“First and Only Hanging in Hughes County”
630
1950
Hughes
(Note: any text in italics has been taken from the official SDSHS records.)
Marker Text
was April 18, 1885 when James H. Bell, who killed Forest G. Small with a hatchet on Dec. 4th, 1884, was hanged to a ladder leaned against the county flag pole here after a mob took him from the county jail early in the morning.
Erected 1950 by the Hyde Holding Corp.
Location
Hughes County, in front of Hughes County Courthouse at 104 E. Capitol Avenue (2006)