This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: BasketLady420 Surnames: Vance Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.vance/3137/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The February 1, 1893 murder of Henry Smith in Paris, Texas was the first blatantly public, actively promoted lynching of a southern black by a large crowd of southern whites. Smith, an insane ex-slave, allegedly killed Myrtle Vance, the three-year-old daughter of a brutal Texas policeman after the policeman had assaulted him. Although the child had not been sexually molested, a local clergyman, Bishop Haygood, fueled the growing hysteria with lurid tales of how the child had been "taken by her heels and torn asunder in the mad wantonness of gorilla ferocity." The suspect was captured in Arkansas. He confessed on the train back to Paris, Texas. (more on website) I am not related to this family, just passing on this information which comes from a website called "American Lynching." The link for the site is listed below. Joyce http://www.americanlynching.com/main.html Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.