Joel J. Wilson

Joel Wilson was one of three men held in the jail at Audubon, Iowa, when a mob of about 100 armed men broke in during the early morning of February 4, 1885. A dispatch published in the St. Landry Democrat says he was shot in his cell and then hanged to a rail fence, while the Springfield Weekly Republican reports he was hanged from a board fence in the courtyard after being shot. One account says the sheriff and his deputy tried to hold the doors, and another says the sheriff was present but could not stop the crowd. A Turner County Herald account, citing a witness, says Wilson said he would not come out and was shot in the neck or lungs.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. A mob broke into the Audubon, Iowa jail in February 1885 and killed Joel Wilson, with a dispatch saying he was shot in his cell and then hanged to a rail fence while the sheriff was powerless to stop it.

Reported by: Audubon, Ia. dispatch published in the St. Landry Democrat (reporters); Chicago report of a Des Moines dispatch (reporters).

Sources (9)

• Springfield Weekly Republican, February 6, 1885, page 5 Springfield Weekly Republican, February 6, 1885
• Bismarck Weekly Tribune, February 6, 1885, page 1 Bismarck Weekly Tribune, February 6, 1885
• Huntsville Gazette, February 7, 1885, page 1 Huntsville Gazette, February 7, 1885
• The Magnolia Gazette, February 12, 1885, page 1 The Magnolia Gazette, February 12, 1885
• Turner County Herald, February 12, 1885, page 3 Turner County Herald, February 12, 1885
• Milford Chronicle, February 13, 1885, page 4 Milford Chronicle, February 13, 1885
• St. Landry Democrat, February 14, 1885, page 2 St. Landry Democrat, February 14, 1885
• The Citizen, February 14, 1885, page 3 The Citizen, February 14, 1885
• Wessington Springs Herald, February 27, 1885, page 2 Wessington Springs Herald, February 27, 1885