In what way can the individuals be seen as cowards?Discuss the psychology of a lynch mob. Why is Sherburn successful in breaking up the mob?

Sherburn stand before the crowd and address them about the cowardice of human. Sherburn stated that lynching does not occur in day light because human are not capable of doing any illegal thing in front of thousands of men. He gave the example of southerners who acquit a man of murder in the court but lynched him at night so that they could never be blamed for the criminal act. Thus, human race is coward and only put harm onto their fellow man when they can't be acquitted.

Explanation:

Colonel Sherburn is a wealthy shop owner who is taunted by Boggs and warned him that he will kill him if he continues to do so. Sherburn warned boggs despite of the fact that he was with his daughter. After the death of Sherburn, a lynching mob gathered on the street. He showed resilience against the crowd by showing them the real face of human cowardice. He told them that they are capable of lynching him only when there is no harm to them. The statements of Sherburn compelled the crowd to disengage and prevent themselves from lynching sherburn in daylight.