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Lynching in Florence County, South Carolina

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Lynching in Florence county, South Carolina
Part of Jim Crow Era
News coverage of a lynching in South Carolina with map of Florence County and Williamsburg County, South Carolina
DateDecember 26, 1921
LocationNear the Florence County, South Carolina and Williamsburg County, South Carolina border
ParticipantsUnknown gunman
DeathsBill McAllister
Non-fatal injuriesLincoln Hickson

Two Black men were lynched in Florence County, South Carolina near the border with Williamsburg County, South Carolina for allegedly having relations with a white woman. The news did not reach the national media until January 8, 1922, and so is recorded as the first lynching of 1922 in America.[1] According to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary there were 61 lynchings during 1922 in the United States.[2]

Lynching

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Rumors of relations between a white woman and a black man had surfaced in the community and McAllister was warned to stay away. Ignoring warning Bill McAllister and Lincoln Hickson travelled to the area near the old home of H. B. Lee, about 20 miles (32 km) from Florence County.[3] to visit the white woman. As they were leaving on December 26, 1921, unknown gunman fired striking both men and killing McAllister. Shotgun pellets created multiple wounds through Hickson's body including some that entered his mouth and broke his jaw.[3] Even though Lincoln Hickson was severely wounded he was able to take the body of Bill McAllister in his buggy 7 miles (11 km) to his home.[4]

Aftermath

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Reports only came to light as Sheriff Gamble of Williamsburg County had sat next to a reporter on a train.[5] A love letter was found on the body of Bill McAllister.[5] The white woman who lived in the house was forced from the community and went to Kingstree and from there to Hartsville.[3] After the lynching was reported on Magistrate Baldwin, of Lake City, South Carolina investigated the matter.[3]

Bibliography

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Notes

  1. ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary 1926, p. 16.
  2. ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary 1926, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b c d The County Record, January 12, 1922, p. 1.
  4. ^ Evening Star, January 8, 1922, p. 44.
  5. ^ a b The Chicago Whip, January 14, 1922, p. 2.

References

  • "Find Love Letter in Lynched Man's Pocket". The Chicago Whip. Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: Whip Pub. Co. January 14, 1922. pp. 1–8. ISSN 2694-099X. OCLC 15192974. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  • "In Florence County: Killing of Negro Did Not Occur in Williamsburg". The County Record. Kingstree, Williamsburg, South Carolina. January 12, 1922. pp. 1–8. ISSN 2471-0350. OCLC 28401988. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  • "Mob Kills Colored Man". Evening Star. Washington, District of Columbia: W.D. Wallach & Hope. January 8, 1922. pp. 1–80. ISSN 2331-9968. OCLC 2260929. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  • United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary (1926). "To Prevent and Punish the Crime of Lynching: Hearings Before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on S. 121, Sixty-Ninth Congress, First Session, on Feb. 16, 1926". United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
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