I have a scanned image of a document, most likely a later transcription of a contemporary court filing or death notice:

Deceased' name: Abnon Mizell Page 51 Date: 27 Dec 1892
White. 5'08". Eyes gray. Complexion Dark.
Report - Inquest held at the residence of Joseph Mizell. In the matter of the inquisition of the body of Abnon Mizell deceased we the jurors sworn to inquire of the death of Abnon Mizell on oath do find he came to his death by a knife in the hands of one Joseph Grace near the residence of B.F. Laird on 27 December 1892. The body was turned over to his family for burial.

I believe this is Thomas Abner Mizell, son of Josiah Mizell and Harriett Emaline Grace. According to his tombstone, Thomas Abner was born on 19 August 1870 and died 26 December 1892.

According to family legend, Thomas Abner's brother Robert Nicholas Mizell actually killed him. However, their cousin Joe Grace took the blame for the killing and went to prison for it.

I don't believe the Illinois Department of Corrections extant penal records go back that far so they would have no record of Joe Grace in that time period.

Does anyone have any more information about the stabbing? Any contemporary newspaper articles perhaps?

Thomas Abner was my great-granduncle and Robert Nicholas was my great grandfather.

Please contact me directly at m_lcollier@hotmail.com, or simply reply to this post. Thanks.