Jeff Brown
Jeff Brown, a Black man, was held in the Pensacola county jail in Escambia County, Florida, along with another man, Morris Morse. Before dawn on August 21, 1875, a mob took the two men from the jail and hanged them from trees near Seville Square. The jailer said about 100 men broke the door open, but his testimony describes the key and lock as found in place, so it is unclear whether he resisted or handed the men over. A coroner's jury found that the men were killed by hanging at the hands of a mob. Police arrived after the hanging, exchanged shots with the group and cut the men down.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). A coroner's jury said he was hanged by a mob that broke into the Pensacola county jail, while the jailer's testimony describes the key and lock as found in place, so it is unclear whether the jailer resisted or handed him over.
Reported by: coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); the Pensacola county jailer (the agency that held him).