Henry Gardner
Henry Gardner, a Black man, was held in the Dresden jail in Tennessee in April 1871 after the sheriff brought him back from Paducah, Kentucky. A correspondent writing from Dresden says a party of disguised men forced the jail, took him, and hanged him about three-quarters of a mile west of town. The writer says the town's citizens condemned the killing and were not aware of it until it was over. The writer is unable to say who the men were, and it is not reported whether the jailer or sheriff resisted them or gave up the keys.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A letter writer from Dresden says a party of men the writer could not identify forced the Dresden jail, took Henry Gardner and hanged him about three-quarters of a mile west of town.
Reported by: letter writer, a Dresden resident (reporters); correspondent writing to the Union and American from Dresden (reporters).