Died in custody
Henry Ratcliff
Henry Ratcliff, a Black man, was held in the custody of a deputy marshal who was taking him to Liberty, the county seat, when a mob took him from the officer at Gloster and hanged him on May 8, 1900. A coroner's jury reportedly charged twelve people with taking part in the hanging. The True Democrat called the taking a serious mistake and argued that those involved should not be made scapegoats.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A coroner's jury, as reported in the Valley Record, found he was hanged by a mob after a deputy marshal was taking him to Liberty.
Reported by: coroner's jury, as reported in the Valley Record (medical examiner or coroner); Valley Record editorial (reporters).