Deaths in Custody
Died in jail or a lockup

Henry Leidy

died November 10, 1908 · Biloxi jail, Harrison County, Mississippi

Henry Leidy, a Black man, was held in the Biloxi jail in Mississippi. On November 10, 1908, a mob of several hundred men came to the jail, entered through the rear, overpowered the lone policeman on duty, and took him from his cell. A report from that day says the mob hanged him from a tree near Back Bay, about half a mile from town, and that no shots were fired, while other 1908 reports say they took him to Point Cadet and lynched him there. Officers had earlier brought him to the jail after an earlier attempt by a mob to seize him.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched

Reported by: news reports.

News reports (7)

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