John Cruce
John Cruce was held in a jail in Arkansas when, around midnight on Saturday, September 10, 1881, armed men broke in, according to a Little Rock press dispatch reported by The Weekly Democratic Statesman. The dispatch says the men took him from the jail, dragged him through the streets and hanged him from a limb. It says he struggled and died cursing the leaders of the mob, and that the killing caused intense excitement in the area. The dispatch does not say whether the jailer resisted, gave up the keys or handed him over.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A Little Rock press dispatch reports that armed men broke into the jail, took him out and hanged him from a limb.
Reported by: Little Rock press dispatch (reporters).