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

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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