Smith
George "Joe Coe" Smith was a husband and father who had worked as a railroad porter, according to a 2022 Nebraska Examiner account. In 1891 a mob took him from the Douglas County Jail in Omaha, Nebraska, beat him to death and hanged him from a pole at 17th and Harney Streets. A coroner's jury found that he was frightened to death by unknown persons, and the Examiner reports that no one was ever held accountable. A memorial marker unveiled by the City of Omaha, Douglas County and the Omaha Community Council for Racial Justice and Reconciliation now stands outside the Douglas County Courthouse.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). A historical marker text says a mob beat George Smith to death and hanged him from a pole after taking him from the Douglas County Jail, while the local coroner ruled he died of fright and a coroner's jury blamed unknown persons.
Reported by: historical marker text unveiled by the City of Omaha, Douglas County and the Omaha Community Council for Racial Justice and Reconciliation (advocates); local coroner; coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner).