| Location: | Williamson County Courthouse, Franklin, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Coordinates: | 35.9247°N -86.8689°W |
| Date: | August 10, 1888 |
| Time: | about 10 a.m. |
| Type: | Lynching |
| Victims: | Amos Miller |
Amos Miller was a 23-year-old African-American man who was lynched from the balcony of the Williamson County Courthouse in Franklin, Tennessee, on August 10, 1888.
Miller was accused of raping Mrs. Scott, a 50-year-old white woman, near Santa Fe[1] in Maury County on June 9[2] or 10, 1888.[3] Miller worked as a farmhand on the Scott farm in Maury County; the Scotts had a daughter.[2] Miller, who was 23 years old, was described by The Daily American as "a heavy-built, very dark negro".[2]
Miller was arrested on June 16 at the home of Marshal Roberts, where he allegedly tried to steal a hat after he had lost his.[1] Miller reportedly confessed to the assault, and was jailed in Columbia.[2] On the same day, a mob threatened to lynch him.[2] As a result, he was transferred to the jail in Franklin on June 17, but once again, a mob threatened to lynch him.[2] He was transferred to a third location: the Davidson County Jail in Nashville.[2]
Miller's trial was postponed twice because of these threats.[2] On August 9, one day before the trial, a mob came from Maury County to Franklin.[2] The next morning, some of the mob were in the public square, others on horseback, and others in the courthouse.[2] Miller was taken to Franklin by train and entered the courthouse.[2] His lawyers asked to change the location of the trial or postpone it again, but Judge McAlister rejected this and decided to continue the proceedings.[2]
During the trial, a mob of 40 men entered the courthouse and, with other men who were already in the building, forced Miller out of the room.[2] The men proceeded to hang Miller from the railings of the courthouse balcony at about 10 am.[4] [5] [6]
Law enforcement reportedly were unable to identify the lynchers "notwithstanding the fact that not one of the mob was disguised".[3]