Silas Turner was reportedly attempting to collect a debt from someone in the house of W. H. King when he was allegedly murdered by a Black man on the morning of Sunday, July 4, 1915. A White mob, some 500 men strong, quickly formed and rounded up the local black population. While the Tampa Tribune reported that local Sheriff Etheridge and his deputies hunted for the murderers of Turner. The mob killed father and son Alonzo and James D. Green. To prevent word of the lynching from reaching the outside world the lines of communication were cut. Sheriff Etheridge was quoted as saying that Alonzo and James Green had nothing to do with the murder of Turner. After the lynching Sheriff Etheridge brought in three suspects for Turner's murder Will Gordon, Scott Farr and Squire Thomas.
