Jesse Winner
Jesse Winner was held in the Lexington, Missouri jail in Lafayette County. In the early hours of December 7, 1896, a mob of roughly 250 men from Ray County overpowered the jailer and guards and battered down the cell door after the jailer refused to hand over the keys. The men took Winner out and hanged him from an oak tree in Ray County. Reports say he protested his innocence, and Prosecuting Attorney William Aull said he intends to bring those responsible to justice.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about 250 men from Ray County broke into the Lexington jail, overpowered the jailer and guards, and hanged Jesse Winner from an oak tree; the prosecuting attorney said he would seek to bring the mob members to justice.
Reported by: Lexington, Mo. dispatch (reporters); Prosecuting Attorney William Aull.