Francis Taylor was a 21 year old, white woman in 1923. She lived in Sumner FL. with her husband James who was 30 years old. On Jan 1, 1923, her neighbor heard screaming late at night and came to the house, armed with a revolver, to find Frannie bruised and beaten. She claimed to have been raped by an African American man named Sam Carter. Sam also lived in the town of Sumner. He heard of the accusation and knew he was in danger, so he fled to Rosewood (3 miles away from Sumner). Mobs formed and the sheriff of Sumner, Robert Walker, formed a posse of about 400 men and began and investigation. He deputized some of them but not all. When shariff Walker asked for dogs from a nearby convict camp, one dog was used without his authority. This dog was lead by 100-150 men to the Carrier home, where Sam Carter was hiding. Sarah Carrier's nephew, Aaron Carrier, was taken out of his home, tied to a car and dragged to Sumner. When Aaron arrived at Sumner, Shariff Walker put him into protective custody to protect him from any further harm. Just shortly after, Shariff Walker alerted Rosewood of the posse that was growing out of control.