Died in jail or a lockup
Charles Lewis
Charles Lewis, a Black man who had been discharged from the army, was held in the jail at Hickman, Kentucky, in December 1918. Associated Press reporting says a mob of masked men broke into the jail early one morning and battered down the iron doors. The jailer refused to hand over the keys, so the mob broke the lock to Lewis's cell, took him, and hanged him. County officials pleaded with the mob but could not stop it.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. The Associated Press reported that a mob broke into the Hickman jail, battered down the doors, broke the lock to his cell after the jailer refused to hand over the keys, and hanged him.
Reported by: Associated Press (reporters).