City Marshal James Carter

James Carter

City Marshal James Carter was beaten to death with a crowbar by three men he surprised breaking into the Toccoa National Bank around 4:00 a.m.

Marshal Carter's body was found just outside the bank door the next morning. Footprints beside his body led deputies to a house where the three suspects were arrested.

Due to threats of lynching, the suspects were transferred from the Toccoa Jail to the jail in Clarksville. A week later, a mob of more than 200 men broke into the prison and seized the suspects. All three were hanged from a tree just outside of town, and their bodies were riddled with bullets.

Marshal Carter was a Confederate Civil War veteran and had served with the Toccoa Police Department for ten years. He was survived by his wife and five children.