Charles Williams
Charles Williams, a Black man, was held in the city jail in Galena, Kansas, in 1899. Early on a Tuesday morning in early May, a mob broke into the jail and shot him, and he died there. The L'Anse Sentinel reports that about 25 masked men broke in through the door and shot through the bars around 3:30 a.m., killing him instantly. The Democratic Advocate says the mob was made up of Black men, that he was shot and left dead in his cell, and gives the date as early May, while the L'Anse Sentinel gives April. Neither account says whether jail staff resisted the mob or gave up access to him.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about 25 masked men broke into the Galena, Kansas city jail, shot Charles Williams through the bars and killed him, according to the accounts.
Reported by: news reports.