Died in jail or a lockup
Mitchell Adams
Mitchell Adams, a Black man, was held in the Barnwell jail in South Carolina on December 28, 1888, when a mob broke in during the early morning and took him from the jail along with seven other men. According to the Chicago Times account, the mob took him out of town and shot him. The jailer was overpowered and his keys were taken from him. A statement from Barnwell citizens defended the killings.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob took him from the Barnwell jail, where the jailer was overpowered and his keys taken, and shot him out of town, according to the Chicago Times account.
Reported by: Chicago Times (reporters); statement by prominent Barnwell citizens.