Died in jail or a lockup
Robert Smith
Robert Smith, a Black man, was held in the parish jail in Louisiana. Early on the morning of May 15, 1886, a mob broke open the jail, took him from his cell and hanged him from a tree, according to the Weekly Thibodaux Sentinel. The paper reported that the sheriff had left town and had not expected such an attack.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. The Weekly Thibodaux Sentinel reported that a party of white and Black men broke open the Parish Jail, took Robert Smith from his cell and hanged him from a tree while the sheriff was out of town.
Reported by: The Weekly Thibodaux Sentinel (reporters); Sheriff's office (the agency that held him); New Orleans States (reporters).