“ KILLING THEM BY THE WHOLESALE” A LYNCHING RAMPAGE IN SOUTH GEORGIA By Christopher c. Myers -Breana Thomas, Elaina Lovett, Sidney Hutchins, Nick Ragan

-Lynching is the practice whereby a mob usually several dozen or several hundred people take the law into its own hands in order to injure and kill a person accused of some wrong-doing. The alleged offense can range from a serious crime like theft or murder to a mere violation of local customs and sensibilities.

MAY 1918 Local Towns People followed the story and the saga of Sidney Johnson was coming to an end. Exchange of gunfire Dixon Smith and both Dampier brothers were wounded.

A LONG HISTORY IN THE U.S MOB VIOLENCE AND LYNCHING'S Thousands of men, women, and children were lynched between two sociologists call this the “lynching era.” Throughout this era there was no clear definition of lynching's or understanding of what exactly constituted of a lynching's,

MOB VIOLENCE Hangings were often accompanied by beatings, shootings, burnings, and sadistic torture. Lynch mobs showed racial hatred with impunity, brutality, barbarity, and sadism.

MOB VICTIMS Outside the south and border states, 83% of mob victims were white. In the south and border states, the overwhelming majority of victims, 85%- were black. Brooks county/named after South Carolina, congressman Preston Brooks, established a reputation second to none in Georgia for Race Violence.

1918 LYNCHING'S The number of victims- at least thirteen, served to confirm Brooks County's reputation as the most mob-prone region in Georgia 1880 and 1930 victims died this single incident which was literally a lynching rampage.

LYNCHING'S IN THE NEW SOUTH

HAMPTON SMITH A 31 year old white farmer. Sidney Johnson’s employer Had a well deserved reputation as a harsh boss He frequently beat and abused his workers

SIDNEY JOHNSON & HAMPTON SMITH Sidney Johnson quickly learned smiths management style Johnson experienced poor treatment that included frequent beatings

MAY 13,1918 Several of Hampton’s workers met in the Turners house on the evening of May 13,1918 to plan Smiths murder. Sidney Johnson, the Turners, and at least two other employers Will Thompson and will head were involved in this plan to murder Smith. Eugene Rice and Julius Jones, may have been involved

THE DEATH OF MARY TURNER

WILL HEAD The first of the mobs victims was Will Head Head was captured early Friday morning, May 17 near Barney Head provided the mob with details to kill Smith He was taken to Troupville, about five miles from Valdosta in neighboring Lowndes county

JULIUS JONES Was captured the following Friday of Thompson and Heads death He was in Savannah news May 19,1918 Also mentioned in the Thomasville Daily Times Enterprise may 18,1918 Savannah tribune May 25,1918

Ten women were lynched In the midst of this rampage the bodies of three unidentified black men were taken from the Little River below Barney and were lynched.