Charles Thurber was a black man lynched in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on October 24, 1882.
[1] A plaque was installed in 2020 to memorialize Thurber,[2] whose lynching took place on the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway (later becoming the Great Northern Railway) bridge over the Red River between Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota.
Thurber was accused of raping two white women, one the wife of a railroad worker and the other described as a "Norwegian servant girl".
For example, at one point the headline writer used poetry, as follows: Quiet and Peace Entirely Restored and with an Investigation no One will be Bored Public Opinion Carefully Sifted and Every One Rejoices that the Negro was lifted No Investigation Required and None Need Fear for Themselves in the Trouble being mired Thurber, the Negro Rapest [sic] Fell off the Bridge and was Hurt while Mr. Thomas COVERED HIM UP WITH RED RIVER DIRT.
According to the existing historical accounts, a mob of citizens broke down the doors of the jail to abduct Thurber before any trial could take place.