State Sanctioned
A clearinghouse for information, analysis, and resources related to state sanctioned violence in the United States
John Seymour and the Lake family
Killed January 20th/21st near Sylvester, GA. John Seymour, Felix Lake, and Felix’s sons Frank, Dewey, and Major were taken from jail by a large, well-organized group. They were alleged to have killed a local sheriff. No arrests or prosecutions took place of any who carried out the lynching, nor of the jailers for failing to protect their prisoner.
Widely covered by newspapers due to the number of victims, the fact that they were a family, and reports that the lynching was witnessed by a large crowd.
The Augusta Chronicle, January 21st, 1916
PDF: Lake family Augusta Chronicle 01211916
The Augusta Chronicle, January 22nd, 1916
PDF: Lake family Augusta Chronicle 01221916
The Charlotte Daily Observer, December 11th, 1916 (“Mob Takes Six”; center column, under the weather report)
PDF: Lake family Charlotte Daily Observer 1211916
The Charlotte Daily Observer, January 22nd, 1916
PDF: Lake family Charlotte Daily Observer 01221916
The Columbus Enquirer Sun, January 21st, 1916
PDF: Lake family Columbus Enquirer Sun 01211916
The Fort Worth Star Telegram, January 21st, 1916
PDF: Lake family Fort Worth Star Telegram 01211916
The Kansas City Star, January 21st, 1916
PDF: Lake family Kansas City Star 01211916
The Miami Herald, January 21st, 1916
PDF: Lake family Miami Herald 01211916
The State, January 21st, 1916
PDF: Lake family The State 01211916
The State, January 22nd, 1916
PDF: Lake family The State 01221916
The New Orleans Times-Picayune, January 21st, 1916
PDF: Lake family Times-Picayune 01211916
The Washington Bee, November 4th, 1916 – reference to the incident, and pictures, included in the Bee’s feature story on lynching. Also discusses lynching of Jesse Washington and reprints statistics gathered by the Chicago Tribune.
PDF: Lake family Washington Bee 11041916
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