Excerpted from "Electric Chair for Will Black," in the Raleigh News and Observer, 28 June 1916.

In speaking of the trial of Will Black at Snow Hill Governor Craig said: "I feel greatly relieved that the trial has been accomplished in a peaceful and orderly way. The situation was such as to give me the greatest concern. A negro had been lynched near Goldsboro¹, not far from Snow Hill; another had been lynched near Kinston, or between Kinston and Snow Hill. The latter negro, the father of the prisoner, was certainly not guilty of a capital offense, nor of anything more than a misdemeanor.²

"I received information that seemed to me reliable that a mob intended to lynch this negro, Will Black, and he was accordingly brought at once to the State's Prison at Raleigh.

"Judge Whedbee expected to try this prisoner, Will Black, at a special term of court in Greene county. He went there to investigate the situation and reported to me that it was serious, that the military would be required to protect him. It was then decided to have no special term, that Judge Devin, at the regular term, which convened on Monday, the 26th, could try this defendant. He had a conference with county officials of Greene, and was informed that this negro, Will Black, would certainly be lynched unless he were thoroughly protected, and Judge Davin was of the opinion that several military companies would be required. The sheriff of Greene county was of the same opinion, as written me by Judge Devin. I had the further information that certain people in the vicinity—I do not know who—had openly made the declaration that the negro would be lynched when carried to Greene for trial, that I could not send soldiers enough to protect him.

Determined To Prevent Lynching.

"I have not said anything about this matter in the newspapers heretofore. I did not wish in any manner to excite the people of Greene county. I did not wish to be in the attitude of giving them a dare in any way. I am satisfied that the mob spirit was prevalent, that they would have lynched this man if he had not been protected. I was determined that he should not be lynched. I think that a small number of determined men could have protected him—a small number of men who were determined to see that no mob took him, but I did not wish to take any chances, and consequently I sent him to Greene county under the protection of two military companies. These companies were in command of General Young and Colonel Gardner. I did not wish those who would constitute a mob to be tempted to violence on account of any supposed inadequate protection. The killing of any people in Greene county on account of this trial would have been an inexpiable horror, but the lynching of him under the circumstances would have been immensely worse. The result of this trial shows that there is no mob to take vengeance where there is determined authority. There is no justification, and no excuse for mob violence in this State. The law has been administered and will be administered. The mob that in disguise, and in the night time, that cowardly takes advantage of the weakness of a situation is a public enemy and should be condemned by all good people. It tramples down the law and heaps dishonor upon our State—unjustifiable dishonor. There is no palliation for it in the State, and he who would condone mob violence in North Carolina is a public enemy. The large body of the citizenship of Grene county are good people, and they deprecate this situation as all good citizens do."

1. The name of this man was John Richards.

2. The name of this man was Joseph Black.