Supreme Court (court); Mobile County grand jury (court); Birmingham Age-Herald (reporters).

News reports (19)

• The San Antonio Light, January 23, 1909, page 1 The San Antonio Light, January 23, 1909
• Alexandria Gazette, January 23, 1909, page 2 Alexandria Gazette, January 23, 1909
• Daily Press, January 24, 1909, page 5 Daily Press, January 24, 1909
• De Queen Bee, January 29, 1909, page 7 De Queen Bee, January 29, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, February 2, 1909, page 2 The Montgomery Advertiser, February 2, 1909
• The Birmingham Age-Herald, February 14, 1909, page 7 The Birmingham Age-Herald, February 14, 1909
• Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, February 16, 1909, page 2 Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, February 16, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, February 28, 1909, page 25 The Montgomery Advertiser, February 28, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, April 7, 1909, page 8 The Montgomery Advertiser, April 7, 1909
• The Birmingham Age-Herald, April 7, 1909, page 12 The Birmingham Age-Herald, April 7, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, April 7, 1909, page 1 The Montgomery Advertiser, April 7, 1909
• Alexandria Gazette, May 24, 1909, page 2 Alexandria Gazette, May 24, 1909
• The Pensacola Journal, May 25, 1909, page 1 The Pensacola Journal, May 25, 1909
• The Hattiesburg News, June 3, 1909, page 1 The Hattiesburg News, June 3, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, June 4, 1909, page 8 The Montgomery Advertiser, June 4, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, June 5, 1909, page 8 The Montgomery Advertiser, June 5, 1909
• The Birmingham Age-Herald, June 6, 1909, page 28 The Birmingham Age-Herald, June 6, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, October 17, 1909, page 10 The Montgomery Advertiser, October 17, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, June 16, 1910, page 8 The Montgomery Advertiser, June 16, 1910