John Sears
John Sears was held in the Clinton jail in Henry County, Missouri. According to a letter from Clinton reprinted in the St. Louis Democrat, a crowd broke into the courthouse where he had been taken, dragged him out and hanged him from a tree in the courthouse yard. The letter says Sheriff Dodson had returned him to the jail and placed a guard around it, but could not gather enough men to stop the mob.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A St. Louis Democrat correspondent's letter from Clinton, Mo., reprinted in the paper, says a crowd dragged him from the courthouse and hanged him from a tree after Sheriff Dodson could not gather enough men to stop it.
Reported by: St. Louis Democrat (reprinted letter from Clinton, Mo.) (reporters).