Deaths in CustodyWork in progressIn progress
Died in jail or a lockup

Mitchell Adams

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

Mitchell Adams was held in the Barnwell jail in Barnwell, South Carolina, and died there on the morning of December 28, 1889. Newspaper accounts from the time say a mob of several hundred masked men broke into the jail before dawn, overpowered the jailer, and forced him to go with them. The jailer's own statement, as reported, says he was forced to open the outer and inner gates after the men drew pistols. The mob took the prisoners out of town and shot them to death, and local citizens later published a justification for the killings, which other reports say law-abiding people condemned.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A masked mob of several hundred broke into the Barnwell jail, overpowered the jailer and took Mitchell Adams out of town, where they shot him, according to a Charleston newspaper dispatch; a Barnwell citizens' committee defended the killings.

Reported by: Charleston newspaper dispatch (reporters); Barnwell citizens' advisory committee.

Sources (35)

See on the national mapAll records

Questions, a correction, or a death I’ve missed? Email me at orion.j.taylor@gmail.com.