Preston Porter Jr., 15, reads a Bible for comfort as he is led by rope to be burned at the stake by a lynch mob. After being tortured for 4 days, he’d confessed to killing a white girl after the police said his father and brother would also be lynched unless he talked (Colorado, 1900) [1021 x 1197].

[Lynching of Preston Porter Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching_of_Preston_Porter_Jr.) (the Bible was given to him by a jailer, not the mob)

When asked for comment following the lynching, Colorado Governor [Charles S. Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_S._Thomas) did not offer a statement. However, earlier in the week, he had made pro-lynching remarks.

>”As a matter of fact, hanging is too good for that man. The spirit of the lynch law is with the people, and will remain in them just as long as the Anglo-Saxon exists. the Anglo-Saxon honors his women. He will protect their virtue and honor even to the extremity. There is nothing he will not do to avenge of the loss of a woman’s honor.”