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1916 Paducah, Kentucly Negro lynchings...



Item # 708843

October 16, 1916

EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, Oct. 16, 1916

* Lynching of Negroes Luther Durrett & Brack Kinley
* Puducah, Kentucky hangings - shooting - burning


The front page has a banner headline: "MOB STORMS PADUCAH JAIL AND LYNCHES TWO MEN" with subhead. (see images) Surprisingly this issue is in good condition being from the "wood pulp" era. Very hard to find issues that are not totally fragile from this era in paper. Rare as such.
Complete with 14 pages, small library stamp within the masthead, generally very nice.

source: Shaina Belford: Brack Kinley was accused of assaulting Mrs. George D. Rose in her home on Pool Road. He was captured by a patrolman and arrested at his girlfriend, Katie Pitman’s home, 1006 Husbands Street. From there, Kinley was taken to the county jail and was later identified by Mrs. Rose. By approximately 7:30pm, a widespread message alarmed the city, and the mob snapped the front doors of the jail apart to grab Kinley. Judge Reed refused to suffice to the mob claiming, “I will not be a party to your mob, gentlemen, and I will say that everyone who participates in this mob will be indicted.” After demanding Kinley’s release from the county jail, they forced him to walk three miles, back to Pool Road and the Rose residence. 
Luther Durrett then comes into the scene, carrying a caliber .44 revolver, claiming he was going to shoot every white civilian in town. Hundreds began to follow in automobiles, and Kinley was taken into Mrs. Rose’s house with mob members. She screamed “Glory to God!” insisting he was the right man, not being deceived. Kinley denied guilt from his last moments, and was carried to the location where Luther Durrett was already hanged quietly and quickly. He was roped and fastened, as they began to lift him up with Durrett’s body. If the hanging wasn’t enough, the mob and over five thousand spectators riddled both bodies with over two hundred bullets but Mrs. Rose demanded more. She cried, “burn him, burn him, God forgive me if I’ve done anything wrong.” The fire set below them burned their bodies, leaving a pile of bones. The aftermath of smoke streaming from the tree left behind a disgusting and horrific scene.

Category: The 20th Century