Accused Negro Lynched by Mob

Title

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Dothan Eagle

Publication Place

Dothan, AL

Publication Date

09/25/1933

Transcript

ACCUSED NEGRO LYNCHED BY MOB AT TUSCALOOSA Black Accused of Assailing White Woman; Lynchers Pose As Officers TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Sept. 25.—(AP)—Taken from his home by a group of men posing as officers, Dennis Cross, Negro, was shot to death early today. Sheriff R. L. Shamblin, who, with police, began an immediate inquiry into the slaying, said officers had found no clues to identity of the slayers. Sheriff Shamblin said he was told a group of men, six or seven in number, called at the Negro's home about 2 a. m., and, telling him they were officers, said he would have to go to the sheriff's office and make a bigger bond. The party, Sheriff Shamblin said, then drove away. Neighbors of the Negro called the sheriff's office and reported the occurrence and the sheriff's office called police to ask if city officers had been sent to the Negro's home. When it was learned that no officers had been sent, Sheriff Shamblin said officers were sent to the house for an investigation. The officers failed to find a trace of the Negro until daylight when his body, bearing three bullet wounds, was found near the Tuscaloosa Country club in the direction of the Warrior river. Sheriff Shamblin said the slayers drove away in an automobile and that prints of the car tires, together with bullets found at the scene were being studied by investigators in an effort to trace the slayers. The Negro was arrested about two weeks ago following a report by a young white woman that she had been seized by a Negro near the Country club. He had been identified by the woman as her assailant. After being held in jail about a week on an assault charge, the Negro was admitted to $300 bail furnished by Claude Hinton, on whose farm the Negro lived. Sheriff Shamblin said the offense with which the Negro was charged was a bailable offense and that the woman had not been attacked.

Sources for

See all items with this value Dennis Cross