West
Jim West was held at the Las Vegas, New Mexico jail in early February 1880, when a mob of about seventy-five armed men broke into the jailer's room, forced the jailer to give up the keys, and took him from his cell. According to a Chicago Tribune special dispatch, the men hanged him from the beams of a windmill pump in the central plaza, where he was strangled, and met no resistance. A Brenham Weekly Banner dispatch gives the same account in brief, saying the men took him from the jail and hanged him. The dispatch dates his death to February 7, 1880.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A Chicago Tribune special dispatch from Las Vegas, New Mexico says a mob of about seventy-five armed men broke into the jailer's room, forced the jailer to give up the keys, took Jim West from his cell and hanged him from a windmill pump in the central plaza.
Reported by: Chicago Tribune special dispatch from Las Vegas, New Mexico (reporters).