Andy Thomson

Andy Thomson was held in the Union jail in Union, South Carolina, in February 1871, when a mob of masked, mounted men took him out during the night and killed him. The Charleston Daily News, citing Sheriff Dunn, reported that he was hanged at a hanging ground about a mile and a half from town, while another paper reported that he was shot. The Sumter Watchman reported that his body was found hanging from a hickory tree near town. Trial testimony says the jailer refused to give up the keys before the prisoners were taken, while some accounts say the deputy sheriff and jailor were forced to hand them over.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Masked men took Andy Thomson from the Union jail and hanged him from a hickory tree, according to the Unionville Times and Sheriff Dunn, as reported in the Charleston Daily News.

Reported by: Sheriff Dunn of Union, as reported in The Charleston Daily News (the agency that held him); Unionville Times (reprinted in The Sumter Watchman) (reporters); Union Times (reprinted in the Yorkville Enquirer) (reporters).

Sources (19)

• Alexandria Gazette, January 9, 1871, page 2 Alexandria Gazette, January 9, 1871
• Worcester Daily Spy, January 10, 1871, page 1 Worcester Daily Spy, January 10, 1871
• The Republican Journal, January 12, 1871, page 2 The Republican Journal, January 12, 1871
• Pawtucket Gazette And Chronicle, January 13, 1871, page 2 Pawtucket Gazette And Chronicle, January 13, 1871
• The Fairfield Herald, January 18, 1871, page 2 The Fairfield Herald, January 18, 1871
• New National Era, January 26, 1871, page 1 New National Era, January 26, 1871
• New Orleans Republican, February 15, 1871, page 1 New Orleans Republican, February 15, 1871
• The Charleston Daily News, February 15, 1871, page 1 The Charleston Daily News, February 15, 1871
• Yorkville Enquirer, February 16, 1871, page 3 Yorkville Enquirer, February 16, 1871
• The Anderson Intelligencer, February 16, 1871, page 2 The Anderson Intelligencer, February 16, 1871
• Yorkville Enquirer, February 16, 1871, page 2 Yorkville Enquirer, February 16, 1871
• The Daily State Journal, February 16, 1871, page 1 The Daily State Journal, February 16, 1871
• The Charleston Daily News, February 20, 1871, page 1 The Charleston Daily News, February 20, 1871
• The Working Christian, February 21, 1871, page 2 The Working Christian, February 21, 1871
• Yorkville Enquirer, February 23, 1871, page 2 Yorkville Enquirer, February 23, 1871
• The Sumter Watchman, March 1, 1871, page 2 The Sumter Watchman, March 1, 1871
• Worcester Daily Spy, November 7, 1871, page 1 Worcester Daily Spy, November 7, 1871
• The Charleston Daily News, April 23, 1872, page 1 The Charleston Daily News, April 23, 1872
• The Union Daily Times, December 11, 1926, page 2 The Union Daily Times, December 11, 1926