Died in jail or a lockup
Name not reported
Hardy was held in the jail at Harlan, Iowa. Shortly after 3 a.m. on July 24, 1883, about fifty masked men came to the jail and bound the jailer. They forced his wife to hand over the keys, unlocked Hardy's cell, and took him out. The men hanged him and then threw his body into the river. His body was recovered, and an inquest was to be held.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched
Reported by: historical newspaper account of the Harlan jail hanging (reporters).