Several nooses have been found in the District, Maryland and Virginia area recently, including at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The below story recounts, in graphic detail, why the noose remains a potent symbol of racism.
Sheriff’s Office Knew the Lynchers Had Victim; Takes No Action
FARMHAND DIES ON SCHOOLYARD TREE
Jeerers Riddle Body with Bullets
March 23, 1935
(Special to the AFRO)
SLAYDEN, Miss.
While the two factions argued whether to turn Ab Young, 29-year-old farmhand over to officers or to burn him, about 50 men left here, last week, and drove to the Nellie Mahon School, three miles east of here, strung him up and riddled his body with bullets.
That the lynching was done on a pre-arranged schedule was indicated by the fact that newspaper men and photographers in Memphis, sixty-three miles away, were notified and arrived forty minutes before the lynching.
An inquest over the body was held at Holly Springs. Prosecutor E.C. Wright announced that no special session of the grand jury would be called to investigate. The coroner’s jury decided that Young came to his death by hanging at the hands of parties unknown.
Might be “Suicide”
So far as the proof is concerned,” said Prosecutor Wright, “we don’t know if it was suicide or hanging.”
Young, accused of fatally shooting a white highway worker, was captured by the mob at Rossville, Tenn. early on the morning of March 12. Although only about fifty men were at the lynching, more than 100 others were attracted to the town by reports that Young had been captured.
They milled around speculating as to the man’s fate. “I hope they burn him,” one boy said. “I’ll help gather the firewood.” Many of the men were drinking.
Sundown Agreed Upon
After hiding Young out, the press and law officers were notified there would be a lynching at sundown. Governor Connor stated following the lynching that he had not requested the state militia. The sheriff did not request state troops, even though his office knew the mob had Young at least two hours before he was killed.
Young was hustled out of the little schoolhouse, where he had been held captive since 10:30 in the morning. The mob adjusted a half-inch hemp rope, the end of which was fashioned into a man’s noose, about Young’s neck, the knot being tucked under his left ear.
“I’m going to see Jesus,” the doomed man began to sing without a quiver in his voice. Before he was through his song, the hoodlums began to curse and abuse him, telling him to get it over.
A black Ford coach was backed up to Young. He was lifted onto the trunk at the rear of the car. He then began to pray. “Lord Jesus, I’m coming home to you.”
Teeth Clamp Tongue
The Ford started with a jerk and Young was snatched off the trunk by the rope. He fell about two feet and was left dangling at the end of the rope from a limb fifteen feet from the ground. His neck was not broken by the fall and he apparently strangled. His white teeth clenched his tongue.
“Let’s cut him down and take him to Slayden and burn him,” one of the men shouted. “Let’s throw him to the d—,” another mobster said.
A drunken youth then pulled long barreled revolver from under his belt.
“Who’ll shoot him if I furnish the gun and cartridges?” he asked. A volunteer accepted the offer. He fired once and apparently missed. He was jeered by his fellow lynchers.
Another snatched the pistol from him and fired. Young’s head quivered. Other’s pulled out pistols and began taking potshots at the body. None offered to take it down.
Roosevelt Asked to Act
Stressing that this is the second time in five months in which a victim is kidnapped and taken over state lines, a telegram from Walter White, secretary of the NAACP, New York, last week to President Roosevelt says in part:
“We urge you to order the Department of Justice to proceed against the kidnappers of Ab Young under the Federal legislation against kidnapping. Failure of the Department of Justice to act in the notorious kidnapping of Claude Neal, October, from Brewton, Ala. and transportation across the Florida state line, where he was lynched with abnormal bestiality, has caused profound criticism of the inactivity of the department.”