Died in jail or a lockup
William Dales
William Dales was held in the Shelbyville jail in Tennessee in June 1892 when a mob broke in and forced Sheriff Moore to hand over the keys. The mob searched the cells, took him out and hanged him from a tree in the courthouse yard. A coroner's inquest returned a verdict of death at the hands of unknown persons. His father, Scott Dales, was also taken by the mob and nearly hanged before citizens intervened and he was returned to the jail.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A coroner's inquest returned a verdict of death at the hands of unknown persons after a mob took him from the Shelbyville jail and hanged him from a tree in the court house yard.
Reported by: coroner's inquest (medical examiner or coroner).