Franklin Hall
Franklin Hall was held in the Putnam County jail in Cookeville, Tennessee, in September 1874. According to a Nashville newspaper report reprinted in the Memphis Daily Appeal and The Weekly Clarion, an armed party came to the jail on a Wednesday night, overpowered the jailer, and took Hall from his cell. The reprints give different dates for his death, 2 September and 16 September. The report says the men shot Hall at the edge of town despite his cries for mercy, and that they also freed two other prisoners. The report adds that citizens of Putnam County were working to arrest members of the group.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. According to the Nashville Union and American, as reprinted in the Memphis Daily Appeal, a party of armed men overpowered the Putnam County jailer, took Franklin Hall from his cell, and shot him at the edge of town.
Reported by: Nashville Union and American, as reprinted in the Memphis Daily Appeal (reporters); The Weekly Clarion (reporters).