Williamson
Williamson, a Black man, was held in the Lebanon jail in Lebanon, Tennessee, in February 1876. Newspaper accounts from the time say 25 to 50 armed men came to the jail and demanded the keys, and that the jailer refused at first until his wife handed them over, fearing for her husband's life. The men broke in through the rear of the jail, took Williamson from his cell, and hanged and shot him about a mile and a half from town. A coroner's jury found that he died at the hands of parties unknown.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A coroner's jury found that Williamson died at the hands of parties unknown after a mob took him from the Lebanon jail and hanged and shot him.
Reported by: coroner's jury (medical examiner or coroner); Nashville telegram in The Daily Dispatch (reporters); Evening Star newspaper report (reporters).