William Bates

William Bates was held in the county jail at Kenton, Ohio, in April 1891. Early on the morning of April 10, a mob of perhaps fifty to one hundred men broke into the jail and overpowered the sheriff, and according to the Waterbury Evening Democrat, a dozen of them held him at gunpoint while others searched for the keys. The men then opened Bates's cell, took him about fifty yards to a maple tree near North street, and hanged him there. The Morning Call reported that the mob was orderly and did no further damage.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Newspaper accounts say a mob of about fifty men broke into the Kenton, Ohio jail, overpowered Sheriff Neville, searched for the keys and took Bates from his cell to hang him from a maple tree nearby.

Reported by: Evening Dispatch correspondent's report from Kenton, O. (reporters); The Morning Call newspaper report (reporters); Rock Island Daily Argus news report (reporters).

Sources (11)

• Richmond Dispatch, April 11, 1891, page 4 Richmond Dispatch, April 11, 1891
• The Morning Call, April 11, 1891, page 1 The Morning Call, April 11, 1891
• Waterbury Evening Democrat, April 11, 1891, page 1 Waterbury Evening Democrat, April 11, 1891
• Rock Island Daily Argus, April 11, 1891, page 1 Rock Island Daily Argus, April 11, 1891
• The Portland Daily Press, April 11, 1891, page 1 The Portland Daily Press, April 11, 1891
• Oxford Eagle, April 16, 1891, page 1 Oxford Eagle, April 16, 1891
• Passaic City Record, April 16, 1891, page 1 Passaic City Record, April 16, 1891
• Griggs Courier, April 17, 1891, page 6 Griggs Courier, April 17, 1891
• The Herald-Advance, April 17, 1891, page 2 The Herald-Advance, April 17, 1891
• Huntsville Gazette, April 18, 1891, page 1 Huntsville Gazette, April 18, 1891
• Fisherman & Farmer, May 1, 1891, page 2 Fisherman & Farmer, May 1, 1891