John Halls, Jr.
John Halls, Jr. was held in the Vermilion County jail in Danville, Illinois, in May 1895. According to the Indianapolis Journal, a mob of about one thousand people took him from the jail in the early hours and hanged him beneath the Vermilion River bridge, and a coroner's jury found he died by hanging at the hands of men unknown to the jury. The Western Kansas World reported that the mob overpowered the jailer to get the men, while the Morning News said Sheriff Thompson and his deputy urged the crowd to disperse and the sheriff asked the governor for militia. Accounts differ on the time and the size of the mob, and whether the jailer was overpowered or handed him over.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob broke into the Vermilion County jail at Danville, Illinois, took John Halls, Jr. from his cell and hanged him; the coroner's jury found he was hanged by men unknown to the jury.
Reported by: coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); The Pantagraph (reporters); Daily Texarkanian (reporters).
Sources (9)
- San Antonio Daily Light, May 25, 1895, page 1
- The Morning News, May 26, 1895, page 5
- Birmingham Age-Herald, May 26, 1895, page 1
- The Indianapolis Journal, May 26, 1895, page 1
- The Daily Texarkanian, May 27, 1895, page 4
- Staunton Vindicator, May 31, 1895, page 2
- Western Kansas World, June 1, 1895, page 3
- Baxter Springs News, June 1, 1895, page 3
- The Osceola Times, June 8, 1895, page 2