Died in jail or a lockup
Josiah Gilliland
Josiah Gilliland was held in the jail at Somerset, Kentucky, together with his brother. On the night of Monday, September 14, 1891, a large mob took both brothers from the jail at midnight. The Daily Tobacco Leaf-Chronicle reported that they were taken to a ravine near town and hanged from the limbs of a large sycamore tree. The paper reported that the men protested their innocence and prayed before they died.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took Josiah Gilliland and his brother from the Somerset, Kentucky jail at midnight and hanged them from a sycamore tree near town.
Reported by: historical newspaper account (Chronicling America) (reporters).