Joel Wilson
Joe J. Wilson was held in the jail at Audubon, Iowa, when, according to a dispatch published in the St. Landry Democrat, a mob of about one hundred armed men broke in early on February 4, 1885. The dispatch says he was shot in his cell, then dragged out and hanged from a rail fence. It says the sheriff was on the scene but was powerless to stop the mob. A Milford Chronicle report says a mob of about 700 people took three men from the jail and lynched them.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about one hundred armed men broke into the Audubon, Iowa, jail, shot Joe J. Wilson in his cell and dragged him out to hang him from a rail fence, according to a dispatch published in the St. Landry Democrat; the Sheriff was on the scene but powerless to stop it.
Reported by: Audubon, Ia. dispatch published in the St. Landry Democrat (reporters).