rdfulks

George Hughes was a black farm laborer and the victim of a brutal riot that erupted on May 9, 1930 in Sherman, Texas. After being arrested the first weekend in May for allegedly raping a white woman, a special grand jury, on May 5, returned 2 indictments claiming criminal assault. The trial date was set for May 9th and Hughes reportedly confessed to the crime. During the week tensions began to mount as the white agitators gathered. Even though the sheriff and his deputies were able to protect Hughes from the mob on May 6th, by the 9th they were unable to stop the mob that demanded vigilante justice. In an effort to protect Hughes, he was locked in the courthouse vault. Rioters unable to reach him set fire to the courthouse. Once Hughes's body was recovered it was dragged behind a car, hanged and set afire. Texas Governor Moody sent in the National Guard troops on May 9th and more on May 10th to get the situation under control. ...more