Benjamin Payne
Benjamin Payne was held at the King County jail in Seattle on January 18, 1882. According to the Seattle Chronicle's account of the coroner's jury, a crowd of about five hundred broke through the fencing and jail doors, reached his cell, and marched him to the trees where two men had just been hanged. He protested his innocence as the rope was placed around his neck, and he was hanged. The coroner's jury found that he died by hanging but could not determine whose hands did it, and no one was ever arrested.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A crowd of about five hundred broke into the King County jail, took Benjamin Payne from his cell and hanged him, and the Seattle Chronicle coroner's jury found he died by hanging but could not determine who did it.
Reported by: Seattle Chronicle coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); Seattle Chronicle (reporters).