Died in jail or a lockup
William Yoakum
William Yoakman was held in the Bakersfield jail in California in May 1879. A San Francisco dispatch, reprinted in the Louisiana Capitolian, says a mob broke into the jail, overpowered the jailer and hanged him in his cell, and that the mob also hanged Thomas Yoakman. A Canton Register account of the killing describes masked men who overpowered the jailer, took him from his cell and hanged him from the gratings there.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A San Francisco dispatch reprinted in the Louisiana Capitolian says a mob broke into the Bakersfield, California jail, overpowered the jailer and hanged William Yoakman in his cell.
Reported by: San Francisco dispatch reprinted in the Louisiana Capitolian (reporters).