Horrible Lynching
February 1, 1908
Summary
A “colored” man survives hanging after being sentenced for an accidental shooting while attempting to escape from a factory.
Transcription
Dothan, Ala., - Cleveland Franklin, the colored man who was taken from the sheriff here yesterday by a masked mob of two hundred men, and supposedly hanged and riddled by two hundred shots in an attempt at lynching, was found today by the sheriff alive, with only a slight wound. He was not even hurt seriously. Franklin was an employee of the Southern Cotton Oil Company here and shot and seriously wounded A. C. Faulk, secretary and treasurer of the cotton oil company. The colored man was found on the premises of the company, and in order to escape shot Faulk. The sheriff was notified immediately and formed a posse. The colored man was captured and just as a start was made for the jail the mob of two hundred men came up, forcibly took the Negro prisoner, carrying him to a mill, where he was strung to a limb and something like two hundred shotguns, pistols and all sort of firearms discharged at his body. The Negro apparently fainted away, and was left for dead. Yesterday morning the sheriff thought it would be well to examine the victim of Judge Lynch. Upon going up to the limb where the body was hanging, was surprised to see Franklin winking for him to come and take him down from his uncomfortable position.
Just as soon as the colored man was freed from his bonds and examination was made, whereupon it was found that the two hundred of shot had all but one gone wide of the mark, splitting rails and boards near by, completely ridding the mill. The fact that the rope did not do the necessary work caused some serious suspicion on the part of the sheriff. He at once began to find out the cause. He ascertained that the noose was not made by experienced hands but by pure novices, the “woeful knot” that usually does the work not being placed right, hence it did not give the deathjerk on the Negro’s neck. Franklin’s clothing looked as if it had been in a battle for the pants he wore and his shirt were completely torn into shreds. He was hardly in a presentable condition to be taken back to Dothan. In talking about his remarkable escape from death the colored man explained that after he had been hit once he thought it was all up, and at once keeled over. When he awoke from his dream a few men were watching him, so he played the possum, for he heard some of them say: “He’s sure dead now. Guess we had better leave.” He closed his eyes and remained as much like a dead man as any man ever did. The “possum act” he states, did very well, but it was awfully uncomfortable to hang all night long on the limb- with a strout rope straining his neck every moment. If it had not been for the colored man’s well developed muscles, especially in the neck, he would have suffered considerable injury from the drop, and due to the twelve hour hanging to the limb would have probably been dead when found. The sheriff took Franklin to the county jail where he will be held for trial. A.C. Faulk, who was assaulted by the colored man Saturday night is resting easily and his wounds are not regarded as serious. Fifteen deputies are patrolling the jail yard tonight to avert any trouble at the hands of a second mob. Everything is quiet tonight.
Just as soon as the colored man was freed from his bonds and examination was made, whereupon it was found that the two hundred of shot had all but one gone wide of the mark, splitting rails and boards near by, completely ridding the mill. The fact that the rope did not do the necessary work caused some serious suspicion on the part of the sheriff. He at once began to find out the cause. He ascertained that the noose was not made by experienced hands but by pure novices, the “woeful knot” that usually does the work not being placed right, hence it did not give the deathjerk on the Negro’s neck. Franklin’s clothing looked as if it had been in a battle for the pants he wore and his shirt were completely torn into shreds. He was hardly in a presentable condition to be taken back to Dothan. In talking about his remarkable escape from death the colored man explained that after he had been hit once he thought it was all up, and at once keeled over. When he awoke from his dream a few men were watching him, so he played the possum, for he heard some of them say: “He’s sure dead now. Guess we had better leave.” He closed his eyes and remained as much like a dead man as any man ever did. The “possum act” he states, did very well, but it was awfully uncomfortable to hang all night long on the limb- with a strout rope straining his neck every moment. If it had not been for the colored man’s well developed muscles, especially in the neck, he would have suffered considerable injury from the drop, and due to the twelve hour hanging to the limb would have probably been dead when found. The sheriff took Franklin to the county jail where he will be held for trial. A.C. Faulk, who was assaulted by the colored man Saturday night is resting easily and his wounds are not regarded as serious. Fifteen deputies are patrolling the jail yard tonight to avert any trouble at the hands of a second mob. Everything is quiet tonight.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Emma Alvarez
Citation
“Horrible Lynching,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 20, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/503.