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Died in jail or a lockup

Lawson Patten

died September 8, 1908 · Lafayette County Jail, La Fayette County, Mississippi

Nelse Patton was held in the jail at Oxford, Mississippi, on the night of September 8, 1908. A mob broke through the jail doors, took him from custody and killed him, and his body was seen hanging from a tree the next morning. County officials and the judge had urged the crowd to stop and had promised a speedy trial, and one report says the officers gave way and went home. Former U.S. Senator W. V. Sullivan told newspapers that he led the mob, urged it to storm the jail, and gave a revolver to a deputy sheriff who shot Patton. A coroner's jury found that he died at the hands of parties unknown.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). Former U.S. Senator W. V. Sullivan says he led the mob that stormed the jail and that a deputy sheriff shot Patton with a revolver he supplied, while a coroner's jury found he died at the hands of parties unknown.

Reported by: W. V. Sullivan, former U.S. Senator; Coroner's jury, Oxford, Miss. (medical examiner or coroner); Associated Press dispatch from Oxford (reporters); Savannah Tribune (reporters); Daily News Special (reporters); The News-Democrat (reporters); Manchester Democrat (reporters).

Sources (35)

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