Died in jail or a lockup

Mitchell Adam

died December 28, 1889 · Barnwell County Detention Center, Barnwell County, South Carolina

Mitchell Adam was one of eight Black people held in the Barnwell Court-House jail in Barnwell, South Carolina. Before dawn on Saturday, December 28, 1889, a mob of several hundred men broke into the jail, overpowered the jailer and took the prisoners out of town. The Perrysburg Journal reported that they were shot to death there. The jailer was forced to accompany the mob.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of several hundred men broke into the Barnwell Court-House jail before dawn, overpowered the jailer, and took Mitchell Adam out of town, where he was shot to death.

Reported by: news reports.

Source

Perrysburg Journal, January 8, 1890, page 2 Perrysburg Journal, January 8, 1890

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