Jessee Edwards
Jessee Edwards, a Black man, was held in the jail at Lexington, Virginia, in June 1869. The Staunton Vindicator reported that on Friday night, June 11, about fifteen armed men surrounded the jail, roused the jailer with a false story, and forced him to hand over the keys to Edwards's cell. The men took Edwards about four miles outside Lexington and hanged him. A telegraph dispatch datelined Stockton, June 14, also reported that Edwards was taken from jail and hanged.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A telegraph dispatch datelined Stockton reported that Jessee Edwards was taken from jail and hanged, and a Lexington, Virginia account says a mob of about fifteen armed men roused the jailer with a false story and forced him to hand over the keys to Edwards's cell before hanging him.
Reported by: telegraph dispatch; Lexington, Virginia newspaper (reporters).