Lynch court, or lynching - this is the name of lynching, reprisal against a person suspected of an unlawful act or violation of local customs, without trial or investigation. As a rule, we are talking about the actions of a street crowd.
The term "Lynch Court" originated in the United States. Its origin is associated with the names of two Americans who bore such a surname and practiced a similar practice.
Charles Lynch
Charles Lynch (1736-1796) was a colonel in the irregular forces of the American colonists during the Revolutionary War. It was a tough time for America. Its inhabitants were far from so unanimous in their desire to gain independence, as is often shown in Hollywood films. There were many who supported the British government. As always happens in troubled times, there were many who wanted to profit, the civil war was accompanied by a surge of crime.
This situation required the establishment of order through the “iron hand”. Colonel Charles Lynch also understood this. He created his own court in Beckford County. However, his actions were a little like the “Lynch trial” in the modern sense: he still did not send anyone to the gallows without hearing the essence of the matter. But Lynch made the decision on his own - there was no charge or defense in this “court”.
