Mob Storms Mobile Jail in an Effort to Hang Negro Rapist, Wm Thompson

• Cornelius Robinson and William Thompson

Sent to Birmingham, for Safe Keeping. Mayor lyons Addresses Crowd Assures Them Thompson is lot in JailUrges Tnem To Desist learning That the Mob ‘ Was Eoiming Sheriff Powers Arranged His Defense. Mobile, Aug. 30.–Aroused by the reported indignities perpetrated on two little white girls by 11-liain Thompson, a negro, a mob of 00 later increased by several thousands, stormed the county jail last night in an endeavor to ocate and lynch Thompson, the self-confessed rapist. They ar- ived too late, as their quarry had been secreted earlier in the evening by Sheriff Towers. 1 lie mob lormed at Uayou and Conti streets and arrived at the jail shortly after 10 o’clock. The leaders, said to have included relatives of the assaulted girls, did not hesitate when the closed gates, leading to the supposed prison of Thompson, were reached. With a rush they battered down the heavy gate and were soon in tile jail yard. Here they paused, for the sheriff and his deputies, armed . witu.. VV lnchesters, were drawn up in front of the door. ‘ But the pause was but momen tary. . “With a wild yell the mob advanced to the iron-barred door of the jail. Here they paused again, facing the loaded Winchesters. Sheriff Powers, as soon as the noise subsided, pleaded with the mob to allow the law to take its course. His answer was a yell of disapproval from those within the sound of his voice. Momentarily’ the anger of the mob increased; it soon burst forth with a vengeance when a bullet, fired by some one in the crowd, flattened against the brick wall. The shot was answered by a volley fired by the guards at the jail. None of the bullets took effect, beiug lired purposely over the heads of the mob. That settled for a time all thoughts. of a pacific settlement of the mobs demands. Armed . with heavy1 beams the crowd attacked the iron-bound door of the jail. With a clash they struck the door and it yielded uiler the blows and gave way

“Mob Storms Mobile Jail in an Effort to Hang Negro Rapist, Wm Thompson.” The Baldwin Times (Bay Minette, AL), September 06, 1906.