Died in jail or a lockup
Johnson
Johnson, a man, was held in the Ottumwa jail. During an afternoon hearing, a mob overpowered the officers escorting him, took him from them, and hanged him from a rope before a crowd estimated at 5,000 to 7,000 people. The officers were beaten back and then overpowered, and no one is named as having handed him over.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Relatives and friends of a girl's family overpowered the officers escorting Johnson, took him from custody and hanged him before a crowd estimated at 5,000 to 7,000 people.
Reported by: historical newspaper account (OCR text) (reporters).