John Greer
John Greer was held in the jail at Waterloo, Monroe County, Illinois, in July 1863. According to a witness quoted by the Chicago Daily Tribune, a large crowd on horseback rode into town on a Wednesday afternoon, demanded the keys, and after the turnkey refused and ordered them out, broke open the jail and took several prisoners. The crowd took Greer and two other men to a wooded spot, hanged them and buried them. Mr. Cann, the witness quoted by the Tribune, said that before he died Greer asked his mother goodbye, sent a ring to his niece, wrote his will and prayed.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Mr. Cann, a witness quoted by the Chicago Daily Tribune, says a mob broke into the Waterloo jail, took Greer and two other men and hanged them in a wooded spot after the turnkey refused to hand over the keys.
Reported by: Mr. Cann, a witness quoted by the Chicago Daily Tribune (witnesses); Chicago Daily Tribune (reporters).