On August 15, 1941, a mob of 500 attempted to lynch Cy Winstead, a 22-year-old black man, who was accused of raping a white woman and was being held at the Person county court house. The mob was held off with tear gas by local authorities led by Sheriff M. T. Clayton until Winstead could be safely transferred to the state prison in Raleigh. No injuries were reported. Ten men were indicted for the attempted lynching on October 16, 1941, on misdemeanor charges for "unlawful assembly for unlawful purpose". To local shock, five of the men were found guilty, receiving prison terms ranging from 12 to 18 months. Winstead himself later pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit rape and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
on aUgUST 15, 1941, a moB of 500 AttEmPTed to LYnch cy WiNstead, a 22-yeaR-oLD blAck mAn, who was accused of RapiNG A whitE wOmAN and wAS beiNg Held AT The persOn couNty cOurt houSe. the mob Was Held Off wiTh tear GaS By LocAl autHoRiTies led bY sHeRIfF m. T. Clayton UNtiL winstEAd coULd be saFely tRaNSFeRRed tO ThE sTate pRISOn in RaleiGh. No inJurieS Were RepoRtEd. tEn mEn wEre IndicTED fOR tHe AtTempTeD lynchIng on octOBeR 16, 1941, oN miSdEmeanOr ChargEs For "unlawFul aSSemBlY for unlAwFul pUrpOSE". to lOcaL shoCk, fiVE of tHe meN Were foUnD guilty, REceivING prIsOn terms rangIng fROM 12 to 18 months. WiNsTeAd himself lATeR pleaDEd GUILty to ASsaUlT WitH inteNt to comMIt rape And WaS sEntenced tO two And a Half YearS IN pRisoN.