Will Cato
Will Cato was being held at the Statesboro courthouse in Georgia under a military guard in August 1904. On August 16, a mob broke into the room where he was held, dragged him out and burned him alive about two miles from town. According to the Portland Daily Press, the sheriff and a clergyman urged the crowd to let the law proceed, while soldiers later told a military court of inquiry that deputy sheriffs openly aided the mob. Testimony at the Savannah inquiry said the sheriff opened the guard-room door and pointed out the prisoners, which the sheriff said he did on the captain's instructions, and the captain said he had no warning the mob would act. A witness said fifty militia men stood within 50 yards of the lynching without moving to stop it.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed; neglect alleged). Soldiers testified the sheriff opened the guard-room door and pointed out the prisoners to the mob, while the sheriff said he acted on the captain's instructions and the captain said he had no warning; a witness said fifty militia men stood within 50 yards without moving to stop the lynching.
Reported by: Daily Alaskan dispatch (reporters); military court of inquiry in Savannah (court); soldiers who testified at the inquiry.