Ratliff
Marshall Ratliff was held in the Eastland jail in Texas, where he was awaiting a sanity hearing that had delayed his execution. On November 19, 1929, a mob of about 150 to 200 men got into the jail, overpowered the jailer, took his keys and removed Ratliff from his cell. The mob hanged him, and the first rope broke before a second attempt succeeded, in the town's business district in view of onlookers. One newspaper condemned the lynching as a betrayal of Texas and of the law.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A mob of about 150 to 200 men overpowered the jailer, took his keys, removed Ratliff from his cell and hanged him, according to the accounts; the sheriff's response is not described.
Reported by: Imperial Valley Press editorial, citing dispatches from Eastland, Texas (reporters); Eastland jail accounts (the agency that held him).