Nelson

Nelson, a man, was held in the jail at Helena, Arkansas. According to a January 1846 newspaper account, a crowd broke open the jail door, removed his chains, and took him away with a rope around his neck. He was hanged the next day on a gatepost. The article gives no account of any resistance by jail officials, and the paper's description of the accusation against him is not repeated here.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A crowd broke open the Helena, Arkansas jail, removed his chains and took him away with a rope around his neck, and he was hanged the next day on a gatepost.

Reported by: Historical newspaper account of the 1846 Helena, Arkansas lynching (reporters).

Source

• New-York Daily Tribune, January 27, 1846, page 1 New-York Daily Tribune, January 27, 1846