Lynching That Made History Discussed at Lafayette

Black History Month forum focuses on case that changed legal history in America.

What happened to Ed Johnson in Tennessee in 1906 would have been laughable, if it wasn't so horrifying. In January of that year, Johnson -- who was black -- found himself accused of raping a white woman despite any evidence against and put on trial before a judge and jury who had already decided his guilt. While his verdict was being appealed, a lynch mob took matters into its own hands. It's the type of thing that happened thousands of times in American history. Yet Johnson's case also made history, author Mark Curriden told an audience at Lafayette College Tuesday evening. For one thing, the case marked the first time an African-American lawyer acted as lead counsel before the U.S. Supreme Court. More uniquely, it was also the first time…

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