James Christianson
James Christianson was held in the jail in Peru, Indiana, in July 1887. Sources say that shortly after midnight on July 7, twenty-two masked men came to the jail and demanded the keys, which the jailer refused. The mob broke open a large iron door, took him from the jail, and hanged him from a bridge over the Wabash River, where he died. One account says about a thousand people watched, and a coroner's inquest recorded that he died of strangulation caused by parties unknown.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Masked men broke into the Peru, Indiana jail, demanded the keys, were refused, broke open the iron door, and hanged him from a Wabash River bridge; a coroner's inquest found he died of strangulation caused by parties unknown.
Reported by: coroner's inquest (medical examiner or coroner); news reports.