The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-12-31
LYNCHINGS
Were Fewer N The United
states h 1912
SIN There Were A Number
In Many Localities

WV iyiCHiuBS, huOWu " Dc puCu uc'
yond doubt. occurred In the united
states In the year now closing. In
previous years the number has been
much larger, 1870 having been record
ed In 1894 and 40 In the year fol-
lowing. The past ten years the num-
ber has been steadily decreasing. Only
one year, however, produced fewer
lynchings than 1872 In 1907 the rec.
ord shows 81 lynchings, one less than
thib year. ~
In some Of thes Southern States
there were fewer lynch:ngs in 1912
than in almost any previous year The
decrease is attributed largely to the
efforts made by governors and prom.
inent citizens to prevent mob violence.
Many Of the governofs have acted
promptly and energetically to prevent
lynchings, with the declared policy Of
giving the law free opportunity for
the punishment of all alleged offend.
ers, white or black
Again, as in the record OF former
years, more lynchings occurred in
Georgia than In any other State. Louis
lana and Florida come next in the list.
South Carolina, whose governor has
gone on record as unopposed to lynch.
ings in certain cases, had six cases Of
summary execution this year as
against only one in the year 1911. Ken
tucky. with eight lynchings In 1911,
had clean slate this year. Oklahoma
is another State with clean record
for the past twelve months. The fig
ures for Texas, Tennessee. Florida,
and Arkansas show fewer lynchings
than In 1911 In Mississippi, Alabama
and Louisiana the number slightly ex.
ceeded that OF last year.
The States outside of the South
where lynchings occurred in 1912 were
West Virginia., Wyoming, Montana,
North Dakota and California. by
States the record Is as follows:
Georgia, IA; Louisiana, 8; South Caro-
lin, @; Florida, 8; Alabama, 4; Arkan.
sas, 81; Texas, 8; Mississippi, 3: Fen'
nesses, 4; Wyoming. 1; West Virginia,
i 4; Montana, 4; California, 1, and
/ North Dakota, I. r
+ IN the flfty.two lynchings the vic.
4ns Of all but two were negroes
Three negresses we're included In the
| Hist. Alleged crime against women
Or. girls and the murder of white per
sons account Tor practically all OF the
cases. ~
A singular feature Is found In the
lynching Of the two white men, both
OF which occurred In the far north. II
each case the victim was accused Of
murder. In the town Of Joppa, .
short distance from Rosebud, Mont.
Harry Heffner, alleged slayer Of Mrs
William Merrill. was taken from ths
county jail by a crowd Of masked mef
and hanged, despite the efforts Of thu
sheriff and his deputy The secont
lynching occurred at Steele, N. d.
where George Baker, charged will
the murder of his wife and father-tn
law, was taken from the jail ant
hanged by a mob. The lynching wa
the first recorded in North Dakota Il
more than a decade.
The lynching In Wyoming was on
OF the most sensational Of the year
Frank Wigfall, negro who confesse'
to having made a criminal attack o.
,, Mrs. Esther Higgins. an aged woma'
known as the "prisoners' friend" wa
lynched by the convicts Of the Stat
Penitentiary at Rawlins.
In the West Virginia lynching th
victim was Walter Johnston. negr
accused OF assaulting young whit
girl In Mercer county.
california's one lynching was ou
Of the ordinary. 1t occurred on th
desert, some thirty miles from tn
v town OF Mojave The victim was .
unknown negro accused of having q
tackled . six-year-0ld child. He we
hanged BY men alleged to be on
ployed on the Los Angeles aqueduc
The three negresses who fell victim
/ to mob violence we're Ann Boston. WI
r murdered the wife OF planter
a Pinehurst, Ca; Mary Jackson wh
. was iynched in Pamela county, Texa
Q for alleged completely In the murds
. ola white man, and an unknown mel
y ress. who. together with three negros
d was hanged by mob In Harris coul
ty. Georgia, for the murder Of a faru
or. :
L.. Tyler. Texas. furnished the onl
, instance OF the year where the victi
was burned at the stake. On May
Dan Davis. a negro who had confesse
to criminal attack on q young whit
woman, was burned at the stake
a oue Of the main etr0etg OF Tyler