W. J. Mayfield

Will J. Mayfield, about 50 years old, was held at the jail in Boston, Texas. Reports from Texarkana said about 25 masked men arrived shortly before midnight on January 24, 1916. One account says they broke through the jail's corridor doors with hammers and axes, and that the night jailer, who had first refused them admittance, was forced to hand over the cell keys. The mob then removed Mayfield from his cell, bound him, and hanged him from a limb about 500 yards from the jail. The sheriff and deputies left Texarkana for Boston to pursue members of the mob.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about 25 masked men took Mayfield from the Boston, Texas jail and lynched him, according to reports from Texarkana.

Reported by: reports received at Texarkana (reporters).

News reports (10)

• The Birmingham Age-Herald, January 25, 1916, page 1 The Birmingham Age-Herald, January 25, 1916
• The Prescott Daily News, January 25, 1916, page 1 The Prescott Daily News, January 25, 1916
• Alexandria Gazette, January 25, 1916, page 3 Alexandria Gazette, January 25, 1916
• Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 25, 1916, page 1 Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 25, 1916
• The Little River News, January 26, 1916, page 2 The Little River News, January 26, 1916
• The Richmond Virginian, January 26, 1916, page 8 The Richmond Virginian, January 26, 1916
• The Commonwealth, January 28, 1916, page 6 The Commonwealth, January 28, 1916
• De Queen Bee, January 28, 1916, page 1 De Queen Bee, January 28, 1916
• The Semi-Weekly Leader, January 29, 1916, page 2 The Semi-Weekly Leader, January 29, 1916
• The Bolivar County Democrat, February 5, 1916, page 2 The Bolivar County Democrat, February 5, 1916