Died in custody
John Becker
John Becker, a man in his fifties who worked on a farm in Barton County, Kansas, was being taken from Hutchinson to Great Bend by the sheriff on June 13, 1898. On the way back from the depot, a mob intercepted the sheriff, overpowered him, and took Becker to the courthouse. There, the mob hanged him in front of more than 500 people. Becker was in the sheriff's custody when the mob seized him, and the sheriff was overpowered by the crowd.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob overpowered the sheriff while he was taking John Becker from Hutchinson to Great Bend and hanged him at the courthouse.
Reported by: news reports.