Died in jail or a lockup
Elbert Lee
Elbert Lee, a Black man, was committed without bail to the Milton jail in Florida in August 1885 to await Circuit Court after appearing before a county judge. According to the Milton News, on the night of Saturday, August 29, 1885, a crowd of unknown men overpowered the jailer and took the keys. The paper reported that the men carried Lee into the woods and hanged him. A second account in the same paper described the killing as so quiet that few people knew of it until morning.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A crowd of unknown men reportedly overpowered the Milton jailer, took his keys and hanged Elbert Lee in the woods, according to the Milton News.
Reported by: Milton News (reporters).