William Thacker
William Thacker, a husband and father, was held in the Flemingsburg jail in Kentucky when, shortly after midnight on July 15, 1903, a mob broke in and took him from custody. According to the newspaper accounts, the mob hanged him from a tree near the jail, and the jailer, who had refused to surrender the keys, was overpowered. Newspaper accounts differ on how the jailer responded, with one saying he was overpowered at the jail and another saying the mob overpowered him at his home and took the keys. Years later his widow, Mary M. Thacker, and their children sued in federal court at Covington for $50,000 against twenty-six Fleming County citizens, including the jailer, and a family lawsuit alleged he was beaten to death with a crowbar, sledge hammer, gun barrel and other weapons.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). Newspaper reports say a mob took Thacker from the Flemingsburg jail and hanged him, while his family's federal lawsuit alleges the men beat him to death with a crowbar, sledge hammer, gun barrel and other weapons.
Reported by: newspaper dispatch datelined Maysville, Ky. and other press accounts (reporters); Thacker's widow and children, through their federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His widow and children sued twenty-six Fleming County citizens, including the jailer, in federal court at Covington, seeking $50,000 over his death.
News reports (10)
- San Antonio Daily Light, July 15, 1903, page 1
- The Paducah Sun, July 15, 1903, page 1
- Daily Public Ledger, July 15, 1903, page 1
- The Brunswick Daily News, July 16, 1903, page 1
- The Times Dispatch, July 19, 1903, page 4
- The Columbus Commercial, July 21, 1903, page 2
- The Evening Bulletin, July 14, 1904, page 3
- Daily Public Ledger, July 14, 1904, page 1
- The Big Sandy News, July 22, 1904, page 4
- Daily Public Ledger, October 24, 1905, page 1