Tom Byars

Tom Byars was held in the jail at Union, South Carolina, in February 1871. According to the Unionville Times, a group of masked, mounted men overpowered the jailer and deputy sheriff, threatened the jailer's wife to learn where the keys were, and took Byars from the jail. Early the next morning his body was found tied to a small tree, shot with rifle balls. The papers give different dates for the killing, February 12, February 19 and February 26, 1871.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. The Unionville Times says masked men overpowered the jailer and deputy sheriff, took Tom Byars from the town jail and shot him with rifle balls.

Reported by: Unionville Times (reprinted in The Sumter Watchman) (reporters).

Sources (3)

• The Charleston Daily News, February 20, 1871, page 1 The Charleston Daily News, February 20, 1871
• Yorkville Enquirer, February 23, 1871, page 2 Yorkville Enquirer, February 23, 1871
• The Sumter Watchman, March 1, 1871, page 2 The Sumter Watchman, March 1, 1871