A black man who told police he was nearly lynched by a group of white men actually ran into a clothesline after arguing with his wife

The man whose name was not immediately available, called the sheriff and said a group of men tried to hang him in rural Carter County after he stopped to help an elderly farmer round up straying cattle. Sheriff Ken Grace said deputies and FBI agents investigated the case, and the man told officers that he made up the false claim. "He said they accused him of stealing cattle, wrapped a rope around his neck and dragged him around and beat him," Grace said. "Later, he admitted that he was arguing with his wife at an apartment complex and went running through the yard and ran into a clothesline and got the burn on his neck. His wife confirmed that.