W. Howard
William Howard was held by police in Seattle, Washington Territory, and was arraigned at Yesler Hall on the morning of January 18, 1882, then remanded to officers. HistoryLink reports that a crowd seized him and James Sullivan and hanged both from two trees near Yesler's residence within about a minute. The Daily Republican reported that a mob took three men from the jail that night and hanged them. A coroner's jury found that he died by hanging but could not determine whose hands did it, and no one was arrested.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. The coroner's jury found he died by hanging at the hands of a crowd that seized him from police custody but could not determine who did it, and no one was ever arrested; the Daily Republican reported that a mob took him from the Seattle jail and hanged him.
Reported by: Seattle Chronicle coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); Daily Republican (reporters).