Victim ID: VA1894051401
Victim Name: Samuel Wood
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: Unknown
Job: Unknown
Method of Death: Shot
Accusation: Hiding prostitutes
Date: 1894-05-14
City: Gate City
Mob Composition: Regulators

Summary: On May 14^th, 1894, Samuel Wood, an African American man, was shot and killed in his home in Gate City by a group of men, known as ‘Regulators’. As these men were looking for an illegal brothel in the area, they mistakenly thought that Wood was hiding prostitutes in his home.

On the night of May 14^th, 1894, a self-described party of Regulators went riding around Gate City to find a house of prostitutes and get rid of them. After entering some houses and finding no prostitutes, the Regulators went to Samuel Wood’s house and demanded to be let in. According to the Richmond Planet, “Coming to the house of Samuel Wood, an inoffensive colored man, they were refused admittance. The leader ordered the band to fire on the house. The men were armed with Winchester rifles and revolvers, and about thirty shots were fired through the door of the cottage, killing Wood instantly.” Wood’s wife and children were in bed and were not harmed. Three men were immediately arrested for the lynching of Samuel Wood (Richmond Planet) and other prominent citizens were arrested in the following days (Roanoke Times). Twelve people were eventually indicted for the killing of Samuel Wood (Big Stone Gap Post). Notwithstanding the fact that “one of the party reported that himself, and naming the others, were at Sam Wood’s house the same night the murder was committed, and also stated that several shots were fired” (Big Stone Gap Post), in August 1894 the twelve men on trial were acquitted of all charges.

Commenting on the lynching Samuel Wood, the Richmond Planet advocated for armed self-defense: “Colored men living in lonely communities should be as careful in purchasing Winchester rifles and revolvers, as are prudent men in taking out insurance policies In large cities. […] We do not believe in retaliation but insist upon self-defense. When colored men do this, realizing that they can die but once, lynch-law will go and the lynchers with it.” For additional information about this lynching, you can watch this video by the non-profit organization Black in Appalachia.

News Coverage: Big Stone Gap Post, Richmond Planet, Roanoke Times

Article Link (from Big Stone Gap Post published on 1894-05-17)
Article Link (from Big Stone Gap Post published on 1894-06-06)
Article Link (from Big Stone Gap Post published on 1894-08-23)
Article Link (from Richmond Planet published on 1894-05-19)
Article Link (from Roanoke Times published on 1894-05-20)