The Almost Lynching of Tom Evans at Mead's Mills

Detroit Free Press, February 9, 1899

I'm
sure that Thomas Evans's troubles began long before a stint at the
Detroit House of Corrections but as he was about to be released in
February of 1899 his wife filed suit against him for non-support of his
family.

Detroit Free Press, February 14, 1899

Adding to the charges were accusations of taking liberties with
his stepdaughters Nellie and Minnie Johnson the year previous and
threatened them with death if they went to authorities. He was bound
over soon thereafter.

Detroit Free Press, May 19, 1899

Between then and May 18 he was acquitted
of assault on the girls and they were sent to the Coldwater State School
for abandoned and orphaned children and Evans went about life as usual
in Meads Mill.

Detroit Free Press, May 26, 1899

Except that the citizens of that small village a
mile south of Northville were unhappy with the circumstances and shame
that had been brought upon the town and chose to rid themselves of Evans
by lynching him. He pleaded to tell the truth of his actions but the
mob placed the noose around his neck and strung it to a tree limb in
mock fashion and after a few pulls and the cowardly bellows of Evans he
was released to leave town and never come back.

Detroit Free Press, May 20, 1899

Detroit Free Press, May 24, 1899

Detroit Free Press, June 18, 1899

Instead of
escaping the state he went to Northville where he brought suit against
the men who attempted to hang him. Those fine men included Cassius M.
Benton, Carnie G. Benton, Peter Harrison (or Hansen), W. Pitt Johnson,
Gideon Pitt Benton, William Johnson, David Barbar, Perrine White, George
Hoyt, Patrick Connelly, George Stark and Thomas Harrison.

Detroit Free Press, June 11, 1899

Afterwards he absconded to Toledo and Monroe where police were soon on
his trail once more. It was likely for some mischief in Northville as he
was arrested once again in June and convicted of threatening to burn
down buildings and do bodily harm in town. He was sent up to DeHoCo for
another 90 days.

Detroit Free Press, August 15, 1899

Apparently he got out early and was arrested for
bigamy in Grayling in August of the same year. He was taken to
Cheboygen where he was found guilty of said charges and sentenced to
three years of hard labor at Jackson State Prison.

Detroit Free Press, August 14, 1899

Eventually, the $25,000 suit was dropped. I have yet to investigate whether he emerged from Jackson to cause more havoc.

Detroit Free Press, September 10, 1899

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The Nankin Township Historical Society

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