John Mosely
John Mosely was held in the local jail at Crystal Springs, Mississippi, under a strong armed guard. On June 25, 1897, a mob of two or three hundred men overpowered the guard, took him from the jail and hanged him from a tree near the railroad. Sources say he was dead or nearly dead when they reached the spot. Requests for state troops to protect him had been sent, but the governor and lieutenant governor were away from the capital and the troops did not arrive until after the hanging.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (neglect alleged). A mob of two or three hundred men overpowered the jail guard, took John Mosely from the Crystal Springs jail and hanged him from a tree near the railroad, while requests for state troops to protect him went unanswered until after the hanging.
Reported by: Crystal Springs jail guard (the agency that held him); news reports.