LYNCHINGS
In recent years, particularly since about the year 1891, much has been
said and written upon the subject of lynching. Explanations and excuses
have been offered for the prevalence of the practice in the South and in
other parts of the country. Remedies and means for the suppression of
lynchings have been freely and widely discussed. Most of the literature,
however, shows a strong sectional or partisan spirit, and is, in
reality, but little more than the expression of personal opinion.
Scarcely any attempt has been made to present the general facts relating
to the practice of lynching for any considerable length of time. The
perusal of more than seventy-five magazine articles discussing recent
lynchings and dealing with different phases of the subject left upon the
writer’s mind no impression more distinct than this, that some facts of
a statistical nature were very much needed.
The first plan that suggested itself was to make a personal
investigation of the cases of lynching that have occurred in recent
years, to interview personally or to correspond with individuals
acquainted with the facts in such occurrences, and thus get some
reliable data. Such a plan, however, has by trial been found
impracticable. Mr. George C. Holt of New York had an examination made of
the index and files of the New York Daily Times for the first six months
of the year 1892, and a record made of all the instances of lynching
reported there. His experience can best be given in his own words. He
says:
“After obtaining a list of the cases reported in the Times, I drafted a
circular letter of inquiry asking for information in respect to the
name, age, residence, and occupation of the man lynched, the charge
against him, his possible guilt, the circumstances of the lynching, and
what steps, if any, were afterwards taken. In each reported case of
lynching I mailed three copies of the circular letter, with a stamped
envelope for reply, addressed one to the district attorney of the
county, one to the postmaster, and one to any clergyman of the city or
town where the lynching occurred.
“To the printed circulars sent out answers were received in relation to
16 out of the 30 cases of lynching. No answers were received in 14 of
the cases, although the envelopes bore the usual direction to the
postmaster to be returned if not delivered, and only one of them was
returned. Of the 16 cases in respect to which answers were received,
there were 3 cases in which 3 answers were returned, 5 in which 2 were
returned, and 8 in which one was returned. Most of the answers were
unsigned; many were very vague; a few declined to state the facts; and
several requested secrecy. The general impression derived from the
attempt to obtain information by the circular was that there was, in
many cases, a strong disinclination, for some cause, to give any
information.”[206]
In an attempt to verify some reports of lynchings in the years 1902 and
1903, the writer has met with a similar experience. A letter addressed
to the mayor of a town in Arkansas was returned with the following
penciled at the bottom of the sheet: “if you will give me some idea as
to your reasons for wanting this information I might give you some
information regarding same.” A letter addressed to the mayor of a town
in Georgia was returned with the following written at the bottom of the
sheet: “In answer to the above I will say that I don’t know anything
about it.” No name was signed in either case. These two replies,
together with Mr. Holt’s experience, are sufficient to indicate the
difficulties attendant upon the collection, by any such method, of data
in regard to lynchings covering any considerable period of time.
For more than twenty-two years the Chicago Tribune has published at the
close of each year an itemized summary of the disasters and crimes in
the United States for the year. An editorial in the Tribune for January
1, 1883, reads as follows: “Elsewhere in this issue will be found a
series of reviews of the happenings during 1882. A necrological table is
furnished, also a list of the more important crimes, casualties,
suicides, lynchings, and judicial executions for the last year. The
tables have been prepared with great care from the columns of _The
Tribune_, and furnish as complete a review of the unpleasant features of
the dead year as could possibly be obtained.”
This annual review published by the Tribune supplies the most available
and practically the only source for statistics of lynchings. The
following facts are given: the date of the lynching, the name of the
victim, his color and his nationality, the alleged crime for which he
was lynched, and the town and State where the lynching took place. Only
the names of those who have suffered death at the hands of mobs are
included. No account is taken of attempted lynchings or of persons to
whom mob violence was done but who recovered from their injuries.
In using this record as the basis of this investigation such means as
were available have been employed for purposes of correction and
verification. In every case where an error was apparent, or there was
any reason for doubt, the original report of the lynching has been
examined in some newspaper of the proper date, either the Chicago
Tribune, or the New York Times, or the New York Tribune. Only a very few
points have been left unsettled because of insufficient information. The
Cyclopedic Review of Current History gives confirmatory evidence for a
period covering the last twelve years. It, however, mentions only the
“notable crimes” and this evidence, therefore, applies to a
comparatively small number of cases.
For the last six months of the year 1902 a subscription to a newspaper
clipping agency was maintained as a further means of determining the
reliability and completeness of the Tribune record. The agency selected
was an old and well established one. Instructions were given the readers
to send full accounts of every lynching, together with a few editorial
comments from various parts of the country. Clippings on lynchings were
received from newspapers in every section of the United States. Out of
the fifty-three victims of lynching given in the summary published by
the Chicago Tribune for the six months, July-December, 1902, forty-six
were reported by the newspaper clipping agency and no errors of any
importance were shown. A few additional cases were mentioned in the
clippings, but they were mainly on the border line between murder and
lynching and could rightly be disregarded.
Undoubtedly there are errors and inaccuracies in particular cases in the
Tribune record.[207] Any one who has endeavored to sift the truth from
conflicting newspaper reports will readily appreciate the difficulty of
obtaining an accurate account of a lynching from such a source. For the
purpose of this investigation, however, only the most general facts are
required, and it is believed that in regard to these the reporter or the
newspaper correspondent is less likely to indulge his imaginative
powers. Furthermore, by reason of the popular excitement which usually
attends lynching-bees and the extraordinary methods of execution
oftentimes employed, it is fair to presume that but few lynchings escape
the reporter; the details of most lynchings exhibit so clearly the
journalistic idea of facts of contemporaneous human interest that the
publication of such news is not often intentionally omitted. There is
neither the motive nor the opportunity to keep lynchings from the
newspapers that there often is in the case of suicides and murders; not
only indeed is every such motive for secrecy absent, but there is
usually, more or less strongly expressed, a public sentiment approving
or excusing a lynching.
What the likelihood is of every lynching in the United States having
been reported to the Chicago Tribune during the last twenty-two years,
and whether the probability has been uniform throughout the period,
there is no means of determining. The annual review of disasters and
crimes has, however, been made a special feature throughout the period,
and this gives at least a presumption in favor of fullness and
completeness in the record. It is at any rate safe to say that the cases
of lynching actually reported probably afford a fair average basis of
cases for statistical investigation.
In view of these considerations, together with the corrections and
verifications that have been made, it is believed that the Tribune
record has reliability sufficient for its examination to lead to the
deduction of trustworthy and valuable conclusions.
On January 1, 1904, the Chicago Tribune published the following “table
of lynchings” covering the last nineteen years[208]:
1885 184
1886 138
1887 122
1888 142
1889 176
1890 127
1891 192
1892 235
1893 200
1894 190
1895 171
1896 131
1897 166
1898 127
1899 107
1900 115
1901 135
1902 96
1903 104
After carefully going over the lists of names, as published each year,
of the persons lynched during the last twenty-two years, the writer
obtained the following table which is based throughout on the number of
persons lynched. If only the number of lynchings were taken into account
the numbers given would be considerably smaller.[209]
NUMBER OF
PERSONS
LYNCHED
1882 114
1883 134
1884 211
1885 184
1886 138
1887 122
1888 142
1889 176
1890 128
1891 195
1892 235
1893 200
1894 197
1895 180
1896 131
1897 165
1898 127
1899 107
1900 115
1901 135
1902 97
1903 104
————
Total 3337
This table agrees with the Tribune table for the nineteen years with the
exception of the years 1890, 1891, 1894, 1895, 1897 and 1902. In some of
these cases the difference is due merely to an error which had been made
in footing up the lists. Some instances are given of a father and son
being lynched, or of five horse thieves, or of two negroes, and each of
these instances had been counted as one in making up the totals. In
other cases an error was found in the instance reported. In 1902, a
report of a negro having been lynched for murder in Alabama was found
later to be untrue and his name was dropped from the list.[210] Two
names have been added to the list for 1902 from information which the
writer obtained through the newspaper clipping agency and subsequent
correspondence.
In 1903 a record of persons lynched, kept by the writer from newspapers
other than the Chicago Tribune,[211] contained sixty-three out of the
one hundred and four reported by the Tribune, and corroborated the
Tribune record with reference to these sixty-three. In the writer’s
record seven lynchings were reported which did not appear in the Tribune
record. Letters of inquiry in regard to these resulted in only four
replies, one denying that the reported lynching had taken place, the
remaining three not stating definitely whether any lynching whatsoever
had taken place. No alteration, therefore, has been made in the Tribune
record for 1903.
[Illustration: I. NUMBER LYNCHED COMPARED WITH NUMBER LEGALLY EXECUTED
1882–1903]
[Illustration: II. NUMBER LYNCHED ACCORDING TO MONTHS IN DIFFERENT
SECTIONS OF THE U.S. 1882–1903]
Chart I has been prepared from the above table and shows at a glance the
relative prevalence of lynching during the twenty-two years,
1882–1903.[212] The solid line, representing the number of persons
lynched, begins at 114 in 1882, goes up to 211 in 1884, falls to 122 in
1887, rises again to 176 in 1889, falls again the following year to 128,
and then rises to 235 in the year 1892. From 1892 on the line shows a
general downward tendency.
The large number in 1884 was due to the work of vigilantes in Montana
and Colorado. According to the record, 40 horse thieves and cattle
thieves received summary justice in Montana during the year and the
lynching of seventeen cattle thieves was reported from Colorado. The
large number in 1892 was due to the lynching of negroes in the South.
These facts are shown in another form in Chart IV.
For purposes of comparison the broken line has been drawn on Chart I to
represent the number of persons legally executed during the twenty-two
years. The figures for legal executions have also been taken from the
Tribune record, but no further verification has been made of them than
merely to foot up the lists of names and verify the totals. The Tribune
record of legal executions is no doubt incomplete, but it is here given
for what it is worth. In a general way the broken line follows the solid
line with the exception of the year 1892 and the last five years. In the
review of the year 1881, the Tribune reported ninety-one legal
executions but gave no record of lynchings. To indicate the direction of
the broken line previous to 1882 a short line has been drawn at the left
of the chart.
On the whole, Chart I seems to indicate a relationship between legal
executions and lynchings. There is an indication that the upward
tendency in the broken line since 1887 may have contributed to the
downward tendency in the solid line since 1892—the punishment of crimes
by law may tend to make recourse to lynching less frequent. Another
factor is needed, however, to make this reasoning conclusive; some way
of measuring the amount of crime in the country during these several
years is requisite. For this purpose the writer took the number of
murders reported by the Tribune and plotted them on a trial chart in
connection with the number lynched and the number legally executed. The
result was so unsatisfactory and inconclusive, however, that any attempt
to make such a comparison was abandoned.[213]
In Chart II is shown the number of persons lynched according to months
throughout the twenty-two years, 1882–1903. Because of the difference in
the characteristics of lynchings in different sections of the United
States, and because of the differences in climate, the States have been
divided into three groups as follows: (1) The Southern Group, comprising
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri,
Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas; (2) The Western Group, comprising all
the other States and Territories west of the Mississippi River; (3) The
Eastern Group, comprising all the other States east of the Mississippi
River.
In the Southern Group the fewest are lynched in the months of January,
February, and November. The largest number are lynched in June, July,
and December. By dividing the twenty-two years into three periods and
drawing lines to show the monthly fluctuations for each of these
periods, it can be shown that these same tendencies are characteristic
of shorter periods of time, the tendency toward an increase in December
being less marked, however, in the period 1896–1903. Several
explanations suggest themselves. Perhaps the best explanation of the
fall in the line from the high point in June and July to a much lower
point in August is suggested by the fact that since most of the persons
lynched in the Southern Group are negroes and their time is largely
occupied with their camp-meetings and various religious exercises during
the month of August,—a custom which originated in the time of
slavery,[214]—they commit a smaller number of crimes against the whites
and thus there is less occasion for lynching during that month. During
the months of June and July, on the other hand, when there is work to be
done in tending the growing crops, disagreements and quarrels frequently
arise between the whites and the blacks, the latter often retaliating
upon the former by some offense against property or person, thus giving
greater occasion for lynching. The increase in December is possibly due
to indulgence in excesses and to the commission of a greater number of
offenses by the negroes in connection with their celebration of
Christmas. Idleness on the part of the negroes probably has much to do
with the whole matter. It has long been true that “the Devil finds work
for idle hands to do.”
In the Western Group there is comparatively little variation in the
number lynched in the different months. The drop in the line in the
months of February and November is probably explained by the fact that
those two months are the busy seasons of the year for the cattlemen. The
“fall round-up” takes place in November and the “spring round-up” about
February.
In the Eastern Group the line shows very little variation in the number
lynched in the different months. A slight increase in the month of June
is indicated.
Chart III shows the percentages lynched for various causes by months for
the entire period of twenty-two years and for the total number of
persons lynched in the United States during that time.
Before proceeding to an analysis of this chart a word of explanation is
necessary concerning the classification of causes that has been adopted.
The various causes assigned for the lynchings in the Tribune record have
been grouped into eight classes as follows: Murder, Rape, Assault, Minor
Offenses, Desperadism,[215] Theft, Arson, Unknown.
The class Murder includes murder, attempted murder, accessory to murder,
suspected murder, alleged murder, conspiracy to murder, complicity in
murder.
The class Rape includes rape, attempted rape, alleged rape.
The class Minor Offenses includes race prejudice, miscegenation, and
various minor offenses; such as (for whites) wife beating, cruelty,
kidnapping, saloon keeping, turning state’s evidence, refusing to turn
state’s evidence, being obnoxious, swindling, political prejudice,
seduction, giving information, frauds, informing, protecting a negro,
giving evidence, mob indignation, illicit distilling, disorderly
conduct, incest, elopement, revenue informer, disreputable character,
arrest of a minor, aiding escape of murderer, suspected of killing
cattle, prospective elopement; (for negroes) grave robbery, threatened
political exposures, slander, self-defense, wife beating, cutting
levees, kidnapping, voodooism, poisoning horses, writing insulting
letters, incendiary language, swindling, jilting a girl, colonizing
negroes, turning state’s evidence, political troubles, gambling,
quarreling, poisoning wells, throwing stones, unpopularity, making
threats, circulating scandals, being troublesome, bad reputation,
drunkenness, strike rioting, rioting, insults, supposed offense,
insulting women, fraud, criminal abortion, alleged stock poisoning,
enticing servant away, writing letter to white woman, asking white woman
in marriage, conspiracy, introducing smallpox, giving information,
conjuring, to prevent evidence, being disreputable, informing,
concealing a criminal, slapping a child, shooting at officer, passing
counterfeit money, felony, elopement with white girl, refusing to give
evidence, giving evidence, disobeying ferry regulations, running
quarantine, violation of contract, paying attention to white girl,
resisting assault, inflammatory language, resisting arrest, testifying
for one of his own race, keeping gambling-house, quarrel over profit
sharing, forcing white boy to commit crime, lawlessness.
The cause “race prejudice” is given, almost without exception, only in
the case of the lynching of negroes by whites and does not appear at all
in the earlier years of the period 1882–1903. The probable reason for
giving race prejudice as a cause for lynching is that no offense had
been committed which was considered worthy of mention as a cause. This
is borne out by the following instances. On February 22, 1898, a negro
by the name of F. B. Baker was lynched at Lake City, South Carolina, for
accepting the office of postmaster. In the Tribune record the cause is
given as “race prejudice.” On February 10, 1894, a negro named Collins
was lynched in Georgia for “enticing servant away.” One newspaper in
reporting this occurrence gave “race prejudice” as the cause. The
colored victims credited to “race prejudice” in 1902 by the Tribune were
lynched because they were supposed to have made some insulting remarks
about several white men. In December, 1903, Eli Hilson, colored, was
killed by “Whitecaps” in Lincoln County, Mississippi, because he refused
to leave the county in response to their warning. In the Tribune record
“race prejudice” is given as the cause for the lynching of Hilson. These
facts constitute the justification for placing “race prejudice” under
Minor Offenses.
The class Theft includes theft, larceny, burglary, robbery, suspected
robbery, safe breaking, cattle stealing, horse stealing, mule stealing.
The class Desperadism includes the action of desperado, outlaw, highway
robber, train wrecker, train robber.
The class Arson includes arson, incendiarism, barn burning.
The class Assault includes assault, murderous assault.
The class Unknown includes unknown offense, no offense, without cause,
mistaken identity, by accident, no cause given. There are in the lists
only a few cases of mistaken identity and only one by accident. They
have been put in this class merely because there was no other place to
put them.
Where more than one cause was given the following principles of
classification have been observed: rape and murder under Rape, robbery
and murder under Murder, arson and murder under Murder, assault and
robbery under Assault, robbery and arson under Arson.
Throughout this chapter, whenever any one of the above eight classes is
meant the word for the class will be begun with a capital letter. This
will avoid the danger of confusing the present use of the terms with
their ordinary and general use.
In an analysis of Chart III, it appears that smaller percentages of
persons are lynched for Murder in the summer months than in the winter
months, and that larger percentages are lynched for Rape in the summer
months than in the winter months, but that if Murder and Rape be taken
together larger percentages are lynched for those crimes in the summer
than in the winter. The percentage lynched for Assault shows little
variation throughout the year. The percentage lynched for Minor Offenses
is also fairly uniform throughout the year.
With regard to Desperadism a marked difference is shown between the
summer months and the winter months. Only about one per cent of the
lynchings in the summer are for Desperadism, there being none in the
month of April, while in January 6.4 per cent, in February 10.5 per
cent, in October 4.2 per cent, in November 4.5 per cent, and in December
11.2 per cent are for that cause. The percentage lynched for Theft is
relatively high in May, June, and July, but especially high in October.
Nearly 20 per cent of the lynchings in October are for Theft. There is a
relatively small percentage for Arson in the summer. The larger
percentage of lynchings for Arson are in March, September, October, and
November.
As to the influence of the seasons on crime, Mayo-Smith states that it
has been pretty well determined that crimes against the person are more
numerous in summer than in winter, and that crimes against property are
more numerous in winter than in summer.[216] Chart III shows conformity
to this law of crimes.[217] A larger percentage is lynched for Murder,
Rape, and Assault—crimes against the person—in summer than in winter. A
larger percentage is lynched for Desperadism, Theft, and Arson,—crimes
against property,—in winter than in summer.
[Illustration: III. PERCENTAGES LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES BY MONTHS
1882–1903]
[Illustration: IV. NUMBER OF WHITES, NEGROES AND OTHERS LYNCHED
ACCORDING TO YEARS 1882–1903]
Chart IV shows the relative number of whites, negroes, and other persons
lynched each year during the last twenty-two years. The largest number
of whites were lynched in the year 1884, the majority of them being in
the Western Group of States. Since that year there has been a general
but irregular decline in the lynching of whites. If the tops of the
columns representing the whites were joined together by a line, the line
would rise and fall with more or less regularity, suggesting the
conclusion that lynchings tend to recur in groups from year to year, or,
in other words, that the lynching mania spreads in successive waves over
the country. If the tops of the columns representing the negroes were
joined together by a line, the same tendency would be noticeable, but
the waves would appear less regular and less marked. The waves for the
whites and the negroes do not correspond at all from year to year, but
this perhaps can be explained by the fact that the lynching of negroes
is characteristic of the Southern States while the lynching of whites is
characteristic of the Western States. There is no psychic connection
between the lynching of a negro in the South and the lynching of a
murderer or cattle thief in the West.
For the lynching of negroes, 1892 and 1893 are the years in which the
largest number were lynched, the numbers being 156 and 155 respectively.
The chart shows a general increase in the lynching of negroes from 1882
to 1892, and a general decline from 1893 to 1903. In 1903, however,
nearly twice as many negroes were lynched as in 1882. The chart also
shows an increase in the proportion of negroes lynched to whites lynched
during the period 1882–1903.
The total number of negroes lynched during the twenty-two years is
2,060, an average of 93⁷⁄₁₁ per year. The total number of whites lynched
during the twenty-two years is 1,169, an average of 53³⁄₂₂ per year.
Chart IV also shows, under the title of Others, the comparatively small
number (108) of Indians, Mexicans, and foreigners that have been lynched
during the twenty-two years. In the years when the larger numbers were
lynched they were distributed as follows: in 1883, seven Mexicans, four
Indians, and one Chinaman; in 1884, six Mexicans, one Indian, one
Japanese, and one Swiss; in 1885, six Chinese and two Indians; in 1891,
eleven Italians (at New Orleans), two Indians, and two Chinese; in 1893,
five Italians, two Indians, two Mexicans, and one Bohemian; in 1895,
five Italians (at Walsenburg, Colorado), two Indians, and two Mexicans.
In all, forty-five Indians, twenty-eight Italians, twenty Mexicans,
twelve Chinese, one Japanese, one Swiss, and one Bohemian were lynched
during the period 1882–1903.
Chart V shows the number of females, both white and colored, lynched
each year during the twenty-two years. With the exception of the years
1882, 1883, 1887, and 1899 one or more were lynched each year. In the
year 1895, thirteen were lynched, eight colored and five white women.
The majority of the colored females were lynched in the five years
1891–95. In all, forty colored and twenty-three white females, or a
total of sixty-three females were lynched during the period 1882–1903.
The lower half of Chart V shows the causes for which the females were
lynched. Of the whites, nine were lynched for murder or complicity in
murder, one for being a disreputable character, one because of mob
indignation, one for race prejudice, one for miscegenation, one for
arson, two for theft, and seven for unknown reasons.
Of the colored, twenty were lynched for murder or complicity in murder,
two for alleged well poisoning, eight for race prejudice, five for
arson, one for theft, and four for unknown reasons.
[Illustration: V. NUMBER OF WOMEN (WHITES AND NEGROES) LYNCHED ACCORDING
TO YEARS 1882–1903]
[Illustration: PROPORTION LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES 1882–1903 WOMEN
(WHITES AND NEGROES)]
[Illustration: VI. PERCENTAGES LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES BY YEARS
1882–1903 WHITES AND OTHERS]
Chart V really supplements Chart IV. In Chart IV, the 3,337 persons who
have been lynched during the twenty-two years are classified according
to race only. In Chart V the number of females in Chart IV is shown and
also the causes for which they were lynched. In the further
investigation sex will be disregarded and the whites, Indians, Mexicans,
and foreigners will be grouped together under the head of Whites and
Others, this making a classification into negroes and those not negroes.
Chart VI shows the percentages lynched for various causes by years,
1882–1903, for Whites and Others. The percentages lynched for the
various causes vary greatly from year to year. The percentage lynched
for Murder varies from 24 per cent to 70 per cent. The percentage
lynched for Theft varies from 3.9 per cent to 46.5 per cent. In the
three years 1898–1900, and in the year 1903, none were lynched for
Theft. The percentage lynched for Rape varies from 1.8 per cent to 20
per cent, none being lynched for that cause in 1902. Rape is not
particularly important as a cause. The chief value of Chart VI is seen
by contrasting it with Chart VII.
Chart VII shows the percentages lynched for various causes by years,
1882–1903, for Negroes. The percentage lynched for Murder does not vary
greatly from year to year, the extreme variation being from 28.2 per
cent in the year 1882 to 53 per cent in the year 1898. Rape appears as
an important cause, the percentage varying from 22.6 per cent in the
year 1901 to 56.5 per cent in the year 1882. The chart indicates in a
general way a decrease in the importance of Rape as a cause for the
lynching of Negroes since 1882. Minor Offenses, on the contrary, have
increased in importance as a cause for the lynching of Negroes. In the
later years, also, a larger percentage has been for Assault.
Comparing Charts VI and VII it appears that there is greater uniformity
in the percentages lynched for the different causes from year to year in
the case of the Negroes than in the case of the Whites and Others. A
smaller percentage is lynched for Murder and a much larger percentage is
lynched for Rape in the case of the Negroes than in the case of the
Whites and Others. For the Negroes, Theft is largely larceny and
burglary while for the Whites and Others it is stealing live stock.
Desperadism figures to a very limited extent as a cause for lynching
Negroes. Assault figures to a very limited extent as a cause for
lynching Whites and Others.
Chart VIII shows the proportion lynched for various causes, 1882–1903,
for Whites and Others. This chart, like Chart VI, covers the total
number of Whites and Others that have been lynched during the period,
without reference to particular sections of the country. Murder with 628
stands highest, and Theft, with 264, second. Rape with 109 ranks third
as a cause, and Desperadism, with 93, fourth. Minor Offenses is credited
with 52, Arson with 31, and Assault with 11. The number lynched which
fall under the class Unknown is 89. Of the total number, 49.2 per cent
were lynched for Murder, 20.6 per cent for Theft, 8.5 per cent for Rape,
7.3 per cent for Desperadism, 4 per cent for Minor Offenses, 2.4 per
cent for Arson, .8 per cent for Assault, and 7 per cent is credited to
Unknown. Of those lynched for Theft, nearly 90 per cent were lynched for
the crime of stealing live stock.
[Illustration: VII PERCENTAGES LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES BY YEARS
1882–1903 NEGROES]
[Illustration: VIII. PROPORTION LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES 1882–1903
WHITES AND OTHERS]
Chart IX shows the proportion lynched for various causes, 1882–1903, for
Negroes. This chart, like the preceding chart, covers the total number
of Negroes that have been lynched during the period, without reference
to particular sections of the country. By far the greater number of
Negroes have been lynched either for Murder or for Rape. Murder is
credited with 783 and Rape with 707. Minor Offenses with 208 ranks third
as a cause for the lynching of Negroes, and Arson, with 104, fourth.
Theft with 101 ranks fifth. Assault is credited with 47 and Desperadism
with 20. To the class Unknown 90 are credited. Of the total number, 38
per cent were lynched for Murder, 34.3 per cent for Rape, 10.1 per cent
for Minor Offenses, 5 per cent for Arson, 4.9 per cent for Theft, 2.3
per cent for Assault, .9 per cent for Desperadism, and 4.3 per cent is
credited to Unknown. Of the Negroes lynched for Theft only 14 per cent
were lynched for stealing live stock, the remaining 86 per cent being
lynched for causes that may be fairly classed under petty larceny.
By comparing Charts VIII and IX the characteristic differences in the
reasons assigned for the lynching of Negroes and for the lynching of
Whites and Others are readily seen. The larger number in each case is
under Murder, but further than that the order of the arrangement of the
causes does not agree. Rape which occupies second place in the chart for
the Negroes and is nearly equal to Murder, drops to third place on the
chart for the Whites and Others. Comparatively speaking, Theft,
particularly the stealing of live stock, and Desperadism are much more
important as causes for the lynching of Whites and Others than for the
lynching of Negroes. In the case of the Negroes, Rape, Minor Offenses,
and Arson are much more important as causes than in the case of the
Whites and Others. Assault is also more important as a cause for
lynching Negroes than for lynching Whites and Others.
Chart X shows the proportion lynched for various causes in the Southern
Group of States, 1882–1903, for Whites and Others. The majority of the
Whites and Others that have been lynched in this section of the country
have been lynched for Murder. The numbers lynched for the various causes
are as follows: Murder 321, Rape 69, Theft 63, Minor Offenses 42,
Desperadism 30, Arson 19, Assault 6, Unknown 50. The percentages lynched
for the various causes are as follows: Murder 53.5 per cent, Rape 11.5
per cent, Theft 10.5 per cent, Minor Offenses 7 per cent, Desperadism 5
per cent, Arson 3.2 per cent, Assault 1 per cent, Unknown 8.3 per cent.
Chart XI shows the proportion lynched for various causes in the Southern
Group of States, 1882–1903, for Negroes. As might be expected, the
causes arrange themselves in the same order as in Chart IX. The numbers
lynched for the various causes are as follows: Murder 753, Rape 675,
Minor Offenses 206, Arson 104, Theft 96, Assault 46, Desperadism 18,
Unknown 87. The percentages lynched for the various causes are as
follows: Murder 38 per cent, Rape 34 per cent, Minor Offenses 10.3 per
cent, Arson 5.2 per cent, Theft 4.8 per cent, Assault 2.3 per cent,
Desperadism .9 per cent, Unknown 4.3 per cent.
[Illustration: IX. PROPORTION LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES 1882–1903
NEGROES]
[Illustration: X. PROPORTION LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES IN SOUTHERN
STATES 1882–1903 WHITES AND OTHERS]
A comparison of Charts X and XI shows how greatly the lynching of
Negroes in the South predominates over the lynching of Whites and
Others. Against 600 Whites and Others lynched during the twenty-two
years, 1,985 Negroes were lynched. With regard to the causes assigned
for the lynchings a wide variation is observed. Only 38 per cent of the
Negroes, against 53.5 per cent of the Whites and Others, were lynched
for Murder. Rape stands next to Murder in order of importance in both
cases, but while 34 per cent of the Negroes were lynched for Rape, only
11.5 per cent of the Whites and Others were lynched for that cause.
Minor Offenses, Arson, Theft, and Assault appear as of much more
importance as causes for the lynching of Negroes than for the lynching
of Whites and Others.
Those who assume that the majority of the negroes lynched in the South
are lynched for the crime of rape against white women, and that the
lynching of negroes is therefore justifiable, will find very little
satisfaction in an examination of Chart XI. In the classification of the
cases the writer has put every case where both rape and murder were
assigned as the cause, under Rape. It is possible that if a careful
investigation were made of all the cases credited to Murder, it might be
found that the motive in some cases was rape but that the actual crime
committed was murder, and that it was for rape as well as for murder
that the negroes in such cases were lynched. The lynchers may have
considered themselves the avengers of the crime of rape as well as of
the crime of murder. The statistics, however, cannot be made to show
that more than thirty-four per cent of the negroes lynched in the South
during the last twenty-two years have been lynched for the crime of
rape, either attempted, alleged, or actually committed; and it is safe
to say that if rape were connected with the offense in any case, that
fact would ordinarily be stated in the report.
Chart XII shows the proportion lynched for various causes in the Western
Group of States, 1882–1903. This chart covers the total number of
persons lynched in that section of the country during the twenty-two
years, no distinction being made either as to race or nationality. The
numbers lynched for the various causes are as follows: Murder 279, Theft
199, Desperadism 64, Rape 34, Arson 12, Minor Offenses 9, Assault 4,
Unknown 31. The total number lynched for all causes is 632. The
percentages lynched for the various causes are as follows: Murder 44.1
per cent, Theft 31.5 per cent, Desperadism 10.1 per cent, Rape 5.4 per
cent, Arson 1.9 per cent, Minor Offenses 1.4 per cent, Assault .6 per
cent, Unknown 4.9 per cent. Lynchings for Theft and Desperadism are
particularly characteristic of the Western States. Of the 199 lynched
for Theft, 189 or 95 per cent were lynched for stealing live stock.
Chart XIII shows the proportion lynched for various causes in the
Eastern Group of States, 1882–1903. The chart covers the total number of
persons, without distinction as to race or nationality, who have been
lynched in that section of the country during the twenty-two years. The
majority have been lynched for Murder and Rape. The numbers lynched for
the various causes are as follows: Murder 58, Rape 38, Theft 7, Minor
Offenses 3, Assault 2, Desperadism 1, Unknown 11. None were lynched for
Arson. The percentages lynched for the various causes are as follows:
Murder 48.3 per cent, Rape 31.7 per cent, Theft 5.8 per cent, Minor
Offenses 2.5 per cent, Assault 1.7 per cent, Desperadism .8 per cent,
Unknown 9.1 per cent.
[Illustration: XI. PROPORTION LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES IN SOUTHERN
STATES 1882–1903 NEGROES]
[Illustration: XII. PROPORTION LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES IN WESTERN
STATES 1882–1903]
Thus far in this investigation the question of the distribution of
lynchings has only entered to the extent of dividing the United States
into three sections, the Southern Group of States, the Western Group,
and the Eastern Group.[218] The following tables show the distribution
of lynchings by States on the basis of the number of persons lynched,
these persons being classified into Whites, Negroes and Others.
NUMBER OF PERSONS LYNCHED IN SOUTHERN STATES, 1882–1903
WHITES NEGROES OTHERS TOTAL
Mississippi 39 294 1 334
Texas 114 199 11 324
Louisiana 34 232 19 285
Georgia 28 241 269
Alabama 46 198 244
Arkansas 60 139 1 200
Tennessee 49 150 199
Kentucky 64 103 167
Florida 19 115 134
South Carolina 8 109 117
Missouri 49 42 91
Virginia 21 70 91
North Carolina 15 48 1 64
West Virginia 19 27 46
Maryland 2 18 20
——— ———— ——— —————
Total 567 1985 33 2585
NUMBER OF PERSONS LYNCHED IN WESTERN STATES, 1882–1903
WHITES NEGROES OTHERS TOTAL
Indian Territory (Oklahoma) 73 7 15 95
Montana 80 1 4 85
Colorado 55 3 6 64
Nebraska 52 2 2 56
Kansas 34 17 51
California 29 12 41
Wyoming 37 37
Dakota (North and South) 28 1 6 35
New Mexico 30 1 3 34
Arizona 25 3 28
Washington 20 6 26
Idaho 14 5 19
Oregon 15 1 3 19
Iowa 15 1 16
Alaska 4 4 8
Utah 4 1 2 7
Minnesota 5 1 6
Nevada 3 2 5
——— —— —— ———
Total 523 34 75 632
NUMBER OF PERSONS LYNCHED IN EASTERN STATES, 1882–1903
WHITES NEGROES OTHERS TOTAL
Indiana 41 11 52
Ohio 10 11 21
Illinois 11 10 21
Michigan 7 1 8
Pennsylvania 2 5 7
Wisconsin 6 6
New York 1 1 2
New Jersey 1 1
Connecticut 1 1
Delaware 1 1
—— —— — ———
Total 79 41 120
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS LYNCHED, 1882–1903
WHITES NEGROES OTHERS TOTAL
Southern 567 1985 33 2585
Western 523 34 75 632
Eastern 79 41 120
———— ———— ——— ————
Total 1169 2060 108 3337
[Illustration: XIII. PROPORTION LYNCHED FOR VARIOUS CAUSES IN EASTERN
STATES 1882–1903]
Excluding the New England States there are no States in the Union in
which lynchings have not taken place during the last twenty-two years.
In forty-five of the States and Territories, as they are at present
organized, one or more persons have been lynched during this period. In
the Southern Group of States more than three times as many negroes as
whites have been lynched. In Texas the “Others” were Mexicans, with the
exception of one Indian; in Louisiana the “Others” were all Italians. In
the Western Group of States only about five per cent of the persons
lynched were negroes while nearly twelve per cent were “Others,” the
majority of whom were Indians, but there were also Chinamen, Mexicans,
Italians, a Japanese, a Swiss, and a Bohemian. In the Eastern Group of
States about thirty-four per cent of the persons lynched were negroes
and the rest were whites, there being no “Others.”
Only one lynching with one person lynched is credited to the New England
States. In July, 1886, in Litchfield County, Connecticut, Charles
Lockwood, a farm-hand, was found early one morning hanging from the limb
of a tree, evidently having been dead for several hours. According to
the New York Times,[219] public opinion was divided as to whether he had
been lynched or had committed suicide. The coroner’s verdict said that
it was a case of suicide. To a disinterested party, however, the
evidence appears very strong in favor of the former view. Lockwood had
brutally murdered “pretty Mattie Randell,” of Morris, Connecticut, and
escaped. Searching parties were organized and were scouring the country,
and feeling ran high in the community against him. Threats were
repeatedly made against his life. His body was found one morning
dangling from the limb of a tree. In the writer’s opinion, formed from
reading various newspaper accounts of the occurrence, the Chicago
Tribune rightly included Charles Lockwood in the list of persons lynched
in the year 1886.
For the purpose of studying the distribution of lynchings with a view to
determining what particular characteristics of the population, if any,
promote and foster the practice of lynching, it is the number of
lynchings that have occurred in specified districts which should be
considered rather than the number of persons who have been lynched in
those districts. Not infrequently several persons have been lynched at
one time and such cases would tend to vitiate any conclusions drawn from
an investigation made on the basis of the number of persons lynched. The
circumstances which surround lynchings do not vary in any respect
according to the number of victims at particular lynchings. The
following tables have therefore been prepared to show the distribution
of lynchings by States on the basis of the number of lynchings. In
making up these figures it was found necessary to establish some
standard length of time for a lynching. There were a number of cases
where persons were lynched on succeeding or subsequent days at or near
the same place, and the question arose as to whether there was one
lynching or more than one lynching in such cases. It would seem that
ordinarily, if one whole day intervened between the lynching of one
person and the lynching of another person, sufficient time had elapsed
for the excitement over the lynching of the first person to abate
somewhat and that the lynching of the second person in such a case could
not rightfully be considered a part of the preceding act of mob
violence. Using this as a criterion, all cases in which persons were
lynched on two succeeding days at or near the same place have been
classified as one lynching, but all cases in which at least a day
intervened in the lynching of two or more persons at or near the same
place have been classified as two or more lynchings.
NUMBER OF LYNCHINGS BY YEARS IN SOUTHERN STATES, 1882–1903
═══════════╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══
│’82│’83│’84│’85│’86│’87│’88│’89│’90│’91│’92│’93│’94│’95
───────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───
Mississippi│ 3│ 10│ 10│ 12│ 12│ 10│ 10│ 22│ 11│ 20│ 11│ 12│ 14│ 13
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Georgia │ 3│ 5│ 5│ 9│ 6│ 4│ 12│ 9│ 17│ 11│ 13│ 11│ 16│ 14
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Texas │ 10│ 13│ 15│ 20│ 14│ 6│ 10│ 10│ 22│ 13│ 8│ 8│ 10│ 17
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Louisiana │ 5│ 3│ 5│ 2│ 6│ 9│ 7│ 8│ 8│ 14│ 18│ 12│ 11│ 4
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Alabama │ 5│ 4│ 3│ 4│ 4│ 4│ 9│ 6│ 8│ 14│ 14│ 17│ 12│ 10
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Tennessee │ 2│ 6│ │ 9│ 6│ 4│ 6│ 5│ 8│ 12│ 20│ 14│ 12│ 11
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Arkansas │ 2│ 7│ 6│ 7│ 3│ 8│ 2│ 5│ 6│ 10│ 20│ 9│ 6│ 7
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Kentucky │ 6│ 4│ 6│ 3│ 5│ 6│ 6│ 8│ 5│ 7│ 9│ 11│ 16│ 12
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Florida │ 2│ 1│ 2│ 3│ 4│ 3│ 2│ │ 3│ 8│ 7│ 6│ 7│ 8
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
South │ 6│ 3│ 1│ 1│ 4│ 2│ 2│ 5│ 4│ 1│ 5│ 11│ 5│ 5
Carolina │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Missouri │ 3│ 2│ 3│ 6│ 4│ 1│ 1│ 7│ 1│ 1│ 5│ 4│ 5│ 4
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Virginia │ 2│ 1│ 5│ 4│ 2│ 1│ 3│ 7│ 3│ 4│ 5│ 8│ 5│ 2
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
North │ │ 2│ 3│ 6│ 2│ 3│ 6│ 3│ 2│ 2│ 5│ 2│ 1│ 1
Carolina │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
West │ 1│ │ 2│ 1│ 3│ 3│ 2│ 4│ │ 2│ 5│ │ 2│
Virginia │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Maryland │ │ │ 2│ 3│ 1│ 2│ │ 1│ │ 1│ 1│ │ 1│ 3
───────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───
Total │ 50│ 61│ 68│ 90│ 76│ 66│ 78│100│ 98│120│146│125│123│111
═══════════╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══
═══════════╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═════
│’96│’97│’98│’99│’00│’01│’02│’03│Total
───────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼─────
Mississippi│ 6│ 15│ 12│ 11│ 15│ 11│ 9│ 14│ 263
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Georgia │ 8│ 13│ 12│ 17│ 14│ 13│ 9│ 10│ 231
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Texas │ 4│ 14│ 3│ 6│ 2│ 7│ 5│ 6│ 223
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Louisiana │ 21│ 10│ 8│ 9│ 9│ 14│ 10│ 11│ 204
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Alabama │ 13│ 16│ 8│ 5│ 8│ 12│ 4│ 2│ 182
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Tennessee │ 12│ 5│ 7│ 2│ 6│ 9│ 4│ 4│ 164
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Arkansas │ 4│ 10│ 10│ 5│ 6│ 5│ 6│ 10│ 154
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Kentucky │ 6│ 7│ 5│ 3│ 1│ 4│ 8│ 2│ 140
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Florida │ 7│ 6│ 1│ 4│ 7│ 5│ 3│ 6│ 95
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
South │ 4│ 6│ 5│ 1│ 2│ 5│ 2│ 5│ 85
Carolina │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Missouri │ 5│ 3│ 5│ 3│ 2│ 4│ 4│ 3│ 76
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Virginia │ │ 5│ 4│ 1│ 5│ 2│ 4│ │ 73
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
North │ 1│ 2│ 2│ 2│ 3│ 1│ 3│ 1│ 53
Carolina │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
West │ 1│ │ 1│ 1│ 2│ 1│ 2│ 1│ 34
Virginia │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Maryland │ 1│ 1│ 2│ │ 1│ │ │ │ 20
───────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼─────
Total │ 93│113│ 85│ 70│ 83│ 93│ 73│ 75│ 1997
═══════════╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═════
NUMBER OF LYNCHINGS BY YEARS IN WESTERN STATES, 1882–1903
════════════╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══
│’82│’83│’84│’85│’86│’87│’88│’89│’90│’91│’92│’93│’94│’95
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───
Indian │ │ 1│ │ 3│ 3│ 2│ 3│ 4│ │ 2│ 1│ 5│ 6│ 5
Territory │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
(Oklahoma)│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Kansas │ 2│ 2│ 2│ 5│ 5│ 1│ 3│ 2│ │ │ 3│ 3│ 3│ 1
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Nebraska │ │ 2│ 6│ 1│ 3│ 4│ 4│ 6│ 2│ 2│ │ │ 2│ 3
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Colorado │ 6│ 1│ 3│ 1│ 3│ │ 4│ │ 2│ 2│ │ 1│ 1│ 2
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Montana │ │ 5│ 9│ 2│ │ │ 3│ 2│ │ 3│ 1│ 1│ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
California │ │ 3│ 2│ 2│ 1│ 3│ 3│ 1│ 2│ 1│ 4│ 1│ 1│ 4
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
New Mexico │ 5│ 2│ 4│ 3│ │ 1│ │ 2│ 1│ │ │ 4│ │ 1
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Dakota │ 1│ 1│ 3│ 2│ │ │ 3│ │ 1│ 2│ 1│ 1│ 1│ 1
(North & │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
South) │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Washington │ 2│ 1│ 2│ 2│ 1│ │ │ 1│ │ 3│ 1│ 1│ 1│ 1
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Arizona │ 4│ 1│ 1│ 1│ │ 2│ 2│ │ 1│ │ 2│ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Wyoming │ 2│ │ 1│ │ │ │ 1│ 3│ │ 1│ 4│ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Iowa │ │ 3│ │ 2│ │ 2│ │ 1│ │ │ │ 2│ 2│
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Oregon │ │ │ 4│ 3│ │ 1│ │ │ 2│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Idaho │ 1│ │ 1│ 2│ │ │ 1│ │ │ │ 1│ 1│ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Alaska │ │ 2│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Minnesota │ 2│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 2│ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Utah │ │ 3│ 2│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Nevada │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1│ │ 1│ │ │ │ │
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───
Total │ 25│ 27│ 40│ 29│ 16│ 16│ 28│ 22│ 12│ 16│ 18│ 22│ 17│ 18
════════════╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══
════════════╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═════
│’96│’97│’98│’99│’00│’01│’02│’03│Total
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼─────
Indian │ 4│ 1│ 3│ 1│ │ 3│ │ │ 47
Territory │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
(Oklahoma)│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Kansas │ │ │ 1│ 3│ 1│ 2│ 1│ │ 40
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Nebraska │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 35
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Colorado │ 2│ │ │ │ 3│ │ 1│ │ 32
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Montana │ │ │ 1│ │ │ 2│ │ 3│ 32
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
California │ │ 1│ │ │ │ 2│ │ │ 31
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
New Mexico │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 23
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Dakota │ │ 2│ │ │ │ │ 1│ │ 20
(North & │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
South) │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Washington │ │ │ 1│ │ │ │ │ 1│ 18
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Arizona │ │ 2│ │ │ │ │ │ 1│ 17
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Wyoming │ │ │ 1│ │ │ │ 1│ 2│ 16
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Iowa │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 12
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Oregon │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1│ │ 11
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Idaho │ │ │ │ │ │ 1│ │ │ 8
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Alaska │ │ 3│ 1│ │ │ │ │ │ 6
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Minnesota │ 1│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 5
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Utah │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 5
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Nevada │ │ 2│ │ │ │ │ │ 1│ 5
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼─────
Total │ 7│ 11│ 8│ 4│ 4│ 10│ 5│ 8│ 363
════════════╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═════
NUMBER OF LYNCHINGS BY YEARS IN EASTERN STATES, 1882–1903
════════════╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══
│’82│’83│’84│’85│’86│’87│’88│’89│’90│’91│’92│’93│’94│’95
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───
Indiana │ 4│ 3│ 3│ │ 5│ 5│ │ 2│ 4│ 3│ │ 2│ 2│
Ohio │ 2│ 1│ 1│ 3│ 2│ 1│ │ │ │ 1│ 4│ │ 2│ 2
Illinois │ │ 1│ │ 2│ 1│ │ 2│ │ │ 1│ 1│ 2│ 1│ 1
Michigan │ │ 2│ │ │ │ │ 1│ 1│ │ 1│ │ 1│ │
Pennsylvania│ 1│ │ 1│ │ │ │ 1│ │ │ 2│ │ │ 1│
Wisconsin │ │ │ 1│ │ │ │ 1│ 1│ │ 2│ │ │ 1│
New York │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1│ │ │
Connecticut │ │ │ │ │ 1│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Delaware │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
New Jersey │ │ │ │ │ 1│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───
Total │ 7│ 7│ 6│ 5│ 10│ 6│ 5│ 4│ 4│ 10│ 6│ 5│ 7│ 3
════════════╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══
════════════╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═════
│’96│’97│’98│’99│’00│’01│’02│’03│Total
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼─────
Indiana │ 1│ 1│ 1│ │ 2│ 1│ 1│ │ 40
Ohio │ │ 1│ │ │ │ │ │ │ 20
Illinois │ 1│ 1│ 1│ │ │ │ 2│ 3│ 20
Michigan │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1│ │ 7
Pennsylvania│ │ │ │ 1│ │ │ │ │ 7
Wisconsin │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 6
New York │ 1│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 2
Connecticut │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1
Delaware │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1│ 1
New Jersey │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼─────
Total │ 3│ 3│ 2│ 1│ 2│ 1│ 4│ 4│ 105
════════════╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═════
TOTAL NUMBER OF LYNCHINGS BY YEARS, 1882–1903
════════════╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══
│’82│’83│’84│’85│’86│’87│’88│’89│’90│’91│’92│’93│’94│’95
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───
Southern │ 50│ 61│ 68│ 90│ 76│ 66│ 78│100│ 98│120│146│125│123│111
States │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Western │ 25│ 27│ 40│ 29│ 16│ 16│ 28│ 22│ 12│ 16│ 18│ 22│ 17│ 18
States │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Eastern │ 7│ 7│ 6│ 5│ 10│ 6│ 5│ 4│ 4│ 10│ 6│ 5│ 7│ 3
States │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───
Total │ 82│ 95│114│124│102│ 88│101│126│114│146│170│152│147│132
════════════╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══
════════════╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═══╤═════
│’96│’97│’98│’99│’00│’01│’02│’03│Total
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼─────
Southern │ 93│113│ 85│ 70│ 83│ 93│ 73│ 75│ 1997
States │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Western │ 7│ 11│ 8│ 4│ 4│ 10│ 5│ 8│ 363
States │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Eastern │ 3│ 3│ 2│ 1│ 2│ 1│ 4│ 4│ 105
States │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
────────────┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼─────
Total │103│127│ 95│ 75│ 89│104│ 82│ 87│ 2465
════════════╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═══╧═════
If much that has been said and written in recent years on the subject of
lynching is true; if the presence of the colored race, because of the
character of the crimes which negroes commit, is largely responsible for
the practice of lynching; if the immigration into this country of “the
scum of Europe” is also responsible for the practice; if lynching is, in
addition, a relic of barbarism and a sign of degeneracy in American
civilization,—then there ought to be some correlation between the
distribution of lynchings and the proportion of the white element to the
colored and the foreign elements in the population, and also between the
distribution of lynchings and the degree of illiteracy in the
population. With this idea in mind an attempt has been made to find out
whether any such correlations exist with reference to the lynchings that
have occurred during the last twenty-two years in the Southern Group of
States and in the three States of the Eastern Group in which lynchings
have been most numerous. In the following table the percentage which the
total number of lynchings bears to the total population of these several
States has been placed alongside the percentage of the negroes in the
population, the percentage of foreign born in the population, and the
percentage of illiterates in the population. In the same table also
there have been given the percentage of the persons lynched in these
several States who were whites, and the percentage of the persons
lynched who were negroes.
From this table there appears to be no distinct correlation between the
distribution of lynchings and the percentage of negroes in the
population. In a general way the percentage of lynchings to the
population is highest in the States where the negro element is largest,
but Virginia, North Carolina, and notably South Carolina, are
exceptions. So far as any correlation at all can be traced between the
percentage of lynchings and the percentage of foreign born, the latter
varies inversely to the former. The percentage of illiterates varies
from State to State in about the same way that the percentage of negroes
does; and hence there is the same general conclusion to be drawn with
reference to the correlation of lynchings to illiteracy as with
reference to the correlation of lynchings to the percentage of negroes,
namely, that there is no distinct correlation. When the percentage of
the persons lynched who were negroes is compared with the percentage of
negroes in the population, however, it is at once apparent that there is
a correlation between them. If plotted graphically the lines
representing the two percentages would rise and fall in almost perfect
uniformity, only Georgia and Tennessee presenting slight exceptions to
the general tendency.
═══════════╤══════════╤══════════╤══════════
│ PER CENT │ PER CENT │ PER CENT
│ OF │OF WHITES │OF NEGROES
│LYNCHINGS │ IN │ IN
│ TO │POPULATION│POPULATION
│POPULATION│ │
│ 1900 │ │
───────────┼──────────┼────┬─────┼────┬─────
│ │1890│1900 │1890│1900
───────────┼──────────┼────┼─────┼────┼─────
Mississippi│ .0169│42.2│ 41.3│57.6│ 58.5
Georgia │ .0104│53.2│ 53.3│46.7│ 46.7
Texas │ .0073│78.1│ 79.6│21.8│ 20.4
Louisiana │ .0147│49.9│ 52.8│50.0│ 47.1
Alabama │ .0099│55.1│ 54.7│44.8│ 45.2
Tennessee │ .0081│75.6│ 76.2│24.4│ 23.8
Arkansas │ .0117│72.6│ 72.0│27.4│ 28.0
Kentucky │ .0065│85.6│ 86.7│14.4│ 13.3
Florida │ .0179│57.5│ 56.3│42.5│ 43.7
South │ .0063│40.1│ 41.6│59.8│ 58.4
Carolina │ │ │ │ │
Missouri │ .0024│94.4│ 94.8│ 5.6│ 5.2
Virginia │ .0039│61.6│ 64.3│38.4│ 35.6
North │ .0027│65.2│ 66.7│34.7│ 33.0
Carolina │ │ │ │ │
West │ .0035│95.7│ 95.5│ 4.3│ 4.5
Virginia │ │ │ │ │
Maryland │ .0016│79.3│ 80.2│20.7│ 19.8
Indiana │ .0015│97.9│ 97.7│ 2.1│ 2.3
Ohio │ .0004│97.6│ 97.7│ 2.4│ 2.3
Illinois │ .0004│98.5│ 98.2│ 1.5│ 1.8
═══════════╧══════════╧════╧═════╧════╧═════
═══════════╤═══════╤═══════╤══════════╤══════════════
│ PER │ PER │ PER CENT │ PER CENT OF
│CENT OF│CENT OF│OF FOREIGN│ILLITERATES IN
│LYNCHED│LYNCHED│ BORN IN │ POPULATION
│ WHO │ WHO │POPULATION│
│ WERE │ WERE │ │
│WHITES │NEGROES│ │
───────────┼───────┼───────┼────┬─────┼────┬─────────
│ │ │1890│1900 │1800│1900[220]
───────────┼───────┼───────┼────┼─────┼────┼─────────
Mississippi│ 11.67│ 88.02│ 0.6│ 0.5│40.0│ 32.0
Georgia │ 10.40│ 89.59│ 0.7│ 0.6│39.8│ 30.5
Texas │ 35.18│ 61.41│ 6.8│ 5.9│19.7│ 14.5
Louisiana │ 11.92│ 81.40│ 4.4│ 3.8│45.8│ 38.5
Alabama │ 18.85│ 81.14│ 1.0│ 0.8│41.0│ 34.0
Tennessee │ 24.62│ 75.37│ 1.1│ 0.9│26.6│ 20.7
Arkansas │ 30.0│ 69.5│ 1.3│ 1.1│26.6│ 20.4
Kentucky │ 38.32│ 61.67│ 3.2│ 2.3│21.6│ 16.5
Florida │ 14.17│ 85.82│ 5.9│ 4.5│27.8│ 21.9
South │ 6.83│ 93.16│ 0.5│ 0.4│45.0│ 35.9
Carolina │ │ │ │ │ │
Missouri │ 53.84│ 46.15│ 8.8│ 7.0│ 9.1│ 6.4
Virginia │ 23.07│ 76.92│ 1.1│ 1.0│30.2│ 22.9
North │ 23.43│ 75.0│ 0.2│ 0.2│35.7│ 28.7
Carolina │ │ │ │ │ │
West │ 41.30│ 58.69│ 2.5│ 2.3│11.4│ 2.5
Virginia │ │ │ │ │ │
Maryland │ 10.0│ 90.0│ 9.0│ 7.9│15.7│ 11.1
Indiana │ 78.8│ 21.1│ 6.7│ 5.6│ 6.3│ 4.6
Ohio │ 47.6│ 52.3│12.5│ 11.0│ 5.2│ 4.0
Illinois │ 52.3│ 47.6│22.0│ 20.1│ 5.2│ 4.2
═══════════╧═══════╧═══════╧════╧═════╧════╧═════════
For the purpose of further investigating the subject of the distribution
of lynchings in relation to particular characteristics of the
population, the lynchings which have occurred during the last twenty-two
years in the Southern Group of States and in the three States of the
Eastern Group in which lynchings have been most numerous were classified
according to the counties in which they occurred in these several
States. On the basis of this classification a careful study was made of
the same characteristics of the population by counties as were
considered above with reference to the population by States. The
percentage of lynchings to the population in the several counties where
lynchings have taken place was compared with the percentage of negroes,
the percentage of foreign born, and the percentage of illiterates in
those several counties.[221] To facilitate comparison, trial charts were
drawn on which the percentages were plotted in graphic form, and the
results were carefully noted.
In the comparison of the percentage of lynchings with the percentage of
negroes in the population by counties no correlation can be clearly
distinguished. In many counties where the negroes constitute between
sixty per cent and eighty per cent of the population the percentage of
lynchings is high, but there are also numerous exceptions.
In the comparison of the percentage of lynchings with the percentage of
foreign born in the population by counties there appears to be no
distinguishable correlation. It is shown pretty conclusively, however,
that there is no tendency for the percentage of lynchings to increase
where the percentage of foreign born in the population is large.
In the comparison of the percentage of lynchings with the percentage of
illiterates in the population by counties there appears to be not the
slightest correlation.
The net result of this investigation into some characteristics of the
population in relation to the distribution of lynchings is negative
rather than positive. The proportion between the white and colored
elements in the population does not seem to affect the prevalence of
lynchings. It is only the proportion of whites lynched to negroes
lynched that seems to bear any relation to the proportion between the
white and colored elements in the population. The percentage of foreign
born in the population does not seem to influence the prevalence of
lynchings and there is not the slightest indication that the practice of
lynching is anything else than a thoroughly American practice. So far as
the percentage of illiterates in the population is an indication of the
degree of culture and civilization possessed by a community, it does not
appear that lynchings are confined to backward communities. The
deductions which may be drawn as a result of this investigation afford
no explanation why, for instance, a greater number of lynchings occurred
in Decatur County, Georgia, than in any other county in that State, or
why there were ten lynchings in Dallas County, Alabama, but only one
lynching in Lowndes, an adjoining county. It is probably true that the
distribution of lynchings is largely affected by entirely local
conditions, conditions which cannot be represented by statistics.[222]
In this chapter nothing has been said about the methods adopted for
lynching during the twenty-two-year period. In the record of lynchings
published by the Chicago Tribune no mention is made of the manner of
death which the victims suffered. It is probably true that most of the
lynchings were either by hanging or by shooting, or by both hanging and
shooting. Additional indignities and cruelties have not infrequently
been inflicted, however, and there have been a number of cases where the
victims have been burned alive. The following cases of lynching by
burning alive have come to the writer’s notice: in 1884, one in Texas;
in 1891, one in Texas, one in Louisiana; in 1892, one in Arkansas; in
1893, one in Texas; in 1894, one in Kentucky; in 1895, one in Texas; in
1897, one in North Carolina; in 1899, one in Georgia, one in
Mississippi, one in Kentucky; in 1901, one in Kansas; in 1902, three in
Mississippi, one in Arkansas, one in Texas, one in Colorado; in 1903,
one in Illinois, one in Delaware; in 1904, one in Mississippi, one in
Georgia, at each of which two persons were burned at the stake, in the
former instance one of them being a woman. In all these cases the
victims were negroes and they were believed to be either guilty of
several crimes or of a single atrocious crime. The majority were lynched
for the double crime of rape, or attempted rape, and murder.
If these cases of burning alive form a list that is at all complete,
there is ground for believing that as the practice of lynching continues
the punishments inflicted tend to increase in severity and the victims
are tortured more and more before death comes to their relief.
While the exact figures have been given in this investigation of
lynchings in recent years based on the Chicago Tribune record, it is to
be remembered that these figures are probably only approximations. It is
extremely doubtful whether exactly 3,337 persons have been lynched in
the United States during the last twenty-two years, or whether there
have been exactly 2,465 lynchings. It is probable, however, that these
approximations are as nearly correct and as reliable as any that we
shall ever get, and there seems to be no reason why they should not form
a sound basis for the statistical study attempted in this chapter.