Ben Gay Lynching

[ Back to African American Resources | Mob Violence, Extra-judicial Killings, Lynchings ]

The following accounts of the lynching of Ben Gay appeared in Texas papers at the time.

Excitement Over Arrests.
Sulphur Springs, Tex., Aug. 24.--It will be remembered that some three weeks ago a negro was found hung in Sulphur bottom, near Sulphur Bluff, a small place some eighteen miles northeast of here. H.B. Sherman, sheriff, came in to-night with nine prisoners charged with the crime. In all there were twelve warrants, but the others were out of the way and will be brought in later. The prisoners are J.W. Connor, Josh Hopkins, John Harris, John and Mose Holloway, Buck Collins, Henry and John Smith and Claude Gregg. The parties above named are in charge of the sheriff to-night. There is a great excitement in the community over this matter. In fact, there are two elements in the neighborhood. The people of the vicinty fear the worst is not yet.
Source: Galveston Daily News | Galveston, Texas | Tuesday, August 25, 1896 | Page 3

Charged With a Lynching.
Sulphur Springs, Tex., March 30.--C. D. Withers, sheriff, and Deputy Sheriff Bud Smith, assisted by Sheriff Dickson of Titus county, arrested Dud Harris and Will Brown in Titus county Wednesday last. Sheriff Withers went into the territory and at Spiro?, near Fort Smith, arrested John Donagee, and all three prisoners are now housed in this jail. The charge against the three prisoners is that they participated in the lynching of Ben Gary (sic), a negro, near Sulphur Bluff, about four years ago. Several of the best citizens of the community have been charged with the crime, but upon trial were acquitted.
Source: Galveston Daily News | Galveston, Texas | Monday, April 02, 1900 | Page 5

Bonds in Lynching Cases.
Special to the News.
Sulphur Springs, Tex., May 23.--Judge L. A. Clark of Greenville yesterday heard habeas corpus proceedings in the case of the State vs. Dud Harris, Will Brown, John Dunagee and Dock Nugent. These people are charged with the murder of Ben Gay by lynching near Sulphur Bluff, in this county, some three years ago. It was agreed that the cases were bailable, and bond was allowed without going to trial. Harris' bond was fixed at $1250, Brown and Dunagee's at $750 each and Nugent's at $500.
Source: Galveston Daily News | Galveston, Texas | Friday, May 25, 1900 | Page 7

It was rumored that Gay was lynched for the crime of arson, though I have found no record of any crime, other than the lynching itself.