Jesse Edwards

Edwards, a Black man, was held in a cell at the jail in Lexington, Virginia. According to the Staunton Vindicator, about fifteen armed men surrounded the jail on Friday night, June 11, 1869, and roused the jailer with a false story. The jailer was forced to hand over the keys to Edwards's cell, and the men took him about four miles outside Lexington and hanged him. The paper reported that the men were not identified.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched

Reported by: news reports.

News reports (3)

• The South-Western, June 16, 1869, page 2 The South-Western, June 16, 1869
• The Weekly Clarion, June 17, 1869, page 3 The Weekly Clarion, June 17, 1869
• Staunton Vindicator, June 18, 1869, page 3 Staunton Vindicator, June 18, 1869