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Died in jail or a lockup

Jack Holmes

29 years old · died November 26, 1933 · Santa Clara County Main Jail Complex, Santa Clara County, California

Jack Holmes was held at the San Jose jail in Santa Clara County, California, in November 1933. On the night of Sunday, November 26, a mob of thousands broke into the jail, and Sheriff William J. Emig was hurt trying to stop them. According to an Associated Press dispatch, the mob beat the deputies and took the cell keys from the deputy in charge, then took Jack and another man to St. James Park, where he was hanged from a tree. A coroner's jury in January 1934 found that he died by strangulation at the hands of a mob whose members it could not identify. Governor James Rolph publicly approved the killing, and Jack's parents were described as grief-stricken.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). A Santa Clara County coroner's jury found he died by strangulation at the hands of a mob, and his family's attorney criticized Sheriff William J. Emig's handling of the night, which the sheriff defended.

Reported by: Santa Clara County coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); his family's attorney (family or their lawyers); Sheriff William J. Emig (the agency that held him); United Press report (reporters); Associated Press dispatch (reporters); Vincent W. Hallinan and Nathan C. Coghlan, attorneys (family or their lawyers).

Sources (21)

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