Bill Reamus

Reams was held in the county jail at Clinton, Kentucky. On the night of Monday, February 27, 1888, about forty or fifty men came to the jail and demanded the keys, and the jailer surrendered them to the force of the crowd. The men took Reams from the jail and hanged him. One account dates the killing to the following night.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A newspaper account says a mob of about 40 to 50 men demanded the keys to the Clinton jail, and the jailer gave in and let them take Reams out to be hanged.

Reported by: newspaper reporting on the Clinton jail lynching (reporters).

Sources (2)

• The Hickman Courier, March 2, 1888, page 2 The Hickman Courier, March 2, 1888
• Western Appeal, March 3, 1888, page 2 Western Appeal, March 3, 1888