By the time police rescue units arrived, two of the agents were reduced to charred corpses and the third was seriously injured. Authorities suspect that the lynching was provoked by the persons who were being investigated. Both local and federal authorities had abandoned the agents, saying that the town was too far away for them to try to intervene. Some officials said they would provoke a massacre if the authorities tried to rescue the men from the mob.
by the time police rescue units arrived two of the agents were reduced to charred corpses and the third was seriously injured authorities suspect that the lynching was provoked by the persons who were being investigated both local and federal authorities had abandoned the agents saying that the town was too far away for them to try to intervene some officials said they would provoke a massacre if the authorities tried to rescue the men from the mob