Sam Philipps
Sam Philipps was one of six Black men held at the Lake City county jail in Columbia County, Florida, when, early on Sunday, May 21, 1911, more than a dozen men who had come from Tallahassee, posing as officers, presented a bogus telegram to the sheriff's 16-year-old son, who was left in charge while the sheriff was away. The son released the six men to the group, which drove them about a mile outside town and shot them to death. The Richmond Palladium reports that the men were tied to trees and fired on, while other accounts say they were made to stand side by side and shot until all were dead. Sam Philipps was a man, and his death came at the hands of a mob that had taken him from the jail's custody.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob posing as officers obtained the men from the Lake City jail with a bogus telegram shown to the sheriff's 16-year-old son, then shot them about a mile outside town.
Reported by: Lake City county jail staff (sheriff's 16-year-old son left in charge) (the agency that held him); Norwich Bulletin news dispatch (reporters); Mountain Home Maverick (reporters).
Sources (14)
- The Birmingham Age-Herald, May 22, 1911, page 1
- The Montgomery Advertiser, May 22, 1911, page 1
- The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, May 22, 1911, page 4
- Norwich Bulletin, May 22, 1911, page 1
- The Richmond Palladium And Sun-Telegram, May 22, 1911, page 2
- The Topeka State Journal, May 22, 1911, page 8
- Mountain Home Maverick, May 25, 1911, page 2
- American Falls Press, May 25, 1911, page 2
- The Palatka News And Advertiser, May 26, 1911, page 4
- Montpelier Examiner, May 26, 1911, page 2
- The Savannah Tribune, May 27, 1911, page 4
- Bonners Ferry Herald, May 27, 1911, page 3
- Elk City Mining News, June 1, 1911, page 6
- The Alaska Citizen, June 26, 1911, page 6