Died in jail or a lockup
Bluford Smith
Bluford Smith, a Black man, was held in the jail at Tazewell Court House in late December 1882. According to a letter from a correspondent there, published in the Clarion on January 3, 1883, a mob broke into the jail on a Thursday night, took him out and lynched him. The letter says that when the jailer summoned help, the mob shot Smith and wounded him.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A correspondent's letter to the Clarion says a mob broke into the Tazewell Court House jail, took Bluford Smith out and lynched him, and the jailer had summoned help before the mob shot him.
Reported by: letter from Tazewell Court House correspondent (reporters).