Charles B. Collis, a 45-year-old male police officer in Springfield, Ohio, died on March 6, 1904. He was the first officer in Springfield to be killed in the line of duty. On the day of his death, Collis was approached by Richard Dixon, an African American resident of Springfield, who requested assistance in retrieving personal effects from his ex-girlfriend, Anna.
During the encounter, Dixon allegedly shot Collis, leading to his death the following day.
The incident sparked a significant public outcry, and a mob quickly formed, demanding justice for Collis. The mob forcibly entered the jail where Dixon was being held and lynched him on March 7, 1904. This lynching was part of a broader pattern of racial violence in Springfield during that period, with several African Americans being lynched between 1902 and 1904.
The lynching of Richard Dixon and the death of Charles B. Collis led to further unrest in Springfield, including riots and attacks on Black-owned businesses. Despite the tragic circumstances, no formal arrests or legal proceedings were conducted against the mob members involved in the lynching. The case remains a somber reminder of the racial tensions and violence that plagued the early 20th century in the United States.
