John Tanner
John Tanner was one of three Black men held in the jail at Oxford, North Carolina. Early on Sunday, September 2, 1888, a masked crowd, reported at between about 50 and 100 men, took him and the other two men from their cells and hanged them from trees in nearby woods. Newspaper accounts say the mob forced open the sheriff's office to get the jail keys, and one account says the sheriff was overpowered. A coroner's jury reached no decision and adjourned, and the people responsible had not been identified.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A masked mob took John Tanner from the Oxford jail and hanged him; a coroner's jury reached no finding and adjourned.
Reported by: coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); news reports.
Sources (14)
- The Morning News, September 4, 1888, page 1
- Alexandria Gazette, September 4, 1888, page 2
- Richmond Dispatch, September 4, 1888, page 4
- Los Angeles Daily Herald, September 4, 1888, page 5
- The Indianapolis Journal, September 4, 1888, page 1
- Daily Kennebec Journal, September 4, 1888, page 1
- The Portland Daily Press, September 4, 1888, page 1
- The Evening Bulletin, September 5, 1888, page 1
- Press And Daily Dakotaian, September 5, 1888, page 2
- The State Chronicle, September 7, 1888, page 3
- The Willimantic Journal, September 7, 1888, page 6
- The Hope Pioneer, September 7, 1888, page 2
- Barton County Democrat, September 13, 1888, page 2
- The Pioneer Express, September 14, 1888, page 4