John Stapleton

John Stapleton, described in one report as a farmer, was being held in a Kentucky jail in January 1885. The reports differ on which jail it was, naming either Mount Sterling or Salyersville. According to the reports, a mob took him from the jail on a Saturday night in early January and hanged him from a tree, and one report put the group at about thirty men. Some people were reported to be indignant, believing he had nothing to do with the matter he was held over.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. According to a news report, a mob took him from the jail and hanged him from a tree.

Reported by: news reporting of the 1885 hanging (reporters).

News reports (5)

• Memphis Daily Appeal, January 9, 1885, page 2 Memphis Daily Appeal, January 9, 1885
• Memphis Daily Appeal, January 14, 1885, page 1 Memphis Daily Appeal, January 14, 1885
• Fort Worth Daily Gazette, January 14, 1885, page 6 Fort Worth Daily Gazette, January 14, 1885
• Huntsville Gazette, January 17, 1885, page 1 Huntsville Gazette, January 17, 1885
• The Osceola Times, January 17, 1885, page 2 The Osceola Times, January 17, 1885