In Forsyth County, Georgia in September 1912, alleged attacks of two white women by black men resulted in a variety of violence by whites against blacks: a serious physical attack by whites against a black preacher, lynching of a black suspect by a large white mob at the county jail, five blacks charged with crimes, and two of them convicted of rape and murder by an all-white jury, and sentenced to death by hanging at the ages of 16 and 17. In the early stages of the unrest, the Sheriff gained reinforcements of 25 National Guard troops, but they could not control the mob in the county seat. A prisoner was taken to Gainesville and Atlanta to protect him from the mob before trial.