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Lynching of Jim Taylor

UNSOLVED1891Franklin, Tennessee (bridge on Murfreesboro Road, near modern-day Pinkerton Park)2 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Jim Taylor was an African-American man who worked as a sharecropper on a farm owned by James Hodge, located about two miles from Franklin, Tennessee. Contemporary newspapers described him in racially charged terms, with The Daily American calling him "a very large negro" who was "feared by his own race and regarded as desperate," and The Leaf-Chronicle describing him as "a dangerous character."

On April 29, 1891, a circus troupe that included many African-American performers was in Franklin. According to reporting from the time, Taylor went into Franklin and shot a circus artist identified as Morrellton. When a policeman named Charles Cook attempted to arrest him, Taylor reportedly shot Cook in the neck as well. Taylor was subsequently arrested; he was reported to be carrying two guns and a knife at the time. He was taken into custody and held at the Williamson County Jail in Franklin.

That night, at approximately 10 p.m., a mob broke into the jail and dragged Taylor out of his cell. The mob took him to a bridge on Murfreesboro Road, near what is now Pinkerton Park, where they hanged him and shot his body multiple times. The mob, who were on horseback, left the scene shortly afterward. Taylor's body was discovered the following morning.

Key facts

Victims
Jim Taylor
Date
1891
Location
Franklin, Tennessee (bridge on Murfreesboro Road, near modern-day Pinkerton Park)
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 1891-04-29

    A circus troupe including many African-American performers arrived in Franklin, Tennessee. Jim Taylor reportedly shot a circus artist named Morrellton and shot policeman Charles Cook in the neck when Cook attempted to arrest him. Taylor was arrested and taken to the Williamson County Jail.

  2. 1891-04-30

    At approximately 10 p.m. the previous night, a mob broke into the Williamson County Jail, dragged Jim Taylor from his cell, and took him to a bridge on Murfreesboro Road near modern-day Pinkerton Park, where he was hanged and shot multiple times. His body was found the following morning.

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People

  • Jim Taylor

    VICTIM

    African-American sharecropper who was lynched by a mob after being arrested and jailed in Franklin, Tennessee.

  • Charles Cook

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Policeman who attempted to arrest Jim Taylor and was reportedly shot in the neck by Taylor during the arrest attempt.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Franklin, Tennessee (bridge on Murfreesboro Road, near modern-day Pinkerton Park)

35.9251, -86.8689

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Jim Taylor, an African-American sharecropper, was seized by a mob from the Williamson County Jail in Franklin, Tennessee, and lynched on April 30, 1891.
Where did the crime happen?
Franklin, Tennessee (bridge on Murfreesboro Road, near modern-day Pinkerton Park).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved. Last verified July 2026.
More cases in Tennessee

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICLynching of Jim TaylorWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — haaretz.comhaaretz.com · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026
Last verified against sources
JUL 07, 2026