Garrett
Bill Garrett was held in the jail at Salisbury, Tennessee, when he died on June 17, 1871. A New Orleans Republican dispatch reported that parties unknown took him from the jail, carried him into the woods and shot him. The Greenville Enterprise, reporting a United States Commissioner's proceedings in Memphis, said four men were arraigned for his murder. The Commissioner discharged the men after finding the principal witnesses' testimony malicious and untrue, and two of those witnesses were later arrested for perjury and committed to jail.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). A Memphis dispatch says parties unknown took Garrett from the Salisbury jail, carried him to the woods and shot him; a Greenville Enterprise report of a United States Commissioner's trial says four men were arraigned for his murder and then discharged after the Commissioner found the principal witnesses' testimony malicious and untrue.
Reported by: Memphis dispatch (reporters); The Greenville Enterprise (reporters); United States Commissioner's trial in Memphis (court).