John H. Bigus
John H. Bigus, a Black man, was held in the Frederick, Maryland, jail in November 1887. Early on November 23, a masked mob of about 100 men broke down the jail doors and took him from his cell. Accounts differ on the sheriff's part: one says Sheriff Derr refused to give up the keys and the crowd struck off the lock, while another says the sheriff refused the mob entry. The mob hanged Bigus from a tree about a quarter mile from the prison and fired shots into his body. Bigus maintained his innocence and asked to be allowed to pray before he was hanged.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A masked mob took John H. Bigus from the Frederick, Maryland jail, hanged him from a tree and fired shots into his body after the sheriff refused them entry and then gave up the keys.
Reported by: Frederick County jail sheriff's office (the agency that held him); news reports of the lynching.