Shea Felder
Shea Felder was one of three Black men held in the Brenham jail in Texas in early December 1886. An armed mob broke in during the early morning hours, overpowered the jailer and took the men from their cells. Their bodies were found hanging from a pecan tree about a mile from town. An inquest jury returned a verdict that they died by hanging at the hands of unidentified people, and newspapers reported the killing as a lynching from custody.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. An armed mob overpowered the jailer at the Brenham, Texas jail, took the men out and hanged them, according to the Chicago Times and other papers; the jailer was forced at gunpoint to give up the keys, and an inquest jury returned a verdict of death by hanging at the hands of unidentified people.
Reported by: Chicago Times special dispatch from Brennan, Tex. (reporters); Dodge City Times (reporters); inquest jury summoned by Justice Hackworth (court).
Sources (8)
- Alexandria Gazette, December 3, 1886, page 2
- Richmond Dispatch, December 4, 1886, page 3
- Wichita Eagle, December 4, 1886, page 5
- Brenham Weekly Banner, December 9, 1886, page 3
- Delaware Gazette And State Journal, December 9, 1886, page 4
- Dodge City Times, December 9, 1886, page 2
- The Abilene Reflector, December 9, 1886, page 2
- The Iola Register, December 10, 1886, page 7