A. Atchinson
A. Atchinson was held in the Monterey jail in Highland County, Virginia, when, according to a January 1884 newspaper account, unmasked men came to the jail on the night of January 4 and demanded the keys from the jailer. The men forced their way in, fired into his cell and wounded him, then dragged him to a tree about half a mile from town and hanged him. The jailer said masks that fell from the men's faces allowed him to identify them. The account describes Mr. Atchinson as a prominent Readjuster who had been appointed county superintendent of free schools and as having been born in Vermont; that the jailer gave up the keys or resisted is not recorded here.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob broke into the Monroe jail at Monterey, Highland County, Virginia, demanded the keys from the jailer, fired into his cell and hanged him from a tree near town, according to the newspaper account.
Reported by: the jailer; news reports.