Victim ID: VA1897081601
Victim Name: Edward John Nolen
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: young
Job: Unknown
Method of Death: Shot
Accusation: Revenue informer
Date: 1897-08-16
County Name: Franklin County
Mob Composition: Armed moonshiners
Summary: On August 16th, 1897, a white man named Edward John Nolen was lynched by a group of armed moonshiners in Franklin County, Virginia. He was found riddled with bullets.
Edward John Nolen, reported in the newspapers as John E. Nowlin, was known in Franklin County because he reported on moonshiners and their illicit distilleries. Nowlin would receive money from the government for his reports, and sometimes would bring officers to the illicit distilleries. Officer Thomas Spencer put out a warrant for his arrest on Sunday, August 15th, 1897, for stealing pickles and butter from a spring house. By Monday, he had been taken to Long Branch to stand trial in front of a justice of the peace. Nolen was offered bail, but he couldn’t afford it, so he remained in custody; instead of being transported to Rocky Mount Jail, Nolen was held at Thomas Spencer’s house. Between 10 and 11 at night on August 16th, 1897, a number of armed men forced entry into Spencer’s home. As soon as they entered the home, the armed men fired at Nolen, killing him instantly. According to the Coroner John Simmons, “Edward Nolen came to his death […] by gunshot wounds. Two large wounds in the back to the left of the spinal column are very large or sufficient to produce instant death.” The Coroner’s Inquisition concluded that Nolen died “by shooting with shotguns by unknown parties.” The Times argued that the lynching “was committed by those against whom he had committed the “unpardonable sin” of reporting.”
Archival Sources: Coroner’s Inquisition
News Coverage: Daily Star, Richmond Planet, The Times
Article Link (from Richmond Planet published on 1897-08-28)
Article Link (from The Times published on 1897-08-21)