Sam Lewis

Samuel Lewis, a Black man, was held in a jail in April 1883 when, according to a newspaper report, a mob took him from the jail on the night of April 9 and hanged him. The newspaper report says the mob included six white men and seventy-five Black men.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took Samuel Lewis from a jail and hanged him, according to 1883 newspaper dispatches; the accounts do not say whether jail staff resisted or handed him over.

Reported by: The Weekly Democratic Statesman, citing Atlanta and Montgomery dispatches (reporters); The Daily Dispatch, citing an Atlanta dispatch (reporters).

News reports (7)

• Daily Evening Bulletin, April 11, 1883, page 3 Daily Evening Bulletin, April 11, 1883
• The Daily Dispatch, April 11, 1883, page 3 The Daily Dispatch, April 11, 1883
• The Weekly Democratic Statesman, April 12, 1883, page 5 The Weekly Democratic Statesman, April 12, 1883
• Daily Evening Bulletin, April 12, 1883, page 2 Daily Evening Bulletin, April 12, 1883
• Daily Evening Bulletin, April 12, 1883, page 1 Daily Evening Bulletin, April 12, 1883
• Huntsville Gazette, April 14, 1883, page 1 Huntsville Gazette, April 14, 1883
• Staunton Spectator, April 17, 1883, page 2 Staunton Spectator, April 17, 1883