James Bowens
James Bowens was held in the Frederick jail in Frederick, Maryland, when a mob came for him in November 1895. The Alexandria Gazette reported that the sheriff had prepared to resist, but he and his deputies were overpowered, and the mob hanged him. The Equal Justice Initiative, citing Jane Weir, a local family history researcher, said one of the mob fired a gunshot into his head as he was hanged, and that no one was held accountable for his death. The two accounts give different dates: the 1895 paper says Saturday night, November 16, and the later account says November 17. The Gazette also reported that a Salvation Army girl made the mob pause long enough to pray for him.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took James Bowens from the Frederick jail and hanged him; the sheriff and deputies were overpowered, and a family history researcher, Jane Weir, says one of the mob shot him in the head as he was hanged.
Reported by: Jane Weir, local family history researcher.