Benjamin Hance
Benjamin Hance was held at the St. Mary's County jail in Leonardtown, Maryland. According to an Alexandria Gazette report, about twenty-five masked men broke into the jail early on June 17, 1887, and the jailer, Mr. Clements, was forced to hand over the keys. The men broke open a cell door, took Mr. Hance from his cell, carried him outside town and hanged him from a tree. The jailer said he did not know any of the men, though he believed some were colored men, and no arrests had been made when the report was published.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about twenty-five masked men took Benjamin Hance from the St. Mary's County jail, and the jailer handed over the keys after they broke in.
Reported by: Alexandria Gazette (reporters).