July, 1880: Multiple Lynchings

Today's article is one I found in many papers, but could unfortunately not find any other articles confirming the event. Newspapers can be very difficult in the past because they picked and chose what lynchings would be of public interest and so not every lynching was covered. Therefore, not finding a lynching in the paper is not the same as a lynching never happening. I would think to verify or deny a lynching, one would have to look through archives and court documents. 

This article comes to us through the pages of The Leavenworth Times (Leavenworth, Kansas) dated July 16, 1880:

At Lincoln, in Lincoln county, New Mexico, the citizens united in celebrating three days in succession in a thrillingly unique manner.  On the 3d a drunken prisoner in jail was lynched; on the 4th the Deputy Sheriff was lynched by the deceased's friends, and on the 5th another prisoner was taken from the jail and lynched. Further returns are awaited for with interest.

Thank you for joining me and as always, I hope I leave you with something to ponder.