John Williams

John Williams died in his cell at a jail near Normandy, outside St. Louis, on October 18, 1903. Police said he hanged himself with a sheet after a small fire near the jail led him to believe a mob was coming to lynch him. Sheriff Hencken found him dead in the cell, and according to the reports his body was still warm.

Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide. Police said he hanged himself with a sheet in his cell after a small fire near the jail led him to believe a mob was coming to lynch him.

Reported by: police; Sheriff Hencken (the agency that held him). The only account of how this person died comes from the agency that held him.

Sources (2)

• The Gainesville Star, October 23, 1903, page 2 The Gainesville Star, October 23, 1903
• The Kinsley Graphic, October 23, 1903, page 11 The Kinsley Graphic, October 23, 1903