John Skinner
John Skinner, a Black man, was held in the jail at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in March 1888. According to the South Kentuckian, a masked mob of about one hundred men took him from his cell in the early hours of March 14 after the jailer, Mr. Long, first refused and then gave up the keys, and they hanged him from a wild cherry tree on the Hopkinsville and Cadiz turnpike. One account says Skinner asked to be allowed to put on his clothes before they came for him. A coroner's jury found he died by hanging at the hands of parties unknown, while the examination reported that his neck was not broken and that he died of strangulation. Another paper gave his name as John H. Skinner, also called Cox.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A masked mob took John Skinner from the Hopkinsville jail, after the jailer first refused and then gave up the keys, and hanged him from a wild cherry tree; the coroner's jury found he died by hanging at the hands of parties unknown.
Reported by: Coroner Bell's jury (medical examiner or coroner); news reports.