James Taylor
MSA SC 3520-13740
Lynched in Chestertown, May 17, 1892
Biography:
James Taylor, a 23 year old African American, was originally from Pondtown, Queen Anne's County. He moved to Kennedyville, Kent County eight years before his lynching on May 17, 1892. Taylor was lynched for the rape of 11 year old Nettie (Nellie) Silcox on May 16, 1892. Taylor had been employed by Mr. John Silcox, the girl's father, for two years. The Chestertown Transcript reported that on May 19, 1892 Nettie was in her family's kitchen doing her household chores when James Taylor attacked her. Her father was in the barn and her mother was in the cellar. Her mother was unable to hear the attack because she suffered from deafness. Her mother called for Nettie to be examined by Dr. J.K.H. Jacobs of Kennedyville after finding shots of blood on her clothing. Nettie told the doctor and her mother she was in the kitchen when James Taylor came in and grabbed her around the waist. He then pulled her onto his lap. He placed his hand over her mouth to muffle her cries, then he brutally assaulted her. After the assault he threatened Nettie not to tell anyone of the incident.
After the assault Nettie continued with her chores even though she was becoming very ill. She was standing by the sink when her father entered the house from the barn. She told him she was sick and he instructed her to lay down. Her mother found her lying on a lounge chair and sent her to her bed to rest. Her mother noticed that her underclothes looked as if they had been soaked in blood. Dr. Jacobs feared the tremendous amount of blood lost would threaten Nettie's life. It was thought she wouldn't make it through the night. However, her condition improved greatly over night. Nettie told her mother and Dr. Jacobs that after the assault Taylor left the house. A search party was formed to look for Taylor. The party checked Taylor's residence first, but they were told he was visiting another home. The party found Taylor at this home trying to escape from a back window. He was quickly surrounded by guns and pistols and apprehended. There were several threats to lynch Taylor on the spot, but he was brought to Chestertown and placed in the local jail. Witnesses noted there were several spots of blood on his clothing.
Acting on several threats that a mob was going to come and lynch Taylor, Sheriff Plummer removed Taylor and another prisoner Moses Brown from jail later that evening. Brown was removed because Sheriff Plummer feared the mob would lynch Brown out of anger that Taylor would not be in the jail. Sheriff Plummer admitted that if they had of lynched Taylor before placing him in jail he would of had no objection. However, since he had been placed under Plummer's authority he would do his best to prevent any lynches from taking place. He placed the prisoners aboard a steam tug named Gracie. The tug was owned by a Mr. Joseph Turner. The prisoners were taken to Wilmer's Wharf on the Queen Anne's side. They returned to Chestertown's harbor at 2 o'clock that next morning.
There were several attempts by groups of men to locate Taylor. There was an estimated 500 people gathering in excitement at the jail and courthouse yards. The crowd dispersed after Taylor's whereabouts could not be found. One group of men located the tug boat. When they checked the cabin they did not see Taylor and Brown on board. The men left the vessel and Sheriff Plummer placed Taylor and Brown back into the jail around 5 o'clock that morning. By 9 o'clock that night up to 1000 men gathered at the jail. A body of masked men carrying an assortment of weapons demanded the Sheriff to open the jail's door. When the Sheriff refused the men open the door using a sledge hammer. The men rushed in and swiftly overpowered the Sheriff and other officers on duty. The mob placed a rope around Taylor's neck and dragged him down the steps and out of the jail yard. They hung him from a tree just outside the city limits. He was yanked up into the tree until all life was drained from his body. He was left swinging from the tree. At 11 o'clock Coroner Pippen directed an Officer Kelly to cut the body down and place it in an old engine house for the night.
A coroner's jury ruled the next morning that James Taylor's death was caused from lynching by persons unknown to the jury. Taylor was buried in the local pauper burial grounds. There was no reported criminal investigation into who was responsible for the death of James Taylor. It was even reported in The Baltimore Sun, May 19, 1892, that the lynchers met with Chestertown officials and made formal agreements about how the lynching would take place. Chestertown representatives wanted Taylor to be carried to Kennedyville before being lynched, however, this agreement could not be made. The men agreed to lynch Taylor outside the city limits. They also agreed not to mutilate or shoot Taylor's body. The men proclaimed Taylor's lynching would serve to protect their wives, mothers, and children from any further harm. It would also protect Nettie Silcox from having to tell of her experience in court. James Taylor continued to proclaim innocence even up until the last hour of his life. He reported to The Sun, May 19, 1892, when asked if he was guilty of the crime, "No, sir, I am an innocent man and I am not afraid to say so even while I am expecting to meet my God in a few minutes."
Link
to Lynching Profile Questionnaire
by Dana Z. Sutton
|
|| Search the Archives || Education & Outreach || Archives of Maryland Online ] Governor General Assembly Judiciary Maryland.Gov
|