Ripley Johnson

One of several Black men held in the Barnwell County jail in South Carolina in late December 1889. Before dawn, a mob of several hundred masked men broke into the jail, overpowered the jailer, tied him and forced him to go with them. The men were taken out of town and shot to death. The News and Courier reported that local citizens explained the killings as a response to earlier violence in the area. 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

Reported by: news reports.

News reports (7)

• The Morning News, December 29, 1889, page 1 The Morning News, December 29, 1889
• Richmond Dispatch, December 29, 1889, page 3 Richmond Dispatch, December 29, 1889
• The Evening Bulletin, December 30, 1889, page 1 The Evening Bulletin, December 30, 1889
• Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, December 31, 1889, page 2 Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, December 31, 1889
• Shenandoah Herald, January 3, 1890, page 2 Shenandoah Herald, January 3, 1890
• Huntsville Gazette, January 4, 1890, page 1 Huntsville Gazette, January 4, 1890
• The Valley Virginian, January 9, 1890, page 4 The Valley Virginian, January 9, 1890