Dennis Ricard

Dennis Ricard, a Black man, was held in the Monroe County jail at Clarendon, Arkansas, when a mob took him from his cell in the early hours of August 10, 1898, and hanged him. Newspaper accounts say the deputy sheriff in charge first refused the mob's demands and then handed over the keys, though one paper says he gave them up only after an argument. The reported size of the mob ranges from about 30 to about 300 men, and the accounts differ on whether four or five men were taken and on where they were hanged, near the jail or at an old mill or sawmill. A coroner's jury found that he was killed by unknown persons.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took Dennis Ricard from the Monroe County jail at Clarendon and hanged him, and the deputy sheriff handed over the keys after first refusing the mob's demands.

Reported by: Little Rock dispatch in a newspaper report (reporters); coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner).

News reports (8)

• The Morning News, August 11, 1898, page 1 The Morning News, August 11, 1898
• Bryan Morning Eagle, August 11, 1898, page 4 Bryan Morning Eagle, August 11, 1898
• Richmond Dispatch, August 11, 1898, page 3 Richmond Dispatch, August 11, 1898
• The Forrest City Times, August 12, 1898, page 1 The Forrest City Times, August 12, 1898
• The Van Buren Press, August 13, 1898, page 2 The Van Buren Press, August 13, 1898
• The Monticellonian, August 19, 1898, page 4 The Monticellonian, August 19, 1898
• De Queen Bee, August 19, 1898, page 3 De Queen Bee, August 19, 1898
• The Osceola Times, August 20, 1898, page 2 The Osceola Times, August 20, 1898