John Hiley

John Hiley was one of two men held in the jail at Overton, Texas. A special dispatch from Overton, reprinted in a Galveston newspaper in May 1879, said the two men set fire to the jail building in an attempt to escape. According to the dispatch, the flames spread too quickly to be put out, and both men died in the fire.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody

Reported by: special dispatch from Overton, Texas, reprinted from a Galveston paper (reporters).

Source

• The Weekly Union Times, May 9, 1879, page 2 The Weekly Union Times, May 9, 1879