A10 Columbus, Texas USA 1837

Ernest Collins, age 15, and Benny Mitchell, 16, were lynched at the “Hanging Tree" on November 12, 1935. While in custody and chained neck to neck, they were dragged from a sheriff’s car by masked white men that grew to a 700-person mob. The county attorney condoned the actions as “the will of the people.” The motto of the city remains “Live Oaks for Live Folks” due to the many Quercus virginiana var. fusiformis trees in the city.

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