Jessrang

John Jessrane was held in the jail at Dillon, Montana, in March 1883, where he had been awaiting a court date. On the night of Tuesday, March 13, a group of armed, masked men overpowered the jailer, took the keys, and went to his cell. According to the Inter Mountain as reprinted by The River Press, they bound his hands and pulled him up with a rope over the cell railing. The account says he showed wonderful nerve and made no complaint, and that about half a dozen citizens followed his body to the grave the next day. Other reports name the jail differently and give the date as March or February, and a few spell his name in other ways; these accounts agree that a mob took him from custody and killed him.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A masked mob overpowered the jailer, took the keys, and hanged John Jessrane from the jail's rafter or cell railing, according to 1883 newspaper accounts.

Reported by: Inter Mountain (Butte newspaper), as reprinted by The River Press (reporters); St. Paul Herald (reporters); the Register, as reprinted in the Ketchum Keystone (reporters); press dispatch from Butte, Montana (reporters).

Sources (7)

• The River Press, March 14, 1883, page 5 The River Press, March 14, 1883
• Press And Daily Dakotaian, March 14, 1883, page 2 Press And Daily Dakotaian, March 14, 1883
• Memphis Daily Appeal, March 15, 1883, page 2 Memphis Daily Appeal, March 15, 1883
• The Daily Dispatch, March 15, 1883, page 3 The Daily Dispatch, March 15, 1883
• The Ketchum Keystone, March 16, 1883, page 2 The Ketchum Keystone, March 16, 1883
• Savannah Morning News, March 17, 1883, page 1 Savannah Morning News, March 17, 1883
• The Iola Register, March 23, 1883, page 7 The Iola Register, March 23, 1883