Edwards
Edwards, a Black man, was held in the Lexington jail in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in June 1869. Around one in the morning, a group of about seventy-five armed men came to the jail claiming to be bringing in a prisoner, and when the jailer, Mr. Perry, opened the door, they drew pistols and demanded the key to Edwards's cell. According to a Richmond Dispatch correspondent, Mr. Perry handed over the key, and the men took Edwards away from the jail. His body was found the next morning hanging from a tree near Lyle's mill, pierced by three bullets. Papers at the time said the identity of the men was unknown, though the correspondent believed many came from the neighboring counties of Augusta and Bath.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. The Richmond Dispatch correspondent reported that about seventy-five armed men posed as bringing in a prisoner, forced the jailer to hand over the key to Edwards's cell, and hanged him near Lyle's mill.
Reported by: Richmond Dispatch correspondent (reporters); Staunton Vindicator, as reprinted in the Spirit of Jefferson (reporters); telegraph dispatch.