A Kentucky Mob Balked
November 28, 1896
Summary
Lynchers attempt to kill prisoners while they are being transferred and are stopped by the jailer.
Transcription
Henderson, Kt., Nov. 15 - Prompt and vigorous action of the authorities saved three colored men from being lynched here yesterday. Dave Powell, Will Dixon, and Will Lowery were arrested before daylight this morning on the charge of having entered the store of Land & Metzner last night, holding up Louis Metzner and fatally shooting him four times. The leader of the robbers did all the shooting
They were masked, and when the prisoners were taken from bed, pistols were found under their pillows. Four chambers of Powell's gun were empty. The citizens were excited, and threatened lynching, especially as there are four colored men in jail who participated in the murder of Officer White, at Owensboro.
A big crowd surrounded the jail and Court house, openly threatening to take the prisoners from the officers as soon as an attempt was made to remove them to a safer place. The absence of a leader only prevented an attack on the jail. A strong escort of officers, under direction of the Sheriff, took the prisoners from the jail to the railroad depot.
The mob, headed by John Borden, attempted to take the colored men from the officers, but Jailer Kohl knocked the leader down with a rifle, and the prisoners were landed on a Louisville & Nashville train without further resistance.
They were masked, and when the prisoners were taken from bed, pistols were found under their pillows. Four chambers of Powell's gun were empty. The citizens were excited, and threatened lynching, especially as there are four colored men in jail who participated in the murder of Officer White, at Owensboro.
A big crowd surrounded the jail and Court house, openly threatening to take the prisoners from the officers as soon as an attempt was made to remove them to a safer place. The absence of a leader only prevented an attack on the jail. A strong escort of officers, under direction of the Sheriff, took the prisoners from the jail to the railroad depot.
The mob, headed by John Borden, attempted to take the colored men from the officers, but Jailer Kohl knocked the leader down with a rifle, and the prisoners were landed on a Louisville & Nashville train without further resistance.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Liam Eynan
Citation
“A Kentucky Mob Balked,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed December 7, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1570.