One of 2 people whose names were not reported
On September 20, 1900, a man of 38, one of four Black men held in the village jail at Pontchatoula, Louisiana, died after a mob broke into the jail. According to the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer's report of September 22, 1900, a committee of local men demanded the jail keys from the sheriff, who refused them. The mob broke the jail open with axes, took the men out, and hanged them from a tree about two blocks away. A coroner's jury returned a verdict of death by unknown hands.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A committee of white citizens demanded the jail keys from the sheriff, who refused, and a mob broke the jail open with axes and hanged the man from a tree, according to the newspaper account.
Reported by: coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); news reports.