Antedating of "Lynch"

[James A. Landau]

In a message dated 2/5/03 10:06:46 PM Eastern Standard Time, self at TOWSE.COM
writes:

> When did the meaning of "lynch" morph from vigilante justice to
>  vigilante hanging, or did it ever?

How would you classify the death of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith in
Skagway, Alaska, 8 July 1898?  A vigilante group was meeting to plan how to
deal with Smith.  Smith grabbed his gun and went to break up the meeting or
otherwise deal with the vigilantes.  In the ensuing gunfight Smith and one of
vigilante leaders, Frank Reid, were killed.

This makes Smith perhaps the onlly person in American history to take
vigilante action against vigilantes, or, more colorfully, the first ever to
attempt to lynch a lynch mob.


         - James A. Landau