The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.12, page 245, Aug. 1913, U. of Illinois Press

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AUGUST · I 9 I 3 There was no rape connected with the lynching twhich] took place here June lath last, of one, Will Norman, a half-wit, comparatively known by no body here but the family for whom he worked. He was the cook and ''all-round man'' for the family, anc! of course demanded nothing for his labour but took what they gave him. There was a little girl, the only daughter in the family. It is a fact known to the family that the little air! and Norman never did get along. Whenever they met there was a quarrel ending sometimes in blows between them. This seems unreasonable, but ~ am told that it is a fact. It is said that the mother and wife frequently entered her protest against the boy's staying, knowing the little air! did not like him, and that their dislike of each other was mutual, she fearte]d that some day would bring the worst. Her protest was over-ruled because of an unportant financial consideration. June lath was the day. Norman was at his work in the kitchen, the child came, and the usual ''scrap'' insued between them. Norman threw the potato masher at her. Evidently the blow was stronger than he intended it to be. When he found that he had stunned the chilc! he dragged her into a near by closet closed the door of same and left the house. It was a very hot day. The blow hardly caused her death, if it had the papers would have eagerly said so. If the truth was known the heat in that closed closet was the direct cause of death, but that Is not here nor there. The fact ~ wish to emphasize is, that no body here mentioned rape in connection with the case, only one paper, here mentioned it indirectly, for effect, of course. ~ don't believe the parents of the child would give color to that idea. Now all this ~ have said, may amount to nothing In the case. Norman was said to be a worthless Negro who seemed to have added absolutely nothing of good to his race. Since it Is said that there Is only one rape case In this list it is to our interest as a race to show that none of those unfortunates were lynched for the crime the other people say provokes lynchings. Further, more, out of justice to Norman, ~ fee! that it Is fair to say to you that he was not accused of rape, and his name, though worthless, should be cleared from that awful stain. This Is the truth, and yet In this case it might not be safe for me to make public the truth over my signature. So many good white people hire wordless Negroes to work about 245