Nelson

Nelson was a man held in the jail at Helena, Arkansas, in January 1846. According to the Helena Journal, as reported in the Alexandria Gazette, an armed group broke into the jail, took him from his cell, held a mock trial, and hanged him the next day. The account is a secondhand newspaper report. The charge the group acted on was never tested in a court of law.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. The Helena Journal, as reported in the Alexandria Gazette, says a mob broke into the Helena, Arkansas jail, took Nelson from his cell and hanged him after a mock trial.

Reported by: Helena Journal, as reported in the Alexandria Gazette (reporters).

News reports (2)

• Alexandria Gazette, January 29, 1846, page 2 Alexandria Gazette, January 29, 1846
• The Columbian Fountain, January 29, 1846, page 2 The Columbian Fountain, January 29, 1846