Died in jail or a lockup
Name not reported
A Black man held in the jail in St. Louis, Missouri, was taken from the jail at night by a mob in March 1878. The Alton Telegraph, as quoted by the Ottawa Free Trader, reported that the mob tied him to a tree and burned him to death. Judge Lawless later told the Grand Jury that the crowd's act was beyond the reach of human law.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. The Alton (Ill.) Telegraph, as quoted by the Ottawa Free Trader, reports a mob took the man from the jail at night and burned him to death.
Reported by: Alton (Ill.) Telegraph, as quoted by the Ottawa Free Trader (reporters).