Zack Gordon

Zack Gordon, a Black man, was being held in the jail at Athens, Tennessee. In the early hours of August 6, 1875, a group of armed men overpowered the sheriff and jailer, took him from the jail to an open field north of the depot, and shot him. According to the sheriff's estimate, 25 to 50 men surrounded the jail, and the crowd may have been larger. The coroner's inquest found that he died from gunshot wounds inflicted by unknown parties, and no one was named in its report.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched

Reported by: Coroner's inquest jury, Athens, Tennessee (Wm. C. Owens acting as coroner) (medical examiner or coroner).

Source

• Knoxville Whig And Chronicle, August 11, 1875, page 1 Knoxville Whig And Chronicle, August 11, 1875