Description
(Caution) - This is a very detailed news article about how vigilantes lynched Raphael Williams on July 31, 1876, for the alleged rape of a white Camden Point, woman. Williams had been jailed in Platte City, Missouri but was taken from the jail before receiving a court trial and lynched near Tracy, Missouri.) (excerpted from longer article)
“Rape – Rope – Retribution!” – A White Woman Ravished by a Black Brute. – He is Identified and Committed to Jail – One Hundred Armed and Masked Men Capture the Jail, Take Out the Prisoner, and Hang Him to the Limb of a Tree – The Community Generally Indorses the Summary Proceedings.”
“It was easy from a description of his personal appearance and all the circumstances of the crime to identify the lecherous brute as one Raphael Williams, who worked for Mrs. Fielding Burnes (Elizabeth Burnes nee' Summers).” “Little or no trouble was experienced in effecting the arrest as the Negro was at work as usual.”
“He was taken to Camden Point for examination before Esquire Perrin, when all the circumstances were related, as we have already detailed, and the guilty brute was positively identified by Mrs. Davis. “It was also established from the evidence of young Mr. Burnes that the Negro was missing from his mother’s premises for a couple of hours about the time the outrage was committed.”
The result of the examination was the commitment of the prisoner, and the constable took possession of him to take him to the county jail at Platte City. By this time there was great excitement in the quiet, model little village of Camden Point.” Apprehension was no longer felt and it was supposed the ugly, hideous route would be remain in jail till Circuit Court, and then be convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary.”
Two horseman were seen to ride quietly through the streets a little past 12 o’clock. They went up Main Street and turning the corner went towards the jail. A little later 4 more men entered town and as quietly went in the same direction, and then a few minutes afterwards one other came. Time passed on. It was 1 o’clock a.m.
A wagon could be heard rumbling along the pike (Weston-Platte City Turnpike) approaching town from the West. Following it closely was a long, silent cavalcade of masked men. “All told there were at least 100 in the line. Some had their faces blackened, others wore masks, and nearly all had their coats turned.”
“It was evident the culmination of the tragedy had occurred near the depot at Tracy, ½ mile West of town.” “Near where the roads to Weston and Camden Point separate and near the crossing of the railroad stands a solitary elm.” “…there hung, stark and straight and cold, the body of the poor miserable Negro.”"Date(s) of Creation
8/1/1876