AP: Inquest opens on black man's hanging death that (may be) lynching

[Atlant]

(Headline shortened to fit in field)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/07/28/national1154EDT0553.DTL

Inquest opens on black man's hanging
death that inspired rumors of lynching

JILL BARTON, Associated Press Writer
Monday, July 28, 2003

An inquest opened Monday into the hanging of a 32-year-old black man
whose death divided this small rural community as rumors circulated that
he had been lynched.

Palm Beach Circuit Judge Harold Cohen convened the coroner's inquest
into the May 28 death of Feraris "Ray" Golden to try to determine whether
he committed suicide or was killed.

Police concluded Golden committed suicide, hanging himself from a tree
outside his grandmother's home with a work shirt as a noose.

Relatives said that was impossible; they claim Golden was found with his
hands tied behind his back. Friends said Golden was dating a white
policeman's daughter in this rural farming community of about 15,000.

Uneasiness over the death became so strong that NAACP leaders called for
the inquest, the first in Palm Beach County in 18 years.

"We just think there are some questions that need to be answered," said
Linda Johnson, the local president of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People.

<more>

[salin]

1. How does this work...

hanging oneself with one's arms tied behind one's neck. Seems pretty challenging.

[0007]

2. Shit man, that's easy

I've done it twice alrealy.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Here's an additional story, from the Sun-Sentinel in Ft. Lauderdale

Inquest begins to examine rumors that Belle Glade hanging was lynching

By Jon Burstein
Staff Writer and the Associated Press
Posted July 28 2003, 1:20 PM EDT

BELLE GLADE -- A rare inquest into the hanging of a 32-year-old black man began Monday with a judge listening to the taped 911 call reporting the death and viewing a police video in a case that has divided this small rural community.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Harold Cohen convened the coroner's inquest into the May 28 death of Feraris ``Ray'' Golden to try to determine whether he committed suicide or was killed. Cohen expected to hear testimony from police, medical examiners and people believed to have knowledge of the death.

Cohen will rule whether it was a suicide or a suspicious death. He could direct a law enforcement agency to act on his findings. The hearing was expected to last at least one day.

The inquest started with Cohen listening to a tape-recorded 911 call placed by Golden's stepfather, Henry Drummer, and watching a police videotape showing officers running to Golden and removing him from the tree. (snip/...)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-phanging28jul28,0,1292682.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Hope there's so much national attention on this story they won't be able to cover it up.