Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Christmas Assault Leads To New Year Lynching


Jan.3, 1901 Louis McAdams was witnessed having an argument with White storekeeper J.M. Ray and pulled a knife on the man and slit his neck in front of the store in Wilsonville, Alabama. This act incensed the White people of Shelby County. Ray was badly injured but survived, McAdams whatever the reason for his assault did not.

McAdams was arrested in the town of Childersburg on Jan. 2nd for the attempted murder and when the sheriff’s deputies were transporting him back to Wilsonville was intercepted by a mob of 100 White men all brandishing weapons. The threat was too much for the two deputies who immediately surrendered their suspect. About four miles from Wilsonville the mob hung McAdams in a tree and unloaded 50 guns into the body.

The deputies went on to Wilsonville and the sheriff and coroner were notified of the lynching. It was reported that the mob all wore masks and so no one could be identified. There was no further report on J.M. Ray in the Alabama newspapers either, he apparently survived or after the hanging, no one cared. The papers of Alabama held the mob as quiet and dignified adding that they dispersed quickly after justice was served.


 Sources: 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/882782733/?terms=%22J.M%20Ray%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/55228334/?clipping_id=115760383


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