Richard Robertson

Richard Robertson, a Black man, was held in the Mobile County jail in Mobile, Alabama, in January 1909. Accounts give his date of death as January 21, 22 or 23, and describe a group of masked, armed men entering the jail in the early hours and taking the keys from the deputies on duty. The State of Alabama's impeachment charges said the deputies did not resist and that Sheriff Frank Cazalas had been told rumors of such a taking were circulating but took no extra precautions, while the sheriff's defense disputed that there were warning signs. The men led him to a tree near a residential street and hanged him, and a coroner's jury found he died by hanging at the hands of parties unknown. The Alabama Supreme Court found that the sheriff's neglect had allowed the mob to take the prisoner and removed him from office on June 3, 1909.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (neglect alleged). The Attorney General's impeachment charges say a mob took him from the Mobile County jail and hanged him, and that Sheriff Frank Cazalas Sr. was told rumors of such a taking were circulating but took no extra precautions, while the grand jury and governor's letter cite the same warnings.

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

News reports (29)

• 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
• The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, January 23, 1909, page 1 The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, January 23, 1909
• Evening Star, January 23, 1909, page 2 Evening Star, January 23, 1909
• Bryan Morning Eagle And Pilot, January 24, 1909, page 1 Bryan Morning Eagle And Pilot, January 24, 1909
• Daily Press, January 24, 1909, page 5 Daily Press, January 24, 1909
• The Montgomery Advertiser, January 26, 1909, page 4 The Montgomery Advertiser, January 26, 1909
• De Queen Bee, January 29, 1909, page 7 De Queen Bee, January 29, 1909
• The Donaldsonville Chief, January 30, 1909, page 8 The Donaldsonville Chief, January 30, 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 Washington Herald, March 21, 1909, page 37 The Washington Herald, March 21, 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 Birmingham Age-Herald, May 26, 1909, page 6 The Birmingham Age-Herald, May 26, 1909
• St. Tammany Farmer, May 29, 1909, page 8 St. Tammany Farmer, May 29, 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 Washington Herald, June 4, 1909, page 3 The Washington Herald, 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 Caucasian, July 8, 1909, page 2 The Caucasian, July 8, 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