Died in custody
William Pinkerton
William Pinkerton was being held in a justice's court in Spring Valley, Illinois, when a crowd of about 300 people rushed into the room during testimony in June 1894. According to the report, the officers and court officials had left the room before the crowd entered. Pinkerton jumped from an open window to get away, but the crowd caught him and beat him to death. The report describes the mob's motive, but that account is not repeated here.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A crowd of about 300 rushed him in the justice's court, and officers and court officials had left the room when he was beaten to death.
Reported by: news reports.