Robert Bland
Robert Bland, a Black man about 21 years old, was held in the Prince George County jail in Virginia. On November 23, 1889, about forty masked men went to the home of jailer Henry King, and the Shenandoah Herald reported that King was dragged to the jail until he gave up the keys and then led them to Bland's cell. The Alexandria Gazette reported that King first refused the keys before being dragged to the jail, and The Morning News, citing a Petersburg dispatch, said the mob hanged Bland from a tree near the jail and shot his body. A coroner's jury found that Bland died at the hands of persons unknown who took him forcibly from the county jail, and his body was found hanging at daylight the next morning.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A masked mob of about forty men took Robert Bland from the Prince George County jail, forcing jailer Henry King to surrender the keys, and hanged him; a coroner's inquest jury found he died at the hands of persons unknown who took him forcibly from the jail.
Reported by: The Morning News (Petersburg dispatch) (reporters); coroner's inquest jury (medical examiner or coroner).