John Shy
John Shy and Levi Shy, brothers, were held in the jail at Glasgow, Kentucky, in Barren County. In the early morning of May 2, 1870, according to the Courier-Journal account reprinted in the Kentucky Gazette, about forty mounted men forced open the jail door while only the jailer was present, and took the two men out. The group hanged them from a tree at the edge of town, and their bodies were found shortly after daylight. The Memphis Daily Appeal gave the date as May 1 and about fifty people, and one paper tied the mob's action to a fatal shooting at Glasgow Junction, a claim that was never tested in court.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. The Courier-Journal, reprinted in the Kentucky Gazette, says about forty mounted men forced open the Glasgow, Kentucky, jail door and hanged the Shy brothers from a tree, with only the jailer present.
Reported by: Courier-Journal (reprinted in the Kentucky Gazette) (reporters); Nashville Banner (reporters).