Lynching of Jesse Washington: May 15, 1916
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City: Waco, Texas
County: McLennan County
Race or Ethnicity of Victim: Black
Gender of Victim: Male
Age of Victim: 17
Alleged Crime: Murder
Manner of Death: Burned
Source of Information: NAACP 30 Years of Lynching
Files
Photo of Jesse Washington's lynching in Waco.
Source: The Texas Collection, Baylor University
Crowd Watching Burning of Jesse Washington's Corpse
Source: Library of Congress
After cutting off his fingers, ears and toes, the crowd burned Jesse Washington’s body. “Shouts of delight went up from the thousands of throats,” wrote the Waco Times-Herald.
Source: Library of Congress
The charred head of Jesse Washington lies at the foot of a tree trunk where he was lynched and set on fire.
Source: Library of Congress
"15,000 See Negro Burned at Stake by Mob at Waco"
Source: The Eugene Guard (Eugene, Oregon) | Date: May 15, 1916
"Parts of His Body Were Cut Off by the Crowd When Flames Had Subsided"
Source: Austin American-Statesmen (Austin, Texas) | Date: May 15, 1916