Thomas
Thomas was held in the jail at Montezuma, Iowa, awaiting trial. On the day his trial was set, a crowd of about two hundred pushed past the sheriff at the courthouse, seized him and hanged him from a tree a short distance from town, according to a letter from Montezuma reprinted in the Daily National Intelligencer. The letter says he maintained his innocence throughout and that his body was buried on the spot.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A letter from Montezuma, reprinted in the Daily National Intelligencer, says a crowd of about two hundred pushed past the sheriff, seized Thomas from the jail and hanged him from a tree near town.
Reported by: letter from Montezuma, as reprinted in the Daily National Intelligencer (reporters).