Clinton-Jackson County IA Archives News.....DeWitt Jail Broken June 11, 1857
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com January 31, 2010, 10:50 pm

Lyons Mirror June 11, 1857
Lyons Mirror, Lyons, Iowa, June 11, 1857

Breaking of the DeWitt Jail

We copy from the Clintonian an account of the breaking open of the jail at 
DeWitt, which differs somewhat from what we gave last week:

On Thursday about 6 o’clock p.m. our quiet populace was startled by the 
appearance of mobocrats, consisting of about forty men from Jackson County, 
who march quietly into our village (while most of our citizens were at supper) 
armed to the teeth, for the purpose of breaking open our jail and summarily 
hanging the Jackson County prisoners there incarcerated.

They marched to the jail and formed a straight line some eight yards in front 
of the building, evidently exhibiting their entire ignorance of form for a 
successful attack of the nature contemplated. The Sheriff and Jailor were 
absent-not a single county officer was at or near the court house-the 
prisoners were in the jail yard, and nothing seemed to offer an obstacle to 
the consummation of their blood thirsty designs. Our citizens began to 
congregate unarmed, around the scene of action-the mob allowed us to pass 
freely between them and the jail, but under the circumstances and excitement 
incident to such an occasion, it was impossible to effect any concentrated 
action on the part of our citizens to resist this shameful aggression upon our 
rights. A messenger was speedily dispatched for Sheriff Buchanan, who arrived 
after the mob had entered the jail. He was unarmed, and we do not believe that 
a single citizen of DeWitt, on the ground had a deadly weapon on his person.

The Sheriff, not the least intimidated by the formidable appearances of the 
assailants rushed into their ranks and commanded them to disperse, but the mob 
overpowered him, and dragged the prisoners, Barger and Carroll from the jail. 
Sheriff Buchanan then manfully defended the prisoners-he seized Barger with 
one arm and fought the infuriated mob with the other. The County Clerk, Hon. 
Loring Wheeler, our worthy Recorder, T. F. Butterfield and Dr. Kelley rushed 
to the assistance of the Sheriff. They fought bravely and undauntedly in 
defence of the prisoners and the majesty of the law.


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