200 Hillsboro Citizens Hang John Sprunt Hill, Highway Commissioner, in Effigy, March 6, 1922

John Sprunt Hill Hanged in Effigy. . . Over 200 Orange County Citizens Angered With Highway Commissioner Take Part

Hillsboro, March 2—John Sprunt Hill, highway commissioner of the fourth district, was hanged and burned in effigy here this afternoon by a crowd of some 200 citizens who have become enraged at the commissioner’s attitude on the routing of the Central highway through Orange county.

The crowd timed its act well. Northern trains No. 22 and 17, which (word obscured) here, were both in the station when the crowd dragged a big straw figure to a tree nearby, strung it up and started a blaze underneath. Across the straw figure in big letters was written Mr. Hill’s name. Passengers of both trains hung out the windows of the cars and watched the crowd as it cheered the flames.

Feeling has been running high among many citizens of Hillsboro at the unanimous decision of the state way commission not to route the highway on the main street of the town, and many persons here are saying the matter will e fought out in every court possible. Mr. Hill’s recommendation followed the report of engineers against the routing desired by Hillsboro citizens.

From editorial page of The Concord Times, March 6, 1922. J.B. Sherrill, editor and publisher; W.M. Sherrill, associate editor.