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IDENTIFIES oUSPECT
Judge Busby Recognizes One
‘Of Two Sailors
Final links of a chain of “con-
feesed” and circumstantial = evi-
dence in the Boykin murder case
were forged in Lauderdale county
jail late Tuesday afternoon when
former Judge Arthur Busby poal-
tively Identified Joseph M. Leemon
of Maylene, Ala. as one of two
sailors who “thumbed”. but re-
fused a ride from him on Highway
11 on November 13.
The former judge aald that he
_jeould not definitely recall the
second sailor, Maurice Shimniok of
Madison, Wis. who with Leemon,
allegedly has admitted to the
brutal murder of former Deputy
Sheriff Tom 8. Boykin of Wayne
county, on the afternoon of Satur-
day, November 13,
BShuns Civillan In Car
Both of the sailors calmly’ stated
they did recall having stopped the
ivehicle In which Judge Husby was
riding and Shimniok decla “the
reason we didnt accept the ride
was because of the civillan.” Judge
Busby, in a previous statement in
The Meridian Star, indicated that
just prior to tha time the two men
ask for a ride, he stopped and
picked up a eivillan who “thumbed”
for a lift ahout 50 feet away from
the men,
District Attorney Tobrano cross-
examined the two men throughout |
most of Tuesday and at a late hour
in the day said the pair will prob-
ably be confined here in Lauderdale
county jail until their trial in Janu-
_ary in Wayne county. Leemon and
Shimniok, !t was reported, have
sought to obtain the services of a
local attorney. :
According to the reported con-
feasions of Shimniok and Leemtnn,
they fashioned a deadly blackjack
in Meridian for the purpose of com-
mitting a robbery but they did not.
plen.to KUL anyone... 1 sed
Bhimniok, sald officers, related
hitting Mr. kin about the head
with the blackjack and subsequent-
ly pulling the former sheriff from
his automobile. He added that
when Mr. Boykin started = yelling
“that made me mad” and he then
struck the aged man in the throat
with a hunting knife. The sailor
could not recall how many times
he stabbed his victim.
Shimniok, continued the officers’
account, was seated in the rear of
(Continued on Page 9.)
3
Mur. lee JAS
at lige?
sal
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PL ke Laat ay NS ee “et ays tat
my na eit . t > theta "e / H a
hom “i Me Ye
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y
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: 1?
fs, en :
—
ERIDIAN, MISS., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1
LOCATE DEATH CAR
188 WANDA L. MYERS,
outhern Rallway’s new Director
’ Hostess Service, is heracif a
riking example of the type of
outhern girin who are being em-
loyed as hostesses for “The
putherner.”
a a es
MST MAN SLAIN
Pascagoula, Miss. Nov. 15 (ADM
Police were seeking Monday the
yer of E. W. Williamson whose
dy was found in_ his _ blood-
lattered trailer home here 8un-
y ming by a negro porter
iowentered the trailer to awaken
er 55-year-old pool hall operator
Chief of Police A. W. Ezell last
mht supplied the following detalls
the crime:
Williamson had been shot twice
rough the body and once through
lee i So Bie pn wae Obattere.
Continue Hunt For Ex-
Sheriff's Slayers
The blood-spattered automobile
in which Thomas 8. Boykin, 57-
year-old former Wayne county
sheriff, was murdered late Satur-
day afternoon by two men wearing
paval uniforms was found .aban-
doned near McLain in Greene coun-
ty Sunday.
The vehicle was discovered about
200 yards off the highway, its gas
tanks full and the car was undam-
aged. Apparently the pair realized
it had become “too hot” for safe-
ty. Within a short time after the
machine had been located, over 100
persons began an intense search of
the desolate, stump-studded hills in
that locality but at an early hour
Monday no information had been
obtained as to the whereabouts of
the missing men.
Hunt For Fingerprints
Officers made attempts to find
fingerprints in the blood-stained
car. .
A report issued late Sunday says
Boykin's head had been badly bat-
tered before his throat was slashed
by the desperadoes. Missing from
his person was $82 in cash, it was
added, and a shotgun and a pistol
were also taken. It is believed that
Mr. Boykin may have had other
money in his possession at the time
of the slaying.
Patrolmen sald the two men ap-
parently knew the Greene county
area well since they were able to
elude all road blocks set up to ef-
fect their capture. Vivian E. Boy-
kin, brother of the slain man,
joined in the search Sunday.
Officers here discounted the
; theory that Otto George, escaped
| Alabama criminal, participated in
;the crime. George, they indicated,
lhad been seen near Loutsville at
,the approximate time of the mur-
der and could not have been {mpli-
icated.
0, 1943.
Hungry repatriated Allied pris-
oner grabs a thick sandwich
before putting down his lug-
gage, at Leith, Scotland, where
soldiers returned from Ger-
many landed,
Italian Headquarters in Italy,
Nov. 15 (AP)—Premier Marshal
Pictro Badogliio’s pledge to resign
as head of the Itallan government
when Rome falls was quickly fol-
lowed Monday by strong indications
that King Vittorio Emanuele's ab-
dication ts only a matter of time.
Dr. Leopold Piccard!, who quit as
minister of labor and commerce on
the heels of Badoglio’s statement
Sunday, reflected the general atti-
(Continued on Page 3)
ie
han i iS 1 ewan as ane
hie
t ‘. be 3
va) we ety tt
“
i it “f Nt
Sees At : sia ey ase RNS (aR hs. aS ae i an Mr
tgs! ws ets Reade Suan a ve An Ry OE Pour ibs " ely
#5 se yhy hee Ss Rpts CaM LRN ne ! any a Maas weg a
?
os
e
ET et eS
> —By Robert. Star Staff Protographer,
In the center of the above picture is City Detective T. D. Harbour
Honor To Brame of Meridian, whose brilliant detective work solved the Boykin murder
case. To his right is Maurice Shimniok of Madison, Wis., and to his
left 1s Joseph M. Leemon of Maylene, Ala., U. S. navy saliors who al-
Sane a teenie ei legedly admitted to the brutal murder of Tom 8. Boykin of Wayne
- } ted. er id, nt of th ondary | county, on the afternoon of November 13.
dl rca essen inh saat ¢ Mis- Bullen and embittered, the pair posed for this Meridian Star photo-
graph in Lauderdale county jail as they faced further investigation and
murder charges.
YANKS BLAST WAY THROUGH JAPS
Americans Make Steady Pr ogress In Three Jap Islands;
Nipponese Suffer Increasing Losses
(Associated Press)
Americans blasted their way slowly through “considerable” Japanese
resistance on three Gilbert island groups in the Central Pacific Tuesday.
®@ Marines and Infantry extended
the new Pacific offensive 80 miles
south by invading Abemama Atoll.
Already they were on Tarawa and
Makin, burning out dug-in Japan-
Washington, Nov. 23. (UP) —| ese.
President Roosevelt Tuesday ask-| Japs Claim U. S. Losses
ed congress for “immediate” con- Tokyo, countering American deeds
sideration of a three-point, feder- | with unconfirmed words, asserted
ally-financed program to tide over| that a medium aircraft carricr
service men and women in “the dif- | and a destroyer had been sunk
os re ‘ _ {from the grentest American fleet
Oo W. Y. BRAME ficult period of readjustment” aft ever assembled tn the Pacific, and
aisaipp! Sheriffs’ association at o| er the war. sald 125 U. S. planes were shot
-| meeting in Jackson. Declaring that the nation must| down tn the Gilberts sinte Friday.
ca) He succeeds Sheriff J. M. isuch- | “give notice to our armed forcesn | The anme uncanfirmed nranagan
aes eons can aes Gime) 6. lar |. ain
i? etvedl dias (
aetere rn 4
RAEN A acts a MRS Re
RANE a
Beene me ie
aj
i
’
ONT 10 SALIS
(Continued From Page 1)
mer sheriff's jugular vein. Ap-
re, one. of the men had held
— back while the other made
inch inch | the fatal wound. .
7m) _ ae “Th " al . it furthe
e two sailors, it was
_— et “ oe en ee indicated, spent about one hour in
tope had a very Dimperary |queman where they visited the
© eructures erected near the | Debbs Motor company. Both men
t QandO ht house. New | Were said to have black hair and
nery was ‘bo t and install-|one had s fresh scar upon his
face.
Secon ot EW Paks toe), uae, Arts Bu
@ statement issued at a our
a eT et ae oe Heilroed, | Saturday night said’*T am certain
ling to the “Old Timer,” he that if the men who killed Mr.
very plain-spoken man, roar- | Boykin are the ones who flagged
2 a lion, but would not “cuss,” | me for a ride I would
tand for anybody ¢lse “cuss- them.
The shop force at that time “I was on my way to Waynes-
ted of about 50 men. boro about 10 a. m., Saturday when
} Are Erected two men in sailor uniforms flagged
we facilities me for a ride. Just before I got
lent, and the nat tah oon: to them, I picked up a civilian.
ing the management, in keep- When I stopped. for the sailors,
ip with the repairs of equi they asked me how far I was go-
waa to provide sho of at. ing and they said they would walt
” “capacity During the | until they could get a ride through
itmas’ season of 1884, General |*° Mobile. I am certain I would
ager Scott, visited Meridian, | “ecosnize them. sakes “gd
xd over the ground between Robert Fisher, game warden, an
and 40th avenues in the west |® resident of Bucatunna told of-
of the town and selected it as|ficers he on, “Og crt distance
P rom the w a short. ce
= for the erection of new ra that commmtnity aia ee
' {f rapi a vehicle he rec-
ne temporaty shop buildings |° .
xed in 1885, and the work was ognized as the one vbr by Mr.
ried on the new buildings, which Boykin. He gave immediate chase
e completed in 1886. These the men had stolen the
e of wooden construction and . ut ar ine oT was
— my gg on Ail Mr. Fisher returned to the area
ce building and two turntables, | Where he had seen the men dash
» serv the rounudhouse and from the woods and after a short
| other the erecting shop. search found the body. It is said
. W. Fowle was master mechanic, a f pr onal A I ie
4 the “Old Timer” describes him | Rumber of chec y
a remarkable draftsman. He before leaving for his home and
1 not use a straight edge or com- | that monies in his possession prior
sses in preparing drawings. to his death were not found upon
the body.
= 1 McOarty, peta bo A A tip received from law enforce-
“- ment officers of Richton at a late
ag a oral ¢ shops were emia {hour Saturday night said the two
gs were destroyed except the | Navy suspects had backtracked in
ecting shop and roundhouse. the stolen automobile and were
headed towasd Meridian on High-
by Sedaggine. ppd pies = abba way 45. Road blocks were set. by
’ machine shop, blacksmith shop, highway patrolmen, county and city
ning officers at Rock Hill, a few miles
atler shop. pis Ee She “power south of Meridian and at Jones
lant. These buildings were com-
leted in 1892, and are still in use. Store, about eight miles from this
-~sellent condition.
“ae mee
FOREST DALE SENIORS ;
TO PRESENT PLAY
' ‘The Forest Dale seniors will pre-
sent their play, “Tempest and Sun-
shine’ in the Forest Dale auditor-
jum on Friday night, Nov. 109 ‘at
eight o'clock. A smal) admission. will
That's Right! You can. put nev
ine Trinidad Asphalt shingles (
your home now without restric
sidewalls of your home are the *
now have a brand new coat of
up the past. Beautifully shapr
Genasco shingles that defy fire
you in pre-war quality. Call u
day.
city.
At about 10:15 p. m., two sallors
Call 291 far RI
26
THE DISTILLERY—
To this turpentine plant in the swamp county. Tom
Boykin had the job of delivering the payroll money.
handkerchief, the cloth Fisher had seen the man drop.
Fisher picked it up and the muscles in his face tightened.
It was covered with blood!
Fisher stared at the handkerchief, fear tugging at his
heart. Yet he didn’t want to make a fool out of .him-
self. It was possible, though: not probable, that Boykin
had loaned his car to somebody, or that he.was ill. So
Fisher jumped into his car and drove to the home of
Vivian Boykin in Waynesboro.
Vivian Boykin, tall, rugged, and looking pretty much
like his brother, shook his head when Fisher sug-
gested Tom had loaned his car to anybody.
“Tom went to town himself in the car to get the
payroll from the bank,” he said. “He wouldn’t loan his
car on a payroll day. I don’t like this whole set-up.
Tom should have been back an hour ago.”
He grabbed his hat and followed Fisher to the car.
The two drove to the lonely road where Fishershad
seen a man jump into Tom Boykin’s car. Neither man
said anything as the pair got out of the car and started
for the woods, in the direction Fisher had seen the man
come.
They didn’t have to go far until they found what they
feared they would find—the lifeless body of Tom Boykin.
It had beer’ dragged jnto some bushes, but the attempt
to hide it hadn’t been very thorough. /
The ex-sheriff, the man who said he could take care
of any robbers, lay on his right side. There was a bad
wound on his head. That hadn’t killed him. His throat
had been slashed viciously. :
Fisher reached down, touched the wrist of the dead
man. It was still warm.
“Tt didn’t happen very long ago,” he said hoarsely to
the brother, who was staring with dazed eyes at Tom
Boykin’s body. “That man I saw apparently did the
job.”
t ahialopst minutes later the woods were filled with
officers. Sheriff C. L. Westover and three state
police officers, Captains Bart Harrington, Jim Barry and
A. B. Rufkin, were standing over the body of Tom
Boykin. All four were close friends of the murdered
man, and all looked at the body in a grim silence.
“So they finally got Tom!” the sheriff said. “I knew
they would sometime. He was too kind-hearted, too
trusting.”
Captain Rufkin kneeled down and examined the
dead man’s pockets. When he stood up, he said: “There’s
no money left, and his wallet is gone. How much money
was he carrying?”
Vivian Boykin answered: “He went for the payroll
for the Howard Distillery. \It was around five hundred
dollars. He never carried much in his wallet, except a
little change and his gas coupons. He had a new book
of them and I know he signed every one. Tom was
very particular about not using any Black-Market gas.”
“Those coupons,” Sheriff Westover suggested, “might
prove an important clue.”
The ambulance arrived and the body of Tom Boykin
was taken to the morgue in Waynesboro, where the
autopsy would be performed. The four officers searched
the woods around where the body had lain.
This search netted two important clues. One was a
returne
to get
the pri
Sher
man r\
too far
to give
the w
have |
Whe:
Frank
of Ton
caused
the he
uncons
into th
and th
such a
brush
ex-she:
inches
She:
-askea.
couldn
“T ¢
got it
killer
) ee Moy) ~ SKMOMMMOK MMs
! 2 — — ” oe a os
The :
y Jy Ais
a
ST
J That
— Tripped
TWO
KILLERS
OM BOYKIN was.a jovial, good-natured man who |
trusted everybody and didn’t believe there was any special r:
evil in the world. This was a little unusual in that were ma
he had served as sheriff for Wayne County, Mis- “Don’t
sissippi, and’ must have seen considerable evil in man- “T can ta!
kind. Perhaps it was his courage that gave him that that will
feeling of kindness to everybody. Fear was something He did:
he had never known, either as a civilian or a peace that, and
officer. | loved To: |
Since his retirement as sheriff, Boykin had a job of | or later, i
delivering payrolls to different turpentine distilleries || And it
in the swamp country outside of Waynesboro. His |
friends warned him that it was dangerous to go driving | OB F!
through the swamp country with so much cash, alone drivi
and in a frame of mind to pick up every straggling | of Wayn
hitch-hiker. | he could
F THE KNIFE— Tom laughed at their warnings. Apparently he was | ‘the Howe
i, Though cheap and short-bladed, it more interested in gadgets for his car than in their | Perhap
served as a lethal weapon, caused advice. He had a special aerial for his radio that en- | think of
death of Ex-Sheriff Tom Boykin. abled him to pick up distant stations. He had built a | friends fc
‘ many wh
24
’] \ Gs f e 4) ie
(1 MA Wn 4 X eke us
SV ice not
States
It’s a matter of
GOOD TASTE!
As the right setting glorifies
the finest: gems, so: does
Don @ glorify any rum
drink. Enrich your tall drinks
... and your cocktails with
.. the finer flavor Of
Don Q — Puerto
Rico’s favorite qual-
ity rum!
86 PROOF A ae
pon Q
Product of DESTILERIA SERRALLES, INC...
Ponce, Puerto Rico, U.S. A,
SOLE U.S. DISTRIBUTORS: Schieffelin & Co.
NEW YORK CITY: © IMPORTERS SINCE 1794
CONTENTS
__- aenesnniaeleiaa NAR ssssnssassi
eee
APRIL, 1945
INSIDE detective
West Peterson, Editor
Carlos Lane, Betty Gleason, Associate Editors Otte Storch, Art Director
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH................... Larry Roberts 6 POSTMASTER: Please send no-
tice on Form 3578 and copies
DETECTIVE CROSSWORD................-.-. avusgehet nee 8 is 149 Modis Avenuey New.
MURDER OF THE POLICE CHIEF..................0ceceeeees 10 ais achlbaaa
BLIND JUSTICE................000eee eee eees J. F. Fishman {1 _
THE WEAKER SEX.............00ccccce cece cece cesses eeees 12
MURDER RIDES WITH THE V-2................ Ridley: MMF 1 - sc rerermsnie Vidunstt:
I eae cree Barton Black 18 nish ois," by, Wa eter,
CASE OF THE DESPERATE INFORMER....... Walter $, Tobias 22 publication at Woshinaton and
. ae eggs Boaanen NL e
COOLING OFF THE HOT CHECK BOYS...... Sgt. C. B. Amold 24 Executive, editorial and sub-
DEATH RIDDLE OF THE.ELDERLY BRIDE.......... Jay Spencer 26 Chicaes odvertsns ofc, 360
. Michi 7 i
BLUE RIBBON CASE NO. T.................0.0005 Dan Foley 29 1, Ill. Printed in the U. S, A.
. : ‘ Single copy price ten cents. Sub-
“KILL!” SAID THE SPIRIT.................... John S. Thorp 30 xription inthe United States
LETTERS FROM THE VICTIM...,............
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD PUZZLE..........
Lave a +, Conadion a oa
ption $1.20 a ‘year, foreign
Ted Neal 34 subscription $2.20 a year. Ene"
tered as second ‘class matter
rT ree .. 51 January 15, 1935, at the Post
Office at Dunellen, N. J., under
the Act of March 3, 1879. The
ility for the return of unsolicited
Cover Kodachrome by Pagano I 5 a Pyernner AS es aro
INSIDE DETECTIVE is a periodical for the di
‘
’ tion of technical information and
crime-prevention news to police officers, county coroners, district attorneys, and jurists.
material. All manuscripts should
be accompanied by stamped,
self-addressed envelope.
‘The Third Degree
“DEAR Old Sleuth,” writes Marshall Bien-
ert of Yankton, S. D. “I have been a regu-
lar reader of your magazine. for more
than a year and think it is swell. The story
in your February issue, The Crown Jewels
ol Missing! was one of the best I’ve ¢ver
read,
“I especially enjoy cases in which the
Pinkerton Agency is involved. Most of
these seem to be a number of years old, but
théy are still good. Print more of them.”
Yes, we agree that the Pinkertons always
make “good copy.” But they’re not the only
ones. Without doubt the greatest number
of the big cases coming out of any single
law-enforcement unit today are those from
the FBI. Take a look at Spy Trap! on page
18 this month.
WE would welcome letters from
readers on their interest in FBI yarns
as compared with stories originating
with other police organizations. What’s
your preferenceP
SOMEONE told us the other day about a
suburban mother who had trained her young
child in a complicated scheme to obtain an
extra five pounds of sugar without a ration
coupon at a self-service grocery. Trivial?
Of course. But we wonder what will hap-
pen to the youngster at the age of 18 if he
continues to be encouraged in trickery and
acts that amount to thievery. ;
We would like to send that mother a
copy. of the March issue of Insipz DErEcTIVvE,
inviting her: to pay special attention to
astory entitled Thread for a Hangman’s
Noose.. Two 19-year-old boys named Mav- -
rice Shimniok and Joseph M. Leeman thought
‘
they could get away with stealing, too.. But
they had to kill their victim, a former sheriff
He Mississippi, to get a little more than $100
oot. f
They confessed following their capture,
and a jury assessed the death penalty.. On
December 28, Father E. J. Flanagan, founder
of Boy’s Town, -pleaded..with Governor
Thomas: L. Bailey at ‘the ‘Mississippi state-
house that Shimniok and Leeman be spared
because of. their youth. But‘the governor
said this had been a particularly brutal slay-
ing, and that he could not grant commuta-
tion. ~
The following day the boys went to-their
deaths. ‘ “I am. ready to die,” said Ve
“Tell mom to hold up and be brave.” His
pal echoed similar sentiments. :
_ Now, the point is, Leeman and Shimniok
did not change overnight from. law-abiding _
youths to killers. Both: were Navy de-
serters, and the full records might show
other experiences in crime. Maybe very
petty crime—like the grocery store cheating
of the child we’ve mentioned. But eventu-
ally they went on to the major league of
crookdom, 7:
A FAMOUS prison warden used ‘to
say that no one was born to, go to the
electric chair, but that some of its vic-
tims might as well have been—for.they
were on the way to the last mile almost
from the time they could walk!
WITH reference to the grim subject of
executions, we are reminded ‘of the: recent
death of Monsignor William E. Cashin, 73,
former Roman Catholic chaplain: at Sing
Sing prison, Dur- (Continued on page 58)
ed
RS
i-natured man who
lieve there was any
ttle unusual in that
Nayne County, Mis-
ierable evil in man-
that gave him that
Fear was something
. civilian or a peace
Boykin had a job of
-urpentine distilleries
of Waynesboro. His
ingerous to go driving
, so much cash, alone
; up every straggling
s, Apparently he was
his car than in their
for his radio that en-
tions. He had built a
—— a a ie
By MELVILLE DEANE
The law officers took a single
thread and wove it into a case
that resulted in the conviction
and execution of two slayers
R. M. FISHER—
This game warden found
CAPTAIN RUFKIN—
special rack on the top to carry a motor boat. There
were many other gadgets, and he was proud of them all.
“Don’t you go worrying about me,” he told his friends.
“I can take care of any thugs that get ideas. I got a car
that will make them look foolish?”
He didn’t say what the gadget was that would do
that, and his friends still worried because everybody
loved Tom Boykin and everybody knew that, sooner
or later, it would happen.
And it did, on the afternoon of December 13, 1943....
; Bo FISHER, game warden for Wayne County, was
driving through the heavily-wooded country south
_ of Waynesboro. From the tall pines that lined the road,
- he could smell the fumes of turpentine coming from
‘the Howard Distillery not far away.
Perhaps it was this turpentine smell that made him
think of Tom Boykin. Fisher and Boykin had been
friends for many years, and Fisher was one of the
many who worried about Tom and his careless way
TOM BOYKIN—
of the State Police. He Despite his career as a peace officer, he believed
first clue in the case. probed his friend's death. that about everybody could be trusted. He was wrong.
of carrying payrolls to the turpentine plants and pick-
ing up hitch-hikers.
Fisher drove several miles past the distillery, still
thinking about Tom Boykin. A car was standing along-
side the road, about half a mile ahead of him. He
looked again. He saw the elaborate aerial that loomed
high over the car and he saw the special rack Boykin
had donstructed to carry his motor boat.
It was Saturday, and it struck Fisher strange that
Boykin’s car would be parked alongside the road, as
this was the day Tom carried payrolls. Fisher stepped
on the gas, but as he did, a man came running out of
the. woods, jumped into the car, and it roared down the
road. But as the man leaped into the car, he dropped
what looked like a white cloth.
Fisher was puzzled. He knew the man wasn’t Tom
Boykin. The distance was too great for Fisher to get
a good look at the man. Fisher’s car got to where the
sedan had stood and he jumped out.
Lying in the grass, alongside the road, was a white
28 The Master Detective
and received $28.50 from him in change. He turne
d to leave.
Something in the manner of the stranger, perhaps his
hard, blue eyes that were constantly roving
over the
store, aroused the suspicions of Mr. Heidenreich. He
suggested that as a matter of formality he wo
phone the bank at McHenry and verify the p
er’s claims. Davis assured Mr. Heidenreich that the
check was good but hurriedly backed out of the
THEN Heidenreich knew that something was
wrong. Seeing J. Earl Westbrook, member of
the police force, across the street, he called him
Policeman Westbrook was one of the most
popular members of the McComb Police De-
partment. Besides holding a commission as
deputy sheriff, he was at that time police
chief-elect, having won the nomination by an
overwhelming majority over a field of four
candidates in the first primary election
only a few days before. Mr. Heidenreich ex-
plained to Officer Westbrook the transaction
with Davis, expressing the opinion that the
check was “hot”, and requested the officer
to assist him in further investigation.
Although Westbrook was on sick leave for the
day, he entered Heidenreich’s automobile and
together they drove along the street in the di-
rection taken by Davis in his hurried departure
from the store. The two men sighted Davis about .
three blocks from the store as he was entering the
Luther Knight, who engineered the jail delivery
eight prisoners, including Robert Percy Lofton,
Pike County Jail, at Magnolia, Mississippi, at no
28th, 1926
uld tele-
urchas-
store.
during which
escaped from
on December
Deputy Sheriff E. E.
Blount, a famous
Southern manhunter
and co-author of this
story. - He stuck to
the Lofton trail until
he got his man
Bethea Raoming House on
Maryland Avenue and Fifth
Street. Heidenreich parked
his car in front of the room-
ing house, and Policeman
Westbrook entered alone to
interview Davis. According
to information gathered later, and to testimony of
witnesses, Davis went through the hallway of the
building to the kitchen where he encountered the
landlady, Mrs, R. W. Bethea. He told Mrs. Bethea
that he was “looking for someone who roomed there’,
whereupon he turned and went back to the front of
the building and entered a bedroom. It was here that
Officer Westbrook found him.
WHEN Westbrook entered the room, Davis
whirled, drew an automatic pistol, and demanded
that the officer throw up his hands. Westbrook, a
veteran of the World War, instead of complying
with Davis’ demand, replied:
“We don’t want to have any trouble. [| want to
talk to you as man to man about that check. Don't
do that!”
Davis’ reply was a shot from his automatic. The
bullet plowed through the officer’s abdomen. West-
brook whipped out his gun and returned the fire.
There was a rapid exchange of shots, the reports
coming so close together that one witness described
the sound as being “like one loud crash”. The officer,
who was seriously wounded, scored only one hit.
Davis’ automatic jammed and he tossed it upon the
bed and collapsed uporr a trunk in a corner of the
room. Westbrook, his face ghastly and his body
drawn almost double with agony, staggered to the
f E. E.
amous
anhunter
of this
tuck to
ail until
man
1Ony of
of the
red the
Bethea
i there”,
tront of
vere that
Davis
s=manded
yrook, a
mplying
want to
Don't
ic. The
West-
the fire.
reports
iescribed
e officer,
yne hit.
ipon the
r of the
body
to the
$500 for Lofton—Dead or Alive! 29
front porch and fell to his knees. He was picked up and car-
ried a short block to the McComb Hospital. A crowd had
already gathered about the house, attracted by the shots.
The next person to enter the bedroom found Davis seated
on the trunk attempting to cover his wound and the stains
with his hands. At that moment someone saw Mrs. Bethea
fall in the hallway. NHurried examination revealed that
she had fainted as the result of a painful flesh wound in
one shoulder inflicted by a stray bullet.
In the meantime, Davis, who had asked if there were
any police officers outside and had been told that several
had just arrived, put on a coat belonging to the late
R. W. Bethea, then Coroner and Ranger of Pike County,
and left the house by a rear exit. He went through an
alley toward Delaware Avenue. It must have required
superhuman effort for Davis, wounded as he was, to at-
tempt an escape. No one noticed him in the excitement of
reviving Mrs. Bethea.
By the time Chief of Police Preston Quin, whom West-
brook was elected to succeed, and the late D. W. Guy, then
Sheriff of Pike County, arrived, Davis was missed. These
two officers started in pursuit of the fugitive, each taking
a different course. Sheriff Guy was the first to sight
Davis, who was staggering along the sidewalk on Delaware
Avenue near the McComb Infirmary. The wounded man
offered no resistance and was arrested and carried
to the infirmary. Both Davis and Westbrook
were in a critical condition and each
underwent a major operation immedi-
ately. Every effort was made to save ,
the lives of the gunman and his victim.
Davis refused to talk further than
to say he had no relatives or friertds.
A “fake” letter found in his pocket
gave an account of a transaction with
the “McHenry Realty Company”, in
which Davis was supposed to have sold
a lot, and a “fifty dollar check” was
enclosed. There were also pictures of
two young women in his pockets.
A TELEPHONE message to Mc-
Henry, Mississippi, revealed that
the check given to the Heidenreich
Hardware Store was no good, and that
Davis was not known there. Sheriff
Guy noticed among Davis’ possessions
several registered-mail receipts, and
with the aid of Postmaster W. W.
Holmes found that Davis had directed
mail to Mrs. G. A. Grantham, Fort
Worth, Texas. A telegram was sent
to the chief of police at Fort Worth
and another to Mrs. Grantham, asking
for information about Davis and giv-
ing his description.
Mrs. Grantham replied by wire that
she knew nothing about the man. How-
ever, on the heels of this telegram,
the chief of police of Fort Worth tele-
graphed that Davis was the son of
Mrs. Grantham, that he was born at
Crystal Springs, Mississippi, and that
his real name was Robert Percy
Lofton!
About the same time, information
was received from Jackson, Mississippi,
the state capital, saying that a man
of the description of Lofton, alias
Davis, using the name of George
Moore, had passed a number of bad
checks in that city.
Burns Detective Agency representative
at the headquarters of the National
Credit Men’s Association to the McComb Credit Men’s
Association said that a description of Davis was being
broadcast to seven hundred bureaus, in the hope that more
definite information about him could be obtained.
By August IIth it was reported that Lofton and West-
brook had a chance to live. Mrs. Bethea was rapidly re-
covering from the wound she had received. Information
continued to come in concerning Lofton, revealing that he
had traveled widely under many names.
THEN, on the night of August 14th, J. Earl Westbrook,
a popular Police Chief-elect and Deputy Sheriff, died
at 9:55, ‘
Throngs of silent men began to gather on the streets.
Everywhere groups could be seen holding whispered or
low-voiced conversations. A charge of murder was form-
ally made against Lofton, and he was removed from the
hospital to an unknown destination for safe keeping and
to prevent possible mob violence.
Officer Westbrook was survived by a beautiful young
wife, only twenty-one years old, and two young children, the
younger, Bonney Earl, just four weeks old. Hundreds of
persons attended Westbrook’s funeral, and the City Band,
A wire from the Mrs. J. Earl Westbrook, widow of the slain officer and her two children, Bonney
Earl (Jeft) and Joyce. Bonney Earl was only four weeks old when his father,
one of the most popular members of the McComb Police Department, was slain
in the line of duty
30 The Master Detective
of which he was once a member, played taps while his body
was lowered into the grave. The heads of the multitude
were bowed while tears streamed down the cheeks of men
and women alike. Proof of the popularity of the fallen
officer and his grief-stricken widow was manifest by the
fact that almost immediately a memorial fund, to be
given to Mrs. Westbrook, was started by the Knights of
Pythias.
About this time, the firm of Williams and Hunt, of Mc-
Comb, composed of the Honorable E. G. Williams, now
Chairman of the Mississippi State Democratic Executive
Committee and one of the outstanding criminal lawyers
of the state, and Mrs. Nellie Wilkinson Hunt, who was
on alleged damages as a result of the wound she had
received in the exchange of shots between Lofton and West-
brook. She failed to win the suit.
Lofton, who had been returned to the hospital where he
underwent a second operation, was reported to be recoy-
ering rapidly. He was guarded closely night and day.
On September 26th he was removed to the Pike County
Jail at Magnolia and physicians attended him there after
that date.
Judge J. H. Price, former State
Supreme Court
among the most able women law-
yers of the state, was retained to
defend Lofton by a brother, J. L.
Lofton, of Chicago, and other rela-
tives of the accused man.
Incidentally, on September 15th,
Mrs. Bethea filed a suit against the
city of McComb for fifteen thou-
sand dollars. The suit was based
may be duly oth
Yonited Phates for
ie as, . weed, and fa
im from steo Alace of. laleal
> cee ,
“io , devect and. odin itente
: “Chere to dirnnineden
a) ~ ~*~
ED. Kernen
( - t é
‘a ta the prvefrer authe
Tees Bor all howl
Sandhill
Sg Ot wake and if 4.
; aa Monster tes dine ‘
Photographic copy of the warrant for the
extradition of Lofton. The warrant bears
the signature of Calvin Coolidge, at that
time President of the United States
Justice, was retained to assist District
Attorney F. D. Hewitt and County At-
torney W. F. Jackson with the prose-
cution. The search for additional in-
formation concerning the mysterious
prisoner was continued with redoubled
energy after Westbrook’s death. From
the beginning to the end of the case
District Attorney Hewitt worked hand
in hand with the officers, rendering in-
valuable aid.
T was learned that Lofton had a com-
panion with him when he came to Mc-
Comb—a man who left a small black
suit-case at a local hotel when he reg-
istered there with Lofton before the
shooting. After the shooting he and
Lofton’s luggage had disappeared, and
his name could not be learned. He was
not present at the time of the shooting.
fA
LOFTON-
“ OFTON ESCAPES!”
These two words in bold type streamed across
the front page of an extra edition of a McComb,
Mississippi, newspaper on the afternoon of
December 28th, 1926. As I read the story which
followed this screaming headline—a story of one of the
most daring jail-breaks in the history of Pike County—I
did not know it heralded the beginning of one of the hard-
est cases | have ever handled in my twenty-five years’ ex-
perience in manhunting.
Behind this screaming headline—before | officially entered
upon the case—there is an earlier story almost as exciting
Pgh
LIVE?
as the story which was carried in that extra edition.
On Tuesday, August 3rd, 1926, shortly after 5 Pp. M., a
Stranger, a man of medium build, about five feet eight
inches tall, and apparently between thirty and thirty-two
years old, entered the Heidenreich Hardware Store at 210
Main Street, McComb, Mississippi, and asked to be shown
some cooking stoves. He introduced himself as J. B.
Davis and said that he planned to move to McComb and
wished to purchase a stove which he would send for as
soon as he had rented a house or an apartment.
He soon selected a stove, handed Philip Heidenreich a
check on a bank of McHenry, Mississippi, for fifty dollars,
27
85 SOUTHERN 18) a | q
CHARLES MARSHALL. hanged Tupebo,s Miss,, 8-20-1920 .
"Aberdeen, Miss., Jane 16, 1920-Charles Marshall, charged with the murder near Amory
last night of three members of the Miller family and his own alleged infant son, whose
17-year-old mother was one of those killed, was rushed out of town for safe keeping late
tonight when the Sheriff received reports of a mob forming,
"Charles Marshall, charged with murder in connection with the killing last night near
Amory of Robert Miller, 7, a farmers; Leonard Miller, 16, his sons; Annie Green Miller,
17, his daughters and Burley Miller, 10-months-old, was held in the county jail under a
strong ‘guard against possible attempts at mob violence, .
"Pearl May Miller, 13, the only survivor of the family, is said to have witnessed the
crime from the lofté of the Miller farmhouse and HHRMMWHE according to Sheriff J, B. Lewis
has charged Marshall with the quadruple killing, ;
"Marshall was indicted at the November term of the grand jury charged with a statuatory
offense against the young woman killed and was at liberty under bond pending trial, The
baby is alleged to have been his son, Cie
‘tPearl Miller is quoted by the sheriff as ac cusing Marshall of,first throwing a stick
of dynamite on the roof of the house, the explosion tearing a large hole in the roof but
failing to injure any of the family. Then he entered the house, the girl,is said to have
told the sheriff, shot her father, brother, and sister and clubbed the baby with a piece
of wood after which he is alleged to have poured oil on the floor from a lamp and set
the building afire, Seeing her, the girl stated, theman started climbing to the loft
where she was hiding, but she escaped through the hole torn by the dynamite in the roof
and went to the home of a neighbor,
"The charred bodies of Miller and members of his family were found today in the ruins
of the farmhouse, "
BIRMINGHAM AGE HERALD, Birmingham, Ala., 1-17-1920
"Tupelo, Miss., 8=20-1920-[he crime for which Charlie Marshall, Monroe County farmer, was
hanged today = the killing of William Miller, an infant, and youngest of four members of the
family of “obert Miller, who were shot or clubbed to death at their home near Amor, MisSe,
on the night of Jan, 15, 1920, as described by Justice Holden of the Mississippi Supreme
Court in announcing the death sentence, as 'one of fiendish brutality - unparalleled in the
criminal history of the state,' Miller and his son and daughter, the latter the mother of
the infant, were shot and the baby clubbed to death and their bodies burned in a fire which
destroyed the Miller home, ‘heir charred bodies were found in the ruins, Charlie Marshall
neighbor of the Millers and alleged to have been the father of William Miller, was accused
of the killing by Pearl May Miller, lheyearwold daughter of the man killed, and only mem=
ber of the family who escaped, At Marshall s trial, held in Tupelo on change of venue from
Monroe County, she told of witnessing the work of the slayer from a place of concealment
where she sought safety after the dwelling had been partially destroyed by the explosion of
a charge of dynamite, She escaped just before the slayer or slayers applied the torch to
the building. J. E, Marshall, father of Charles Marshall, and the hatter's brother, Felix
Marshall, also were indicted in connection with the mrder, The elder Marshall was found
guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, but on appeal to the state supreme court the
verdict of the lower court was set aside and the charge on which he was tried wasordered
dismissed, Felix Marshall has not been placed ontrial," JOURNAL, Pensacola, Florida,
August 21, 1920 (1/3)
"At 1216 o'clock this afternoon Sheriff Inmon sprung the trap that dropped Charlie Marshall
into eternity. There was a drop of 8 feel and Marshall's neck was broken, He hung 22 min
utes and was then cut down and his body placed in a coffin and turned over to h&s brother,
Felix, who came up this morning to take charge of the body and take it back home with him
tonight, Marshall was taken to the gallows prepared in an enclosure on the south side of
tthe jail accompanied by Sheriff Inmon and his deputies and Sheriff Lewis of Monroe County,
and 3 deputies who came with him this morning from Aberdeen when Marshall was brought in and
turned over to the LeeCounty Sheriff; by his attorneys, Judge Clayton and 1, K, Boggan,
and Dan Holland, county health officer, Flkin, Toomer and Trice, The sheriff found it
necessary to return to the jail to get the death warrant and during this wait, Marshall
stood with solid indifferenceon the gallowsuntil the sheriff's return and the warrant was
d to hi He stated that he was ready when it suited the sheriff to spring th i
that amined him to his death and did not exhibit the least nervousness a "ally bee pel eeer
Dr, Holland and the attending physicians pronounced him dead in ten minutes,"
proceedingse ge 1, column l,
JOURNAL, Tupeoloy Mississippi, Auge 20, 1920, pa
MARKS, Jim, black, hanged Greenville, MS, February 16, 1923.
“Jim Marks, colored, was hanged under due authority of law, from a scaffold in the county
jail yard at 6:45 a. m. today - just after sunrise. It was a private execution. Sheriff Nicholson,
Deputies E. R. Prenshaw, J. W. Sterling, D. P. Shanahan and William Taggart; Drs. O. W. Stone
and A. J. Ware and Mr. Gervis Lusk were present, while a colored minister of the Gospel was
with Marks and said a final prayer. Sheriff Nicholson read the death warrant and when the cap
was adjusted, performing an official duty that was undisteful to him, but one which he was not
willing to ask another to do, performed the legal duty himself. Marks never quailed and told the
sheriff that he had faith and was not afraid to die.
“Marks was convicted at the January term of the criminal court of Washington county
for murdering Julius Lee, his son-in-law, in cold blood. The murder occurred last August on Bear
Garden Plantation. He had able attorneys for his defense and at one time his attorneys hoped to
be able to secure from the prosecuting attorneys an agreement for a life sentence in the peniten-
tiary, but Marks said he wouldn’t accept it; he wanted to go to trial. The result was ‘guilty of
murder in the first degree’ and death.
“The neck of Marks was broken by the fall of the trap, and in 13 minutes the physicians
pronounced him dead. The body was turned over to the Colored Burial Association and was at
the Caldwell funeral parlors on Walnut Street today.”-Daily Democrat-Times, Greenville,
MS, 2/16/1923 (1/3).
mst einai
er a -cgmmaemacemmetinaesesmnmnene 6" TERI m= a a
NO ARPEAL
MARKS, Jim, black, hanged at Greenville, Mississippi, on JHWH February 16, 1923,
"Jim Marks, colored, was hanged under due authority of law, from a saaffold in the county
jail yard at 6:5 a.m, today - just after sunrise, 1t was a private execution, Sheriff
Nicholson, Deputies E, R, Prenshaw, J. W. Sterling, D, P, Shanahan and William Taggart; Drs,
O. W. Stone and A, J, Ware and Mr, Gervis Lusk were present, while a colored minister of the
RX Gospel was with Marks and said a final prayer. ‘Sheriff Nicholson read the death war-
rant and when the cap was adjusted performed an official duty that was untasteful to him,
but one which he was not willing to asked another to do, performed the legal duty himself,
Marks never quailed and told the sheriff that he had faith and was not afraid to die, Marks
was convicted at the January term of the criminal court of Washington county for murdering
Julius Lee, his son-in-law, in cold blood, The murder occurred last August on Beer Garden
Plantation . He had able attorneys for his defense and at one time his attorneys hoped to
be able to secure from the prosecuting attorneys an agreement for a life sentence in the
penitentiary, but Marks said he wouldn't accept its he wanted to go to trial, The result
was guilty of murder in the first degree and death, The neck of Marks was broken by the
fall of the trap, and in 13 minutes the physicians pronounced him dead, The body was
turned over to the Colored Burial Association and was at Caldwell funeral parlors on Wale
nut street today," DAILY DEMOCRAT TIMES, Greenville, Miss., Feb, 16-1923 (1-3, )
"Jim Marks, colored, ws brought to the county jail today by Manager C, C. Blackburn on the
Bear Garden plantation, in the Lake Washington section, charged with killing Julius Lee,
colored, the killing taking place last night on Bear Garden plane, Particulars will be
brought out in a preliminary hearing before Justice P, R, Lafoe at Glen Allen some day this
week, in the meantime Marks will be held at the county jail for safekeeping," DAILY
DEMOCRAT TIMES, Greenvila#@, Mississippi, (l-1)3-20-1922,
"Jim Marks, colored, charged with the murder of Julius Lee, in the first district of the
county, some two or three weeks ago and who has been in jail here since that time, had his
preliminary trial before Justice P, R, Lafoe at Glen Allan yesterday, and was bound over
to the grand jury without benefit of bail. Hon, Van Boddie represented the defendant and
Hon, William Ray Toombs the state," DEMOCRAT TIMES, Greenville, ))/8/1922 (1-5.)
hanged Greenville, M3, on 2/16/1923
Jim Marks, a Negro, :
A Private Hanging, All Quietly
Handicd by Sh°riff Nicholson and |
Deputies and tha Doctors. 7
Jim Marks, colored,. was
under due authority ofdaw, from, #|
scaffold in the county jail yard "nt}
6:45 a. m. today—just after” susiy)
rise. It was a private executign,
Sherifr Nicholson, Deputies EK “A
+ Prenshaw, J..W, Sterling,.D. P. Shan,
fahan.,and William Taggart; Drs, 0.4
W-Stome and A, J. Ware and Mr}
Génvis _Lusk were present, while a
colored minister of the ‘Gospel - was: v}
wit Marks and said.a final prayer... -
‘Shoriff Nicholson réad the death. v1 NY
watrant and when ths cap was -ad- Ww AN
'jasted, performims an official duty | ™\
that$vas unfasteful ts im, but one X
i
wtf
=
arene
whith he was not willing to ask an-
l othe? to do, performed the }xgal duty.
oe lea la
Marks ntver quatled. ans told th
sheriff that he had faith and wag nat
afraid ‘ta die. Beat ee
edhtaxbe' able to secure front ithe-
proseenting® attorneys an agrermiht
| for a’ Heheniones in the penitentiary,
| but Mats ‘gald he wotldn’t A capt it; 1
ke wantddito go to trial. THe Yeeuit
was ‘ealtty: of murder fa tha, ‘sh de~
gree,” git geath. shone
1 The eel of Marke was broken hy
jthe fallypf'the trap, ard in ¥3 *mfhe
hei pliysicians pronounced hith,;
- ,gate body was turned over ty |
bidred. Burial Agsociatfon and,
‘Was at; he) Caldsvell funeral parlors |
| Walynt stragtedayy; a
sil as
19 SOUTHERN SERIES (Second) 760. See also large card,
LEEMON, Joseph, and SHIMNOCK, Maurice, whites, electrouuted Waynesboro, Misse, 12=29"19ih.
"Meridian, Miss., July 17, 194. = County officials said today Maurice Shimnock of Madison
Wisconsin, and Joseph M. Leemon, of Maylene, Ala., held in the county's jail in connection
with the slaying of the late former Sheriff Tom Boykin of Wayne County, are being treated
by the county physician, The officials said Shimnock has been losing weight rapidly and
they telieve lack of exercise might be responsible, Ynder heavy guard Saturday afternoon,
the & 2 youths walked steadily for 15 minutes on top of the county's jail." CLARION@LED=
GER, Jackson, Mississippi, July 18, 19h (7-7.)
*
JOSEPH LEEMON AND MAURICE SHIMNIOK (Mississippi )
RGarefree Youths Make an Adventure out of Their Execution for Murder.*®
"Just after midnight on Dece 29, Joseph Leemon of Bessemer, Alae,
and Maurice Shimniok of Madison, Wisd, both 19, were put to death in
the electric chair in Waynesboro, Miss., for tho crime of murdere
The two youths had gone AWOL from their Foley, “la., Naval Base,
when they had been enlisted men in the Navy and had bludgeoned a
Mississippi ex-Sheriff to death in order to steal $680,00 and his
automobiles
"As their final hour approached, the two boys acted out their
ordeal as if it were a movie adventure, With a cavefree bravado
they sang on the way to Waynesboro for the exscution, mums munched
peanuts while they had their last talk with the minister, and seemed
to make a game of the grisley preparations for the electric chaire
Thay were 3till smiling as they went into thé death chamber. Shimni ok
explained: 'Ihaven't worried. I don't know why. I guess I'll go like
I lived #-=- fasteceseL hope to meet everybody in Heaven,.'*
LIFE MAGAZINE, Jana 29, 1945 Page 73
— es @
LbswON, Joseph and SHIMNIOK, Maurice, Whs., 19,
Elec. Waynesboro, Miss. on Dec. 29, 1944
“Phat vy ni Te
PRIOR TO DEATH—The ev,
Vernon V. Hosey (left), Merid-
jun, .Mixs., evangelist, ds ple-
tured with Joneph M. Leemon
(center) and Maurice Shimnjok
shortly before the two youths
were executed m Waynesboro, ,
-Mias,, Friday.
oe emcee 1 nea
TWO SAILORS DIE
e<<xemrw w~
FOR BOYKIN CRIME
. (The Associated Presa) .
Waynesboro, Misx.. Dec. 29.—
The families of two 19-year-old -ex-
sajlorgs who were electrocuted ear-
ly today in the Wayne county
courthouse. here for the hitch-
Thomas §. Boykin of Waynesbo-
ro, were arranging today private
burlals in the hoys’ hometowns.
- Bodies -of Joseph Leemon of
niok of Madison, Wis., were car-
ried to Meridian, where parents
waited to claim them.
Leemon was the first to pay
the ultimate penalty for the siay-
ing of Boykin. on November 13,
1943, on a lonely state highway
after robbinghim,. ©...
Not Afraid to Die
Smoking a cigarette, Leemon
entered the death chamber and
helped strap himself into the
state's portable electric chair, He
smiled at the Rev. V. .V. Hosey
of Meridian, who was present at
bos executions snd, aid tear
u ;
jlaughed. They clipped one anoth-
a 4 am ready to die. I~ am. not
afraid and 1 hope to meet every:
one ineheaven. Tell. mom to ho
up and be brave.” otk
“Shimniok, ‘smoking .as he get-
tied {nto the: death chair, asked
the Meridian evangelist, “How did
Joe go?" -.- ;
“Like a man,” Hosey replied.
. Sing En Route to Chair —
“Shimniok: -and. Leemon were
county -jailo@hursday night after
Governor Batley had ‘refused . to
commute the death sentence to
life imprisonment. —
En route to the chair, the boys
were cheerful and sang snatches
of popular songs, whistled and
er’s hend and delayed the execu-
tion 30 minutes “when they were
unable to operate the clippers. A
them and they completed the job.
hike murder of former Sheriff}.
brought. He from . Lauderdale,
Maylene, Ala., and Murice Shim-|:
new pair of clippers war given)
Roth boys were AWOL from a].
naval gir station at Foley, Ala...
fat the time of the erlme.
lio Victims |
ov. 13. (AP) —. Use of
_& Dew drug taken orally |
tion to relieve muscle
poliomyelitis ‘victims, is
‘d by the medical pro-
endants at a clinical
i here of nearly 100
ws were told:
at of its aid is being
Wd Dr. Ralph Ghormley,
Minn. who headed a
er committee of top-
hopedic surgeons study-
mny method of treat-
S country and Canada.
drug was used on almost
Dallas during the recent.
nic and it is belleved to
decided help in some
_ alttee was named by the
Academy of Orthopedic
id the American Medica)
and in addition to Dr.
compriseé Dr. Albert
wis; Dr. H. R. McCarrell,
*», Herman Schumm, Mil-
. James Dickson, Cleve-
bert Funston, Univers-
ula and Dr. Edward Com-
OF SUBSIDIES
ts Delay Action: Un-
\fter Elections
on, Nov. 13. (AP) — In
defense counsel for the
jon’s food subsidy pro-
e Démocratic Leader Mc-
’ Massachusetts appealed
ra stay of judgment un-
xt year's elections.
itained that the issue,
9y a showdown: in the
week, was of such mag-
, It should be decided by
next November. through
2 of members of congress
e presidency.
Approval.
ick declared that a demo-
ry next fall could be tn-
iS an endorsement of the
gram while “if a repub-
ected—well a new presi-
4d get what he wants from
RIDIAN, MISS., SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1943
HUNT 2 SAILORG IN WAYNE DEATH
Escaped Convict In
Former Law Officer Loses Life After Robbery; Seek
Louisville Section
cers over a widespread area of.
ed of Boykin's murder was
through the small community of
Knobtown at a high rate of speed
‘and mov
Rithton. available members of
the Mississippi Highway Patrol had
joined in the hunt and road blocks
had been set up in a dozen counties
in East and South Mississippt.
Two Decline Ride
Judgé Arthur Busby of Meridian
may have escaped the death fate
of the former officer when two sail-
ors walking down the highway near
Quitman refused a pickup. The sail-
a ride but the former circuit judge
picked up a civilian about 50 yards
from where the men stood. They
then refused the ride he proferred
them. It is believed these are the
two men wanted in Boykin's mur-
der, :
Report Seeing Convict
As the hunt, got underway, a co-
Incidental report from the High-
way Patrol offices in Meridian said
that Otto George, desperate killer
and an escapee from life imprison-
ment in Kilby prison, Ala., had
been seen driving out of Louisville
at a rapid rate of speed about 5:30
p. m. The vehicle he was driving
was last reported to be moving in
a southérly direction.
Highway Patrol officers said ev-
ery meer action to consummate
the capture of George had been
taken and that a break in the hunt
might come before midnight. It is
known that George ts fully armed
and all officers were advised to
take every precaution in appre-
hending ,the desperado.
The body of Mr. Boykin was
found about seven miles south of
Waynesboro a short distance off
Hiighway 45. Officers said one deep
cut in the throat severed the for-
(Continued On Page 2)
Two U. 8. Navy sailors were being sought by law enforcement offi-
ppi Saturday night in connection
with the brutal slaying of a former Wayne county sheriff, Tom Boykin,
of Battle, whose throat-slashed body
near Waynesboro Saturday afternoon.
When last seen the pair suspect-@
was found in a clump of woods
in the direction of.
ors had “thumbed” Mr. Busby for.
‘predecessors
NO&NE EVENT
Personne] of the New
Orleans
and Northeastern railroad “company
on Sunday, will observe th
e 60th
J. 8. BREYER
anniversary of that railroad by
“staying on the job in wartime and
producing to the limit of their col-
lective capacity,’ as many of their
did in two previous
conflicts.
For the oldtimers, Sunday will
(Continued on Page 2)
Direct
Uv. 8B. Arm
Pacific, No
can bombe:
Force score
port bow o
with a 500-
it was reve
The bom
Charles L.
the 4th an:
near misse:
struck squa
one of the
The dest
the crew .
PREPA
‘|Navy Oo
Re
Washingt
United Sta
fected one
reorganizat:
der to bri)
power agai
and air-def
the Pacific.
It 1s com
ization, as:
17 battle-ty
hundreds o:
two years,
‘| Chester W
chief, to say
fidence of v
come to at
A rankin;
repoiter Sa
all our shiy
the submar
around air
organizatior
able force t
the fighting
I alinost fel
the first, ti
Tha insti.
AA RUDDY HORUOP PAHS
--
In death cell Joseph Leemon (center) and Maurice Shimniok
(right) pose with the minister just before their execution.
YAMIN KITTERS
Smiling cheerfully, Leemon clips the hair off his leg at the place Leemon is first to g0. As he comes into the death cham-
where the electrodes will be fastened while in the electric chair. ber with his head clipped, he draws on his last cigaret.
ust after midnight on Dec. 29, Joseph Leemon of out their ordeal as if it were a movie adventure. With i
Bessemer, Ala. and Maurice Shimniok of Madison, a carefree bravado they sang on the way to Wavnes-
JOSEPH LEEMON SMILES WHILE His FRIEND
CLIPS His HEAD FOR THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
Shimniok goes next. As he strides quickly out of the elevator from the cell block, followed
by the Wayne County sheriff, he notices the photographer and flashes a big smile for him.
Mississippi's electric chair, mounted on a portable platform, waits for the two youths. Exe-
cutioner H. W. Watson moved the chair to the courtroom for benefit of witnessing officials.
73
a
In death cell Joseph Leemon (center) and Maurice Shimniok
(right) pose with the minister just before their execution.
uit NILLERS
ri eats spat an adventure
ust after midnight on Dec. 29, Joseph Leemon of
Bessemer, Ala. and Maurice Shimniok of Madison,
Wis., both 19, were put to death in the electric chair
in W ecncibes: Miss. for the crime of murder. The
two youths had gone AWOL from their Foley, Ala.
naval base, where they had been enlisted men in the
Navy, and had bludgeoned a Mississippi ex-sheriff
to death in order to steal $80 and his automobile.
As their final hour approached, the two boys acted
a
Smiling cheerfully, 1 Leemon oe: the hair off his leg at the pl
ace
where the electrodes will be fastened while in the electric chair.
<>
out their ordeal as if it were a movie adventure. With
a carefree bravado they sang on the w ay to Waynes-
boro for the execution, munched peanuts while they
had their last talk with the minister, and seemed to
make a game of the grisly preparations for the elec-
tric chair. They were still smiling as they went into
the death chamber. Shimniok explained: “I haven't
worried. I don’t know why. I guess I'll go like I uved
—fast. ... I hope to meet ev erybody in heaven.’
Leemon is first to 20. As he comes into the death cham-
ber with his head clipped, he draws on his last cigaret.
Mpss18sipp! —_— [hevi and M ack |
Two unidentr fred neyees at fort bybsor on
SAS-/EF?.
Located in fort Gibson Herald 4/3/49 3:/ and
S/A5[49 3:/ They were ‘Negro Levi’ tor murder of a
White man named David Lubthhr. Prd Wepre Jack’
Jip an unrelated arson. [her tumers are yt Heated ——
Both hanged in he falyard on SMELY9 VOT on F im
(28 SO (2nd) 122, 12h; cert. den. 67 SC 130k.)
LEWIS, James, Je, and TRUDELL, Charles, blacks, electrocuted Woodville, Misse, RUexxxx L2uh.
July 23,197.
"The state supreme court meeting in final session Monday before the summer recess, set
Wednesday, July 23, as the date of execution for two Wilkinson county negro youths. ..The
Court action followed refusal by the U. S,. Supreme Court to review their case. Numerous
pleas for clemency, bacluding a visit last January of a California mother who urged that
their lives be spared, have been turned down by Governor Fielding L. Wright. Trudell, 16,
and Lewis, 15, were convicted in a Wilkinson county jury for the slaying in February, 196,
of Harry McKay, lumberman for them they worked. He was robbed of $64. In an appeal to the
state supreme court, their attorney, W. De Coleman, of Natehez, contended that improper
means were used to obtain a confession from the boys and that they were given only a 'token
defense.' Originally the supreme court sent last December 13 as the date on which the
youths should have died in the electric chair, Governor Wright granted a reprieve until
January 17 to allow him to make a personal investigation of the case, After visiting them
in their cell at Woodville, he decided they should not be granted further chemency. He
commented that they were ‘indicted fairly, tried and justy tried, and justly convicted and
sentenced,’ He maintained his refusal to grant clemency when Mrs, Blanche Meiers of Oak=
land, California, a mother of 8 children visited him in an effort to keep the youths from
being sent to the electric chair, Subsequently Attorney Coleman appealed to the Unitkhd
States Supreme Court, automatically staying the execution, The court recently declined to
review the caSe@seee" DAILY NEWS, Jackson, Mississippi, Junel sh.)
"The Mississippi Supreme Court will set the date of execution Monday for two negro youths,
James Lewis, 15, and Charles Trudell, 16, who were denied a plea to review their cases by
the United States Supreme Court. The negroes were convicted in March, 196, for the pis-
tol slaying of Harry McKey, Wilkinson county farmer and lumberman of near Woodville by a
Wilkinson county circuit court."DAILY NEWS, Jackson, Mississippi, June 3, 1917 (1°2.)
"Washington - (AP) = Two Mississippi negro youths sentenced to death in the killing of
their white employer Monday were denied a Supreme Court review of their trial. An attorney
for the youths, Charles Trudell and James Lewis, in petitioning the Supreme court for a
review, charged their trial 'was a mockery of justice and a flagrant denial of due process
of lawe' Governor Fielding Wright of Mississippi recently stated he had interviewed the
youths in their jail cell and concluded they were not entitled to clemency. Governor Wright
said one of the youths was 16 years old and the other would be 16 in August. They were
convicted in Wilkinson county circuit court for the shooting of Henry McKay, a farmer for
whom they had worked for 3 days, Justices Murphy and Rutledge favored a review of the
case. Justice Douglas took no part in the consideration of the appeal of the 2 youths."
DAILY NEWS, Jackson, Mississippi, 5-5-19)7 (l:h.)
"DOWNSTATE NEGRO UNDER DEATH PENALTY FOR SLAYING EMPLOYER, = Centreville, March 15, - (INS) «
Charles Trudell, 15, one of two negro youths who confessed participation in the slaying of
Harry McKay, was under death sentence today after his conviction in the Centreville circuit
court, The two boys were employed by McKay, a farmer and sawmill operator, The second
youth, James Lewis, 1, is scheduled to go on trial next week, The boys were brought to
Centreville for trial from Natchez where they were held in jail as a safety measure,
McKay's body was found February 22 near his home, He had been shot in the back, Skehiff
Richard Whitaker, who arrested the youths in Natchez, said they admitted shooting their
employer." CLARION -LEDGER, Jackson, 3-16-1916 (2=3,) :
"TRUDELL AND LEWIS DIE IN ELECTRIC CHAIR, James Lewis and Charles
Trudell went to their deaths here early last Wednesday morning in the
state's portable electric chair, The first éo die was Lewis, who
was pronounced dead at 1:19 a.m. after the charge of 2200 volts was
administered for three minutes. Shortly thereafter, Trudell was
strapped into the chair, MXAYNARXKKANKNAKAKAX and was pronounced dead
at 1:31 a.m, The two young negroes, 15 and 16 years old, thus paid
the supreme penalty for their premeditated end cold- i
of Mr, Horry McKey, of 2h bake aea from whose body Prey took aenee
946, but the death venalty, which
The crime was committed in March,
LEWIS, Albert, black, hanged at Mississippi City, Mississippi, on January 21, 1902.
"New Orleans, Dec. 21, 1900. = Henry Lewis, the aged negro murderer of Marshal Richardson
of Gulfport, Miss., has not been caught, though bloodhounds and posses are still after
him, The negro Lewis hung yesterday by the mob, turns out to have been innocent of the
crime, Further lynching is probable if the guilty fugitive is caught."
JOURNAL, Atlanta, Georgia, Dec. 21, 1900 (1/6&7.)
"New Orleans, Dec. 20, 1900-A special from Gulfport, Miss., says the posse with hounds
which started last night on the trail of the negro, Lewis, murderer of Marshall W. E.
Richardson, have captured and lynched their prey. The murder occurred last night. Mare
shal Richardson was having some words with a negro who was demanding that a young white
boy should be arrested and was threatening the marshal physically when a negro boy came
in the crowd, drew his pistol, and fired at the marshal, killing him instantly. The
crime created intense excitement and threats of lynching were freely made. The mur-
derer, his brother and father fled immediately. The murderer was caught today and
hanged at the scene of thecrime, Much disorder prevails at Gulfport, and business has
been practically suspendéd, After the tragedy last night the negro church was set on
fire and burned,"
JOURNAL, Atlanta, Gae, Dece 20, 1900 (17:2.)
Jackson Evening News
July 27, 19706
p- l, aol. 7
Lewis, a negro, who: illed >” eS
Eck’ a: wile man. at Poboosag
some months ago, was hanged tx pobo
lie here today at noom by the aliert#,!
two-thousand “Taney
was firm to the last, and whee he got
on the scaffold he thanked the officers
for their kidness to him while be was:
in jail He also bid good-bye. to the
crowd, bloth black amd white. Lewis:
-He.. waa -pronounced--dead- in- fifteen:
minutes after-the Jrop fall. His body.
was turned over to Bis brother and
«
will be taken to Lyons. for burial,
‘This fa the first hanging that has
_....._ Murder an_Atrocious One,
hanged, was one of the most pre-
Meditated. and atrocious Im the his-
tory of the county. It took place.
at Pelahatchie seme months ago.
Late one Saturday atternoon,as the
teams came in from work, Mr. Black
who was foreman of a stave ¢amp
spoke aharply to Lewia about the
way tha he was treating some of"
tae mules. The negro was suriey~
and made some muttering threat to
which. ac Btiea ti was. paid by
Mir:*-Black, who walked away: to"
steno matters ie ehothes hare
of the yard, whereupon Lewis | pulled™
his pistol and shot Mr. Black in
the back, killing him instantly. The
negro was arrested and there was
tamk Of Tynehlig, Sut better judgment
prevailed and he was brought here
for safekeeping. He wag tried and
convictel) at the recent term of the
Circuit eourt.. He manifested no
special concern over his consietioa,-
but remarked after he had been
sentenced to hang that he was born
fo be hansed. While in jail here
4Waiting the day of his doom, Lewis
las gotten religion and some days
4g0 aunrouncei to the sheriff and-
Rin deputies that he had peace -with—
his God and was veudy to go.
hdl
VOLUME 10—NUMBER 267, __
“BUMTER GILLESPIE, Publisher.
SOc a
PUBLISHED EVERY
AETERNOON EXCEPT
GREENWOOD, LEFLORE COUNTY, MISSISSIPP], THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 15, 1926.
Svein HACKLY
Stating that he deemed the calling
of troops to pretect Sylvester Mack=
cy, negra elayer o€ Frank Smith,
Leflore county deputy sheriff, the
height of folly, Shoriff EB. H, Crip-
pen, who rescued the nogry from &
mob « short time after the slaying
of his deputy, secured @ court order
today fgr the removal of the negro
from the jail at Clarksdale, where
troops have becn on guard ws @ pre-
cautionary measure. .
Sheriff Crippen will go ty Clarks-
IS REMOVED
-BY SHERIFF FROM. CLARKSDALE
ed
dale some tine today to lake charge
of his prisoner, and place him ckve-
where. :
Clrevit Court will convene — here
on Monday, July 26, for the purpose
of disposing of tho trial of the negro,
and no distprbance if threatened
nor puticipated, as the legal machin-
ery pores towar, meting out justice
e officer's slayer,
to verything fa In readiness for the
ho'ding of the court, and there will
be an delay In the trial of the negro.
ech? 0 oaoeep-- - \
8 y2079,0 Baw Bujusre wouseuiny!
aenog {10> oh yw Ploy oy tin tony! |
f
ULBLE FY] OPwrtrdes (uptown y |
s}jo |
o0°ROT euMgtUIe:) jo ying
09 601 yueg puonwn asia!
160001 "PD VEAL. ay YuME pow wGoadty
eo vol —— oO Buyyuyg Vos yy
coool oF PWD WS
| ou or ( POP PW CU A
| vo wes dFaaqs ‘woddyy “HOG
- :Buyusour 81yy
epuul esom MOUOF BYE “Yawn
-uommeg =F
8 Poapooas HA suondrsosqny;
a “‘pjo syquour xis
unyy sea Lq wasunok ayy ‘uss
“PLY? Neues bu
peayasns a oul
-qne savyjop
h-U2our yyy hs we eve puny say
qb soy dtqnd Oy usdo sy Yia pudgy
ayy
ay
Jo
; dos PRY 94 Wows OLBsu B Yseua¥ 07
Bu YI99 syns Kepseupa yy jewy Poiysy
[sua
ices 978, 9Gy OF [widows B Sy
LLKS YNVU OL
|
sya Jo 224339 Vy] |
pes
way 94) UI Pai
QB puy ‘Bur
Ss MOPTM H)Y |
“*
*Uujpdtaow
pus ‘puny jepaoweap, Ytiuy yuway
Pozeoad Sang epusjsy “poomusois,
Yyiou peor sguopy vy, WO pod
e4w “Syayg Ayndeg “ypu
Frank Smith wii gather at the Court
Hoyse tonight at cight o'clock for
the purpose of holding a memorial
and good cl The meeting will
peste of
gricf werk “his death, pays him
the fullowing , 7
ome days. ago our community
Hyjs sod deeply moved
yax force!
[es ita eccastowed serenity by the
42 fa \
cific. But * further imforma-
Lion was berougat that the wounded
man was nana. other than Mr.
Frank Smith, (He hurt to the com-
munity was inestimable, and to his
many friends heaftrending. In the
six years I have known thia man, I
have seen him stand adamant before
danger that wopld have broken the
jioral and physica) courage. He wax
} truthfully a boy's ideal, and a man’s
iman. IT have seep him face the sur-
ixvon's knife with that gentle and |
Idauntless courage that is peculer
‘only to # southern gentleman of the
fold rchool It was in this courage-
‘ous fighy and fortunate outcome that
[1 based bepe upon hype in the suc-
veesful gatcome of bis recent atruxg-
‘gle with death.” But the finite mind
beannot understand the workings of
the infinwte-—the “Lord tuok my dear
f
Friends of the date Deputy Sheriff)
service in honor bf a valiant officer!:
be attended friends frum all),
vgounty, ;
of the officer's,
dly attack upon ap
mora'e of one 8 wenerously sup-|'
plied with that” funate mixture of |’
'foend to the Great Beyond, and in
ibe doing left a vould in the hearts of
hin loved ones and friends that van
junver be filled, apd w breach im the}
«rsvnanel of the county's law en-t
t eecement legion Ghat wall be occupi-‘
‘ed but never filled. t
| aaenmesianeant j
The Prank Smith Memerial Fund:
tkKrows today with the addition of
| sufficient amounts to send to the!
thousand mark on the second day.
ibeen received:
NU TVRUONENY
seine tari
“A ENO) GUO Taa's “a
The following subscriptions have!’
, Pveviously acknowledjsred $306.00 5
) Wo OS. Viewdaman $100.00),
BL. Young §0.00;-
W. UT. Fountain, Ine. 100/00
O. FL Bledsce, Jr, 160.00
Cash 1090.00
wae cere A .
OOMNARYD
996 UGAWAN—-Ol AWNICA
AVUNIS JU@OX4 NOONMALAV AUAAT Uafisiidiid
“soqayiqng ‘aldsa'V 119 WaLEWAS
ae 55 Pa e@ cause: .
*Botia y andsiis neighbors to selves | visited “Up gee
2 ple. Mrs.* Corban. said she |--o.-¢: ges
Rg not tell me what she said,~I
et mad. .1 said, ‘Mrs. Corban
. ok lady, ‘and I ain't going
ih didn’t come down here to
e es Goyder Mackie, itis :
pus tell you,’ : . Pree
e back from down there, and PEFy Bhs _alinost
chanesy Ver
: untried in the of +. that Pacnie was Wentifict ‘ant 8p
wan tl Bore at Mrs. Bolian for} county circuit courtct eee eco d tured. o Wal Beligne; chusban ahe.
. tales. on her daughter,| The story of the ‘grime ra heen omuriiere | ayn Tah wh
ay cs her that*I had made ‘ar-? told | ee of The “had their a neni Le pe Ve
an ; its down there with Mrs. | Gazette. First. when it curred an ‘of tee. Wibr : Ah eet hal Tt!
on, if it was agrees#ble to her “August 9, 1924, and a
: sin in the fullZ calling toi: Tet ’ at a pe
sband, ‘to’ board down there, until | raport ‘of Mackie’s tri at the sne- amt description of davkie “eo
“take the I ‘| T.could finish my crop. And she told! mas
Se cial term of court held here berin- Soverevis: Visitors. +" 2 nt ficial near
however, ae Eagan 2 heecaiare ube te out that ning Dee. 28, last: bef that order. Theo V Fitter. pahis
a “put that} thet Toottere teh: pat: i oard, that! Immediately ‘after. Killing: Mrs. Ro- the kernel zen iP pletosrarh
eitane were | told h shness had ‘to 3d pa I ian and young Tarver, and seriously when) a copg sf eH in thee phate of
- Hunt were} told her, ‘Well, you will have o shut. wounding the daughter, Mackie took Henry Parks, a citizen of Gakrs-
{up your mouth: then, that is where it to the woods and was not again seen te hee ree iced: the Siete
started, and that-is the way to. stop ng : & wer Je x fe “pic
tye in. this county. until he was brouxht being that of a stranger who seve ay
Hel BS told “her, “Mrs. Corban said it here for trial last December. weeks before had coin: to the. Wiithe:
was ‘nothing but jealousy between Between the date of the killing and villaee, and found emiplay mens in the
4her and Fannie‘about me, and I toldy Nov, 24, when Mackie was locxted kitchen of a restaurant. Parks wired
: been: xnowing, that a ‘good | and arrested at Lakesworth, Fla. Sheriff Gay and the’ latter authoriz~
there was no let up in the persistent Ss ¢ Baker of West Palm teach
_Ed- Johnson come eeing through p y ed Sherile capes :
and. % ler 7 roms: th Ber ad es ‘and thorough search made for him by count) to place him under arest
ee eta et er stomp, and I went out and asked| Sheriff Guy, and deputy Sheriff E. Sheriff—Guy left here at ones oT
ds J; ‘Mayfield Ras a hee lie eat at ot ay lacie iiieesateh oe xed E. Blount, the latter being also city West Palm Beach, teek the prisener
_ As Mackie},
tif she, returned eit Jatathe said for us to come down there Marshal of Summit. in custody and brought him to Jace
ray ; rll get him if he stays on ee
rhe said, “Every- aimee aie that night that he wanted to con-| ide of groundr Sheriff Guy toll the |
Gazette a few days af-'
| Mackie made his mark on. three cop- Con Page Eicht editor of The
eS Bas SET Hew nt the statement. “ of entinued on Fase Picht) e
a ~—-{ What may. be rewarded as Mac- ,
f re era casa on the sabiect: of,
ea 3
3,
Lae
ane very- , h
; (Continued on Page Bight)
tana
Font ‘of the jail where the trap door eo
is located. | Sheriff Guy had hand-
cuffed the man, and placed the :
black cap over his head before leav-[-
inggthe c@l!l, and he walked unassist- |
aq MACKIE'S STATEM ENT
“WANT. THE’ PUBLIC TO Magnolia Gazette
gare.
| KNOW WHEN 1 DIE, WHAT |
ed and without a word to his death, HAVE,DIED_ FOR.” |. CM nolia, Muss. »
Stepping on the trap door, still ; es born aooue ora miles North | (- a »)
of rlebro hurch in Ami ounty,
eae pastas: Mackie coolly}. joined pan types Church, about 14] May el, lG2S $i
aced the. most fearful test of aj. or 1) years old, down near Giilsburg, |)
man’s courage it is _ passible to im- and [ will be 46 years old the 21st ot Pp: [ ) cols . /-G
agine. September.
“When I joined the Church, I ‘lived
as near a Christian life, as a person
could about two years, and from tifen
. "till, must have been February,
1924, I lived completely for the
His feet were. then ‘closely “bound 3
together, the rope passing up ahd|-
being attached to. the; -handeuffs ab
his wrists, .
- Stepping’ ta, Bag ‘side: Sheriff. Guy We Devil Soa ie
laid his and a on the ‘lever and said, }y Fs Pate ® ee
“Well .¢ RCOr ge: itis: oe et say ‘near getting
_. wp my mind to-
and come back down: to Summit, to
Mrs, Will poeens I had : boarded
| there a while in Tee ‘IT taken her
fannie eo cri | Mary 2+)
people;* ov 0 m, ° . a °
and sympathy was the. cause of me (Execution Was Friday , Y |
coming back ‘there... :
“They were without clothes,” or
something to eat, ‘and no one was
trying tothelp them, and T thought
they were pure. -christiaw ladies, when
I come back. 1 told herjif-she would
ibe a lady, that..I. i come there |
CKIE | Z D WAY TO
a Tage GALLOWS © :
e Th
2 ve “Sherit! Guy his cap
{ othe remark. *“This will
ow you I could have killed
yself tf 3 had, ‘wanted to.”
ath EET? ‘or visor of the cap
» rly -concéaied three
eeeeneenverne
K pdvis Rev. J, J. Mayfield, his at-ling.ridichlous about you and Fanr
Con pavonure.” to” ie ery} forme), Hon. G.Wihams J. -O.} and they said to me, ‘Mr. ee
i ot ene Dol. pay no. attention:
th : netic, fieaiee if. you,are figuring 0 meat
thers, jing 4 here, for ever since she hae, ,
L on, that pals she has been the ea
er, {of Mr. Bolian and. his neighbors
of have“ trouble.’ « Mrs: Corban said
{Would not tell me what she said
eatin ot 2 ,000 from. Jal es
emake a ‘svatement; Se aay oat y auld: babi Con
tapes Mackie beemed. the sug! are a old lady, and I ain’t go
oe He Died—Funeral inj gestion: “ ready {te ket mat, didn’t come down, her
Bo Shea ppt Fe iy ,
~ «She said; ‘Mr. Mackie, i
1% o ‘rigiculous sto tell*you.” ©
and | 1 come. ‘back’ from down there, ,
r-+1) was. still sore at Mrs. Rolian
ne arg such tales. on’her dauch
“told: her: that I had made
s down there with 3
the extreme: “pendliy of! iste
M. ; et bean (int it to
lightly, 4h the ‘ soe hire oul if court , to ark And Bho"
iB 4 however, ‘Mackie: had} “thatched tobe cut out ¢
after... Shovtt. Guy sia he] Twas o, where. board, ¢
0: o
“but that | that rans 3 had’ to be stopped
8} told. her, ‘Well, qouime will: Have tas
Whe dup your. mouth. hen, that is: what
started, and that is the way to, s
+ it.’ <1 told ‘her, ‘Mrs, | ‘Corban. sai
was nothing but. jealousy . betw
‘4; ber and Fannie ‘about me, and | 1
pea Nery had: been. knowing that a g
‘while.
ve
1¢d. Mackie “into cternity, bye ;
bie
itt pronounced him} favo
death cell-at: exactly one ‘oleae pre ae
romise.:t make: the ordeal as easy on ‘every- ee pore :
he coal Macks retained his wonderful compos: ewspaper imen, seclaring tint they Ed Johnson come driving thro
ry. la ‘ i had. never: quoted him. ure her stomp, and I went. out and as
newspape
: hic, I that the: ript of
ist before leaving g* his cell, Rev, Jed. Mayfield Hasta parece rannertnh Ay “the Pils) alot earyine eats, |
few verses of. setae ‘and. prayed. As Mackie] en out untit she. returned wi at ata| he. said for us to come down th
ore ide Ree = ohn Mayfield: i ive, heteat aid, _“Every- Thoralaerevenine: and. Mr. -Mayfiel: be “night ‘Shat he wanted to ¢
S road-it to him. When) this wag done, | digas’ ses
g Iihave said si the truth. ne || Mackie made- ne mark ron: three SP: PU Cahlaned on, Page Eight) |
; aE fs ge the AONE ES PT octane t ie state ergot. “ee ae ee
Sy apa eh ee : ATeieae at may be “rear ed ag Ce
a ie walted _illy trom — Rr rer : Meat trelts ar Wnp. tablect et
front of the jail where the trap door we ERE | Fes
is located, Sheriff Guy had hand-
cuffed “the man, and placed © thé
black cap, over his head before leav-
inggthe call, and he walked unashist-
‘ed and wjthout a word to his death,
Steppin on the trap door, still
without ‘assistance, Mackie coolly
faced the.« most fearful test of a
man’s courage it is possible to im-
agine. ,
His feet were then closely bound
together, the rope passing up ahd
being attached to the handcuffs at
his wrists,
_ Stepping’ ta, one ‘side: Sheriff Guy
laid his hand : ‘on the lever and said,
“Well: ae ‘it is | time. to, | ‘
tie *
MACKIE'S STATEMENT
) WANT THE’ PUBLIC TO
KNOW «WHEN | 1 DIE, WHAT I
THAVEDIED FOR.”
"I was born about two: miles North
of HebrongChurch in Amite County,
joined JefRhiem Church, about 14
or 1) years old, down near Gillsburg,
and [ will be 46 years old the Zin ot
September,
* ‘When I joined the Church, I Atved
as near a Christian life, as a person
cguld about two years, and from thtn
8 till, must have been February,
1924, I lived completely for the
Devil.
“ZT went ra
‘| big. drunk, co
| kitled, and Kil
: ‘ om me; an in , and J] madé
_| Murderer of Mrs. Will Bolian who up my min d to cha ma nd na better,
‘for Crime and come back down to Summit, to
Mebgoigh: «| Mrs.. Will) Bollans, I: had : boarded
, there a while in 1923. I taken her
and. her ‘children to be: ‘good, chris-
tian people, and--F-loved all. of them,
and sympathy was the. cause of. me
coming. back there. ©
“They were - erithout: ‘clothes, or
something to eat, and no one was
trying tothelp them, and T thoucht
they were pure christian‘ladies, when
I come back. 1 told her.if she would
be a lady, that I would: come there |
and protect her and*’care for her |
the best I could; “A short time after.’
I come back, I- -went; Sover to yan,
Norten’s to borrow a. “eotton., planter:
eal
so pa are
aw, Miass., got on a
ghty near getting
a ee
*
|e MACKIE HAD WAY TO
Me CHEAT. .GALLOWS
Les, Late Thursde’ evening, Mac-
5 fee ie’ ‘gave Sherit/ Guy his cap
“with: the remark: + “This will
2 you I could. have killed
ret elf ff I had wanted to.”
By i 1 ebl'or visor of the cap
* ‘were’ Neleverly concéaied three
* safety, razor biades. © Mack'e
osaid).that when he was first -
re Necpthaced he determined ° to
os sh _-Buicide rather thin be hanged.
ie “ but) his repentance of sin shad
Be * convinced SB aa he would co to
d gp hell if hs took his own I'fe.
pee He asked ‘Sheriff aivy ‘o give.
e, ; at
* Maine Ms Lees cha es ¢
and I saw he was mad), and -he<firul-
ly told me I could not get/the planter, '
untess I was somewhere else; ihat. |
Mrs. Bolian had talked ~ahout-‘him: BOs} |
: ridiculous, that he made‘up -hig. nin)
‘ that he.\-ould have no more, to tho 4.
maton FAlnintore —— oo oo ore ‘with it, and he was the first: mat.)
that talk bout M -
F-meporters at. 10; 45 Mackie’ was ‘Ved : to the west > ed about Mrs, Bolian direct :
ly to me, and I had ts J
window of the jail. He was cool and : sgt seen MTs |
vie, Bolian in aboyt 20 years, and I ‘told |
Pee all deliberate in manner and through-| him; when I ‘started’ out of hix ‘vard,
ils and’ 80 perfectly had | out his talk of more than 40 minu-|that Thad come back there. to pro-
E i Resi tes, his, voice was strong .and his} tect h
ae his. ascueetianse that: Here: ve manner’ gave no hint. of the fearful talked teen renee careful how he
nee a hiteh: dest aesi Rae :| strain under which he was laboring.| “We all was there living in perféct
i d. Mackie’s @eech was a powerful ap peace and happiness, and I wert to
‘all if the’ ‘windows, in ‘the front part tina qu rebenten rec tite oe aks on Saturday to Summit. «When |
a SU. as Y hyo
ror. the. Jail, athe: large ‘crowd | remain- crowd aifithey fought what he: might pith bene Fpante hak attire, in t)
A anding on
ted. on the, outsidé”’tntil after the §¢%- {say would help save some soul.from|the poreh, and Fannie was erving.
Fecution. When it. became known that, sin, A woman answered that: she be-, and Mrs. Bolian was’ mad. ..When I
“the doome man Kad left, his cell, a| lieved it. would and they wanted to] went up I said ‘What in the world is
gia hear him, the matter?’ She. said, ‘I ought to
‘party’ ‘of. ingers, from: the: Nazarene |. Fora moment Mackie was over-| shoot your brains out.’ I said, ‘All
cehareh ¢ ots Hecate led: hyd ha “Aes ml Bue he’. ppecceianicand. tenpad dslde| right, if you will do it, I will get the:
eral cwwergenivot:: posure and kept it during . the re-| Fou bec calling fr ol Johnson p
Hymn hn Bafa ala pnt of Se sine Se os Be Oy Fata at Pa
4 hee. Rk yy ; .) “Be ‘Patient with: me? he Ba, wy re. doe ne about Fannie, ‘sh said,
“MACKIE! *AREWELL. ADDRESS see’men out there I have been drunk!,. »oy e last man in the¥ world.
7», to tell that on Fannie, as old a’ wom-
5 a8 . with, and I ‘want them to hear me.”! 4
be Aleta: ¢ hour of execution| He then ‘detailed his religious exper-| fy). spare on ought to know, better
h rat one_o’clock p. m. that: he"had hi than that.’ ' I proposed to her lets go ve
Bheritt Guy Guy nor cht it-better to have ears 3) balay was pooh Hey down to, Mrs Johnson’s,’ and at’ first
‘Mackie make. hig farewell talk ‘to/ He thanked God that in a few, hours Seale nH 8 . she wee: bal hi she
ert two hours:esrlier. || he would be in Heaven with his loved Hs Be Me, pnd; is wen
. The 4 down there ~myself, and Mrs. Corban,
Min the ‘tn the Sermo a ny mee battdk ones, ‘4 e. thing. he had to do was not Mra. Johnson's mother waa. there.
dren ‘were | . and Mrs. Corban, and’I asked. them, |
eoattreny eres ‘the. “yard. A west. of the the Jail.) (Continued on Page Five) ___ [What kind of talk that was that Mrs. }
eooveneampaceceseevevsa
~
ae
ae oe Stine J
as a <, oe
— =
t } * 3 *
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.0@ PER YEAR ;
MAGNOLIA, | _ PIKE SUNT CR MISSISSTRP EE. THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1925
a_i
NUMBER 21
ee 2 aco »
=e. hp :
Ph,
:
Gantt a -exactly
on
e or @ dee
ii
ACKIE
Me
XPIA
ES CRIME ON GALLOWS
eR a AR a ee eee
woes UST STATEMENT GIVING HIS SIDE
spi itual , Bolian’ “She s ‘ey, ‘Why she is “talk-
Maptila, his at-fing.ridichlous about you and Fannie’,
GeWiliams; J. O.} and they said. to me, ‘Mr. Mackie, you
editor: the “McComb. En-| need not. ‘pay no attention.-tag Mrs.’
“edite s ‘he Gazette, | Bolian,* if you are figuring on stay-
“others, | ing there, for ever since she has been
Taj On. that hill, she has been the cause
= ef Mr. Bolian and: his neighbors to
27] Ea aie “Mrs:*Corban said she
‘Would not tell me what slie said,-I
{| Would get mad. I said, ‘Mrs. Corban
4} Vou are a old lady, and I ain't going
fto get mad, didn’t come down here to
ttl eet mad‘ She said, ‘Mr. Mackie, iteis
urn » TFigiculous to. tell you.’
graph eps Sty * ce come back’ from down there, and
he w Twas. ‘still sore’ at Mrs. Bolian for
telling -such tales on her dauchter,
”
¥fand F: a ane sharin had. made ar-+
#eme@nts: down ‘there with Mrs.
he ohhson, it f if: Was agreesble to iret
tp trusband,. to! board ‘down there, until |
chee ¢o sould. £ inish ty crop. And she told!
at shad ad » tobe cut out that
where to board, that |
Eto be stopped. 1
Cold ‘ , you will: ‘have to shut
up you owe then, that is ‘where it
er nd that -is the way to, stop
dels told: her, *Mrs.°Corban said it
“nothing but jealousy between
3 one 0 ‘clock. her ana ‘Fannie*about ‘me, and I told
al as easy on every-}) her bet beer knowing that a good
: ek Seemed suspicious» of. thet ite :
i ae ‘ men, i laclacine that .they wh ns
onderful ¢ compos-
PT RP? oa i wee
‘wounding the daughter, Mackie took Henry Parks,
WHAT HAPPENED AND WHEN THAT LED UP TO
A WHITE MAN DYING. AN IGNOMINIOUS DEATH
Salient
Pacta. in Cameectins Ww ith Killing of
Mrs. — Will © ~Bolian.~ and Captuxe and Trial
3 Of George - Mackie, Her. Murderer
“The c crime ler which Ciorce Mackie {ter the evel Durin: all of ike on
red the extreme penalty of the! suing days and AIEEE Tha t followed,
A and died on the gallows Friday, \ the: capture of «Mackie .Was the first
was so‘brutal in all of its character- in the ghought- and purpose of Sher
istics. and so atrocious in every par- iff Guy and Marshal Blount. — The
ticular that had he remained in this | sheriff: spent freely: ofthisiovwn mon-
county, the probabilities are that an ,¢¥, Paying oyer $700 for the. travel-
outraged people would have them-' ing expenses of himself and deputies
selves visited. upon “him the punish-| the printing and distribution of thou-
ment. it remained for the law ‘inflict.| sands. of. pieces. of. descriptive litera-
Specifically,. SWwas convicted | ture, advertiséthents in newspapers.
and hanged for the murder of. Mrs.! and other expenses. Officers Guy ané
William Bojian. Thus the indictments | Blount © repeatedly . followed clues
against him for the murder of Chaz. | which ‘curried them into -temiote sec
Harry Tarver, and for the intent to -tions of Mississippt .- cand adjoining
murder Fannie. Bolian, 14 year-old * states. —
daughter of Mrs. Bolian, will remain | ‘ltewas manost: bye Dhan pare ver.
untried im the files: of ‘the. Pike that ihesde wae “‘lentifiest Jand erp
county circuit court. = Shean W HW Bolan, Rushaned of the |
ie he
1
The. story: of the has heen murders) worn who diga} i4-
member.t the Weed!
1€
told reneatedty tr the Tint of The had hers a
Gazette. First; when it peeurred on ‘of the, World:
Bde. |
“Shigshal Nhamtre- |
August 9,°1924, and aggin in the fall? calling this fitet net BO Wut he sanh
raport* of Mackie’s trif¥ at the. sne- and description o Slackir teehee
cial term of. court held here begin- Sovereigt: Visiter ci te pi ficis 4e AFHAr
ning Dec. 28, last. — -Lef that order. ‘Tae Fitor peblis sad
Immediately after killing Mrs. Ro- the qe: <eriptipn arb pit fosrut>
f. elb aa tics Ay Beare #3]
an and young Tarver. and seriously when; a ¢ DR
a “Cliizen — Of Takes.
to the woods and was not again seen worth, ho recognized the pieture* as
in. this county until he was brouxht being that of a stranser who several, |
here for trial last December. weeks*before had come to the little)
Between the date of the killing and village, and found employment in the
Nov, 24, when Mackie was locrted kitchen of a restaurant, Parks wired
and arrested at Lakesworth, Fla., Sheriff Guy and the’ latter authori a.
there was no let up in the persistent ed Sheriff Baker of West Palm Reacn |
SN CONFESS WAYNE. KILLING
\ Hold Josep M. Leemon, Maylene, ‘Ala., And Maurice
Me Shimntck, Madison, Wis., In Lauderdale County Jail
’
we
‘
heed with a ack
times and then cutting his throat,
The eallor said he. was sitting in
the rear of Boykin'’s machine, that
he first hit the Wayne countien
over the head with the blackjack,
pulled him out of ‘the automobile
and. then cut his throat “when he
; vane hollering.”..
Rit Vietia itei
Leemon's confession, .
told : of ‘My. Boykin
the head : Limes.
Shimniok and Leeman: were ar-
rested in La Gratgé; Ga, with ‘two
other men who were wearing ne-
uniforms, Calvin Charles Mul-
linex of La Orange and Clyde PF.
MoClanahan of Emmett, Ark. The
ter palr was held in the Oeor-
city on a charge of armed rob-
The four men were riding in
hutomobdile sald to have been
“back -track” investigation
. al ‘wan ble for
FFL dp A hall with the slay-
‘ing of Boykin, AWOL since No-
vember 11, the two men were in
Jthe vicinity of Meridian on Thurs-
day and Friday prior to the mur-
der on yonpenes & and tod =
rd to evidence unc
: gc dl Shimoniok and Lee-
man were stationed at a nava) air
base near Foley, Ala, and left
Vdteridian for that station on the].
| duy of the’ killing.
Leemon, a husky sandy-haired
: youth has been in the navy since
April 6 and was a Second Class
Beaman in a medical division.
When arrested he was wearing a
D creen shirt, black pants and bed-
——_ = = w=
ree falas officers if he had
had any trouble sleeping since he
and Shinnick allegedly aerate
the murder, Leeman said,
Phaven't, I've se oaeg” worried
best gir Pi
ary a Fe S dark nigga
with. a long scar
morse wore Navy tops, ght oe
trousers and bedroom slippers. He
has been in the Navy since No-
vember 22, 1942 and a seaman,
firat class,
———
STAR
[1 4a fF (A
. coeph se OE eres Fate Bene Maurine SNR ae,
on sscreah navy pation’, are in Lauderdale county jail bgp
O(ficiala there as the allegedly conf slayers [
fo Bheriit Tors 8, Boykin of Wayne county. on the afternoon
Rovrember 13. 3 ey
wed for a later -hour tn the day.
BI Agents Thomas M. Henricks,
r, and C, W, Peasinger were
called into the case by Mr, Lo-
brano Tuesday moming,
elurned the two sallors to Jack.
MN ued not notify city or county or
other Jaw enforcement agencies
of the arrests unt!! Tuesday, Offi-
Cera here said they are unable to
explain why Shimnok and Leemon
Were taken to Jackson rather than
Meridian, which {ts in the dis-
. where the crime was com-
our, who they declared “dee
eventually
brought about the arrest of the
suspects.”
The men admitted they had
fashioned a blackjack in Meridian
prior to the time the murder wan
‘ opmmitted, Tt was made
a plece of hose pipe about
12 Inches In length and {Wed with
a heavy metal substance, Yuaten-
0d to it wan a leather thong about
12 in¢hes long. ,
District Attorney Jack Lobrano
Yleclared the murder of Boykin
was one of the most cold-blooded
Criines ever committed in this area
and was premeditated.”
‘The gun ured in the holdup near
Lalirange was Identified as the
Wwenpon which killed Hoykin, » foot.
Int found at the scene was found
inatech Bhimniok's and after fur-
ther grilling, Shimniok and Leemon
confessed to the weying.
‘According to information = re.
celved by ‘The Meridian Star, the
sailors were removed from LaGrange,
fia, at about 3:30 Pp. om., Monday
and arrived at a later hour tn the
day at Jackaon. Officers of the
Mikhway patrol who had the men in
C\Uatody are Captain J. M, Barry,
aptain A, BD. Ruffin and Lieut.
ames, Oooper, The party left Mis-
Ppl last Friday to obtain the
risoners from Georgia authorities,
t was further stated,
tare a wt seo RenrA mw am
ASK DEATH PENALTY
Btate Refuses Life-Term
Guilty Plea
Prosecuting attorneys will demand
the death penalty in the case of
the State vs. Maurice Shimniok of
Madison, Wis.. and Joseph Leemons
of Maylene, Ala., when the former
sailors go on trial Waynesboro
Monday for the alleged murder of
Tom @. Boykin, former sheriff of
that county.
An unconfirmed announcement.
made Saturday says that Alexander
Currie, former Forrest county dis-
trict attorney has been retained by
friends of the Boykin family to as-
sist District Attorney Jack Lobrano.
in the trial of the pair.
When arraigned Thursday, Shim-|
niok and Leemons refused to enter,
pleas of guilty or not guilty. Under |
its legal rights, the court entered
@ plea of guilty for the pair. It
was reported earlier in the week:
that the two men indicated they
would enter pleas of guilty in the
case if the court would grant them
life imprisonment but the state de-
clined to accept the offer. District
Attorney Jack Lobrano Saturday
said the men will be tried jointly.
> TAR, | {
Merck. Mic ( AS
few AGES
-/
ORDERS TWO TO DIE
Guilty Verdict Against Two
Youths At Waynesboro
“Guilty of murder as charged
in the indictment.”
The above was the verdict of
the jury in the case of the
state against Maurice Shim-
niok, Madison, Wis., and Jo-
seph M. Leemons, Maylene, Ala.,
charged with the murder of ex-
Sheriff Tom 5. Boykin of
Wayne county, in circuit court
Wednesday at 10 a, m.
Judge Jesse Graham, Meridian,
immediately sentenced the two
white youths to dle in the electric
chair on February 28.
J. V. Gipson, defense attorney,
said he would appeal. |
The prisoners were immediately |
returned to the Meridian jail.
Attorneys for the defense ad-
mitted that Shimniok and Lee- |
mons committed the murder of)
Mr. Boykin and contended that
the jury should not exact the su-
preme penalty in its verdict due
to the fact the defendants are only
18 years of nge. All arguments
for the defendants were based
around a central plea for life im-
prisonment.
Two-day Hearing
What had been expected to be
one of the most bitter and con-
troversial legal trials in Eastern
Mississippi history was completed
in only two days, one of which
was used in the selection of a!
jury. The defense offered only |
one witness, this one to show the)
ages of Shimniok and Leemons. |
No cross-examination was conduct- |
ed in connection with state wit- |
nesses, as the guilt of the defend- |
ants was formally admitted to the
court.
“Shimniok and Leemons, accord-
ing to spreviously verified an-
nouncements, went AWOL from
thelr posts ‘of duty at a Naval
air station in Alabama on Armis-
tice Day of 1943. Two days later,
they obtained a ride in an auto- |
mobile which was being driven by |
Mr, Boykin sauth from Waynes-
boro toward Bucatunna on High-
way 45. The two sailors attempt-
ed to rob.Mr. Boykin and in the
struggle that followed, the former
officer was beaten and stabbed to
death.
‘Shimniok. and Leemons were .ar-
rested about 10 days later in La-
Grange, Ga. On being returned
to Meridian and confined in Lau-
derdale county jail, both made
formal confessions to committing
the crime. Their arrest as acces-
sories to the murder resulted from
a brilliant back-track investiga-
tion made by City Detective T. D.
Harbour.
IDENTIFIES SUSPECT
(Continued From Page 1.)
Boykin’s automobile, after the pair
had. hitchhiked a ride from m |
near Waynesboro. He reached
over and brought the blackjack
tlown upon Boykin's head with
terrific force, while Leemon grab-
bed the wheel of the vehicle from
the former sheriff who apparently
’ was then losing: strength to resist.
Aftcr the stabbing, they drove off
Ya Boykin's machine but returned
"fo rob the body. Near McLain, they
abandoned the vehicle, caught a
ride with a passing sailor and rode
to a point near Pascagoula. Moving
to Mobile, they joined Calvin Mul-
lennix of La Grange, Ga., Clyde F.
McClanahan of Emmett, Ark., and
the wife of Mullennix. The entire
group was arrested in La Grange
,as they allegedly attempted to rob
a service station in that city.
According to advices received
from that Georgia city, elther Mul-
jlennix or McClanahan told law en-
forcement officers there that Shim-
niok.and Leemon were wanted for
a reported murder in: Mississippi.
‘Mississippi highway patrol officers
in Jackson were notified of the
arrest and the pair was returned
jto Mississippi.
Quote Leemon Statement
Law enforcement officers Wed-
Mesday stated that Leemon. made
the following statements regarding
the murder: “I was riding on the
front seat by Mr. Boykin and Shim-
,niok was riding on the rear seat.
‘As we were traveling along the
road nenr the gcene where Mr.
Boykin was put out of the car,
Shimniok hit him in the back of
the head and the car stopped and
I got out on the right side of the
year and went around to the driv-
er's seat and drove the car close
to the edge of the pavement. Shim-
niok then dragged Mr. Boykin out
on the ground. While Mr. Boykin
was lying on the ground, I hit
him once or twice.
“ “He was lying with his face
down,” Leemon calmly continued,
“and I hit him on the back of the
head with the blackjack that Shim-
miok had already hit him with.
~ “~T got something like $20," he
added as he told of returning to
ioe ae body of the slain Wayne
untian.
Leemon said he and Shimniok
on the morning of the murder had
,Planned to commit a robbery in
Meridian but failed to find a suit-
able victim.
County officials Wednesday in a
coincident announcement said that
every precaution has been taken
to prevent any attempt of escape
insofar os the two sailors are con-
cerned and that additional safe-
ards have been ‘in force” to
Shalt possible violence of any kind
against the pair.
DETECTIVE
for the possible killers of the popular
ex-sheriff.
When Detective Harbour arrived,
the sheriff and the State Police officers
were waiting results of their work.
Sheriff Westover gave Detective Har-
_bour all the information known about
Boykin and his murder.
Detective Harbour was a tall, lanky
man, somewhere in his fifties, thin of
body and face, wearing glasses that
made him look more like an old-
fashioned schoolteacher than a mod-
ern Sherlock Holmes.
The only thing that seemed to in-
terest him a great deal was the strand
of purple thread found between the
fingers of Boykin’s right hand. He
turned it over several times, pulled it
to test its strength.
“Funny, isn’t it?” he said, “that Tom
would be holding this thread?”
“He probably got it from the killer,”
the sheriff suggested. “Tom may have
regained consciousness and _ strug-
gled.” ‘ :
“Sure, that’s how he got it,” De-
tective Harbour replied, “but who
would be wearing a thread like this?
It’s a bit unusual, and I’ve found that
unusual things in a case can become
the most important clues.”
“A woman could have such a-thread
on her dress,” the sheriff said.
Detective Harbour shook his head.
“J doubt it. This is a coarse, heavy
thread. Women don’t use this type in
making dresses.”
“You don’t figure a man would be
having such a purple thread on his
shirt or clothes, do you?” the sheriff
countered. “Besides, what good is the
thread unless we find the killer?”
“Not much,” Detective Harbour
conceded, “but this may_lead us to
the killer. I don’t know. Suppose you
and the State Police follow your usual
line of investigating. Let me follow
the lead of this purple thread. It may
lead somewhere, and it may not.”
The sheriff was puzzled, but he re-
spected Detective Harbour’s ability
too much to question him. “Okay,”
he said. “We'll keep in touch with
each. other and we’ll see who gets the
most information first.”
a gor rest of that day and evening
Detective Harbour walked the
streets of Waynesboro. Sheriff West-
over and the State Police kept at their
job of checking the possible enemies
Tom Boykin might have made and
everybody who knew Boykin was
carrying the payroll.
The next morning breaks began to
come thick and fast for the: sheriff
and the State Police officers. From
McLain, a town south of Waynesboro,
came the report that a filling station
there had taken in three gas coupons
with Tom Boykin’s name _ ,written
across them. The sheriff and Captain
Rufkin drove to McLain in record
time. But the clue they thought would
be so hot didn’t prove to be of much
value.
Charles Rankin, the filling-station
operator, showed them the three
gg coupons and then added: “Tt have no-
TRIPPED TWO KILLERS
Continued from page 27
idea who turned these in. You see,
we don’t look at the coupons when
we get them. I found them this morn-
ing in checking over the coupons we
took in yesterday.” ’
“But you must recall the different
people who bought gas,” the sheriff
protested. — :
Rankin shook his head. “That’s im-
possible, because we did a rush busi-
ness yesterday,” he answered. “I was
here all day. I couldn’t begin to re-
member everybody who got gas.”
Completely stymied by the failure
of Rankin to remember who turned in
the _ coupons, the sheriff and Cap-
tain Rufkin remained in McLain, real-
izing that whoever killed Boykin and
stole his car had driven through the
town. They questioned other filling
stations and got no information,
Then two hours later, Fred Curly,
town marshal at McLain, ran up to
the two officers. Curly was excited.
“They’ve found it!” he exclaimed.
“Boykin’s car! Word has just come
in that a farmer discovered the car
abandoned on a side road four miles
north of here. It’s on the road that
_ skirts the small creek. The gasoline
tank is full and the tires are up. Who-
ever had it got scared and abandoned
it.”
The sheriff and Captain Rufkin rode
out to the road, where they found
Boykin’s car in a ditch. They tried
the engine and it started without
trouble.
“They did get scared,” Sheriff West-
over said. “I reckon as how the car
was too hot for them and they ran
away.”
The front seat was covered with
‘blood and there was a rip in the ©
cloth covering it. However, no clue
of any kind was found. The car was
taken into McLain, where State Po-
lice technicians brought there went
over it for fingerprints. Captain Ruf-
kin ordered a dragnet thrown around
McLain and posses of men_ beat
through the woods and the swamps,
although Sheriff Westover and Cap-
tain Rufkin sensed that they were
too late for anything like that.
The State Police technicians
brought in their report an hour. later.
_ They found two sets. of fingerprints,
which didn’t belong to Boykin, yet
this evidence was remote and of lit-
tle value unless a definite suspect
could be found. Since Boykin took a
number of persons in his car at dif-
ferent times, it was only natural that
there would be other prints than his
own on it.
Sheriff Westover returned to
Waynesboro to keep in_touch with
the investigation there. Captain Ruf-
kin remained in McLain to keep track
of the results of the dragnet thrown
around the town.
B ACK in Waynesboro, Sheriff West-
over found that his deputies had
completed their investigation of the
possible enemies of Boykin and also
of everybody who might have known
that he was carrying the payroll. A
number of suspects were waiting for
the sheriff at his office, but when he
finished questioning them, they were
released because all had very good
alibis.
_ Captain Jim Barry of the State Po-
lice came into the sheriff's office on
the run. “Forget about these sus-
‘pects, sheriff,” he said. “I got a lead
that is really hot. We just got a tip
that a convict escaped from the Kilby
Prison in Alabama and that he was
seen in Richton, which is only forty
miles south of here. He was there
four days ago and he could easily
have been in this part of the coun-
try when Boykin was killed.”
“That,” the sheriff exclaimed, “is
something. Phone every State Police
barracks you have in Mississippi and
have every road watched. If we can
pick him up, we may solve the murder
of Tom Boykin.”
The order went out to ever State
Police barracks to be on the de
for the — convict. He was de-
scribed as five feet ten inches tall,
weighing 165 pounds, blond hair and
blue eyes, with a scar across his
forehead.
The search for the convict netted
some 20 hitch-hikers within a radius
of 50 miles from Waynesboro and they
were brought to the sheriff's office
where the sheriff and Captain Barry
uestioned them. None proved to be
the escaped convict and none proved
to be a suspect in the murder. Out of
the 20 men questioned only two could
be placed anywhere near Waynesboro
at the time of the murder. These two
had perfect alibis for their time on
that Saturday afternoon.
And while Sheriff Westover and
Captain Barry were questioning these
suspects and the State Police were
combing the state of Mississippi for
the escaped convict, Detective Har-
bour was still walking the streets of
Waynesboro with the mysterious lit-
tle strand of purple thread in an en-
velope in his pocket.
After two days, he changed his. line
of questioning. He was interested in
talking to anybody who had been near
that road, or had been on any road
outside of Wayesboro some time dur-
ing the day Boykin had been killed.
Harbour had about run out of peo-
ple to question when he walked into
the office of Judge Arthur Bushby,
who lived in Detective Harbour’s home
town of Meridian but who spent con-
siderable time in Waynesboro, where
he also held court.
“Judge,” Detective Harbour said,
“you came here from Meridian on
Saturday, the day Tom Boykin was
killed, didn’t you?”
- “Yes, I drove down here that day.”
_“Did anybody try to hitch-hike a
ride with you?”
“One man did.”
“You know him?”
“I know him only by reputation.
He lives in Waynesboro, but I don’t
believe you are interested in him. You
might be interested in the two boys
who tried to get a ride from me at
bike which is twenty miles from
ere,”
terest
“y
thinki
more
Iam?
I had
two
stopp
But w
they
and d
about
me su
ow)
tive H
“The
teen o:
plains
The ot
a hu
was f
blue
but tt
his tr
“ST Gr
said.
say y
hailed
“At
Bushby
AN
WwW
ing th:
statior
loaf.
Dobbs
up the
Ken:
4 recall t
scribed
a whi
weren
their
sion the
high s¢
a Sout
his talk
V tear
when :
they as}
somebo
trousers
Parsons
Detec
questior
Mrs. Pa
in any
“Coul
to men
tive Ha
“Cert
for her
when s!
thread |
the ver
without
spool of
“Than
claimed
taking
AR}
bo
tain Ba
tioning
the drag
escaped
wrist of the dead
1e said hoarsely to
lazed eyes at Tom
.pparently did the
s; were filled with
and three state
ston, Jim Barry and
the body of Tom
; of the murdered
srim silence.
riff said. “I knew
kind-hearted, too
and examined the
up, he said: “There’s
How much money
vent for the payroll
iround five hundred
his wallet, except a
He had a new book
very one. Tom was
y Black-Market gas.”
ver suggested, ‘might
body of Tom Boykin
iynesboro, where the
four officers searched
had lain.
int clues. One was a
Biiowe es ema aa
rubber hose, loaded with lead in one end, a rather crudely
improvised blackjack.
“Whoever. killed Tom,” the sheriff said, “came pre-
pared.”
Around the body were two distinct footprints, .too
small to have been made by Boykin. Captain Rufkin
returned to the State Police barracks in Waynesboro
to get apparatus and material to make plaster casts of
the prints.
Sheriff Westover questioned Fisher, who had seen the
man running from the woods. Fisher said that he was
too far away to get a good-enough view of the man
to give any description, but he had the impression, from
the way the man ran, that he was not old and could
have been either in his late teens or early twenties.
When the four officers got back to Waynesboro, Dr.
Frank Jayman, the coroner, had made his examination
of Tom Boykin’s body. He said that death had been
caused by the slashed throat and that the wound on
the head showed that Boykin had been first knocked
unconscious, probably in the car, and then dragged
into the woods. The dead man’s clothes had been torn,
and there were slight bruises on the back of his head,
such as would happen when a man was dragged through
brush. Entwined between the fingers of the murdered
ex-sheriff was a strand of purple thread, about four
inches long.
Sheriff Westover looked at the thread. “Where,” he
-asked, ‘‘would Tom get this? This is common thread. It
couldn’t be that his killer was a woman.”
“I can’t answer that,” Doctor Jayman replied. “He
got it mixed up in his hand in his struggle with his
killers.”
ELECTROCUTED—.,
Maurice Shimmick (at left of photo) and Joseph M.
Leemon were of good family and were graduates of
high school, but put a low value on human life.
Sheriff Westover walked to a phone and called De-
tective Tom Harbour of Meridian, 40 miles from Waynes-
boro. Detective Harbour is known as the human blood-
hound of the South. For 20 years he had been on every
prominent case in that section and his success as a
sleuth has been little less than miraculous.
When the sheriff came away from the phone, he said
to Captain Rufkin: “I’m not letting any stone stay
unturned to get the killers of Tom Boykin, and if any-
body can run down the killers, it’s Tom Harbour. He
was a friend of Boykin, and he said he’d be right down
to give any help he could.”
B* the time Detective Harbour arrived in Waynes-
boro, Sheriff Westover and the State Police had
followed the usual routine in such a case. All filling
stations within a radius of a hundred miles had been
notified to be on the lookout for any coupons signed by
Tom Boykin.
The rubber blackjack had been examined for finger-
prints. There were some prints, but on the rubber they
were too smudged to be of any value. The desciption
of Boykin’s car was flashed to every garage and filling
station, and every State Police station in that section of
‘Mississippi.
Working on the possible theory that Boykin’s killer
might be an enemy he had made while in office, a
check up of all arrests made by Boykin was started by
Deputy Sheriff Bill Conyers. The probability that who-
ever killed Boykin knew about his carrying the payroll
was the basis of the local. search (Continued on page 52)
TOM HARBOUR—
He gave the impression of a schoolteacher rather than
a detective, but he did some extraordinary sleuthing.
| » Police
ppi and
| we can
| murder
y State
lookout
was de-
ies tall,
\air and
ss his
netted
: radius
ind they
‘’s office
1 Barry
-d to be
| proved
Out of
vo could
nesboro
ese two
time on
ver and
ng these
ce were
ippi for
ve Har-
treets of
ous lit-
. an en-
his line
ested in
een near
ny road
me dur-
killed.
of peo-
ked into
Bushby,
ir’s home
ent con-
o, where
sur said,
idian on
Kin Was
iat day.”
n-hike a
putation.
t I don’t
him. You
wo boys
nm me at
iles from
“What makes you think I’d be in-
terested in them?”
“T have been doing considerable
thinking about their actions, and the
more I think about it the more certain
I am that they planned to steal my car.
I had the other man with me. The
two boys thumbed for a ride. |
stopped, and they started to get In.
But when they saw I had a passenger,
they suddenly changed their minds
and didn’t get in. It was something
about the way they acted that made
me suspicious.” ¥
“What did they look like?” Detec-
tive Harbour asked.
“They weren't much more than six-
teen or seventeen,” Judge Bushby ex-
plained. “One was short, runt-like.
The other was tall and weighed about
a hundred and eighty pounds and
was fairly good-looking. They wore
blue suits and the suits looked new,
but the small one had a slight tear in
his trousers.”
“Torn trousers!” Detective Harbour
said. ‘“That’s interesting. And you
say you were at Quitman when they
hailed you?”
“At the edge of the town,” Judge
Bushby replied.
N hour later Detective Harbour
was in the town of Quitman, mak-
ing the rounds of garages and filling
stations where hitch-hikers might
loaf. It wasn’t until he got to the
Dobbs Motor Company that he picked
up the trail of the two youths. —
Kenneth Dobbs, the owner, said: “I
recall those two boys the Judge de-
scribed. They loafed around here for
a while, hoping to get a ride. They
weren't ba pe mags kids and from
their conversation I got the impres-
sion they had both just gotten out of
high school. The smaller one wasn’t
a Southerner. You could tell that by
his talk. He was the one that had a
V tear in the seat of his pants, and
when no ride came along for them,
they asked me where they could find
somebody to mend the smaller youth’s
trousers. I sent them to Mrs. G. L.
Parsons.”
Detective Harbour didn’t ask any
questions. He drove to the home of
Mrs. Parsons, who was a middle-aged
lady, with a kindly face and disposi-
tion. : .
“Oh, yes,” she said, “I remember
those two boys well. They were so
well mannered. I fixed the rip on the
smaller one’s trousers and then I got
them a bite of lunch. They seemed
fine boys and I don’t think they’d get
in any trouble.”
“Could I see the thread you used
to mend the boy’s trousers?” Detec-
tive Harbour asked.
“Certainly.” Mrs. Parsons reached
for her sewing basket and smiled
when she did. “You know, the onl
thread I had was some purple thread.
The boys’ suits were blue and it
didn’t look so good, but—”
“Let me see the spool of thread
you used,” Detective Harbour cut in.
Mrs. Parsons looked surprised at
the vehemence of his request, but
without a word she handed him a
spool of purple thread.
“Thanks,” Detective Harbour ex-
claimed and left the house quickly,
taking the spool with him.
3 guogy returned to Waynes-
boro. Sheriff Westover and Cap-
tain Barry had completed their ques-
tioning of the suspects brought from
the dragnet thrown out to catch the
escaped convict. Both were discour-
aged. Captain Rufkin had returned
from McLain, and he had no better
luck in trying to find out about the
persons who abandoned Boykin’s car.
He was as weary and as discouraged
as the sheriff and Captain Barry.
Detective. Harbour greeted them
with the announcement: “I think I’ve
found your killers.”
All three shot questions at him in
rapid-fire order. His answers ex~-
plained how he had learned about
the two youths from Judge Bushby
and how he had found their trail in
Quitman.
“And this”—he showed them the
spool of purple thread—‘is just what
I needed. One of them had his trous-
ers mended with this thread. Tom
Boykin struggled with the youths and
grabbed a strand of that thread. Now
all we have to do is to find these
youths.”
A five-state alarm was sent out by
the State Police for the two youths.
An artist was secured and he made a
drawing of the two from the descrip-
tion Mrs. Parsons gave him. This was
printed on a poster and sent to all
parts of the South.
Two weeks later, Sheriff Westover
gota Fain call from Chief of Police
ke. L. Shanklin at La Grange, Georgia.
“We got the two youths you want
locked up here,” the chief said. “They
tell a pretty straight and convincing
story, but we’ll keep them for you
until you get here.”
Sheriff Westover called Detective |
Harbour and the two drove to La
Grange, which was about 300 miles
from Waynesboro. Chief Shanklin
took the two officers to the cell where
the two boys were locked up.
They had given their names as
Joseph M. Leemon and Maurice Shim-
mick. Leemon was from Maylene,
Alabama, and he was the taller and
the heavier of the two. Shimmick was
from Madison, Wisconsin, where two
years before he had been the vale-
dictorian of his high school class.
The two had met through correspond-
ence, which was a part of their English
class work. Shimmick had come
‘South several months before to visit
Leemon.
Both seemed greatly amused at the
fact that they had been arrested and
locked up, and they greeted Sheriff
Westover and Detective Harbour with
broad grins.
- “We tried to get a ride from a
Judge,” Leemon said with a laugh,
“and here we are in the jug. Some
justice in this country!”
Detective Harbour sat down and
faced the youths, who were seated on
the prison cot.
“Shimmick,” he said, “you stopped
at a Mrs. Parsons’ house to have your
trousers mended, didn’t you?”
“Okay,” Shimmick answered with a
laugh. “I get my pants patched, and
that makes me a murderer. Is this a
joke or is this the way you solve
crimes down this way?”
“It isn’t any joke, Shimmick,” De-
tective Harbour replied, “and we solve
crimes down here by getting the right
man. It so happens that you killed
Tom Boykin—you and your friend
there.”
The cocky attitude of the two
youths left very abruptly. They
looked at each other, and they weren’t
grinning when they did.
“When we found the body of Tom
Boykin,” Detective Harbour contin-
ued, “we found this pe of thread
between the fingers of his right hand.
In his struggle he must have grabbed
ai A a.
for your pens, Shimmick. I got the
spool of thread Mrs. Parsons used to
mend your trousers. It matches this
strand perfectly.”
Shimmick gulped. Leemon blurted
oat “Ah, you're talking through your
a r
“No, I’m not talking through my
hat,” Detective Harbour answered.
“You two boys are going back with
us to face a charge of murder.”
To two youths waived extradition
and were taken to Waynesboro.
Sheriff Westover and Detective Har-
bour didn’t stop their investigation.
Through letters sent to the two boys
the officers learned about two girl
friends in Mobile. The sheriff and
Detective Harbour made a trip to Mo-
bile. The girls denied, at first, know-
ing Leemon and Shimmick, but when
the two officers opened a_ suitcase
hidden in the closet and found Tom
Boykin’s revolver, some of his gas
coupons, and a pocket knife with
traces of blood still on it, the girls
broke and admitted they knew the
two youths and that they had prom-
ised to keep the suitcase for them,
not knowing what was in it.
They were taken back to Waynes-
boro with the suitcase. When con-
fronted with this new evidence, Lee-
mon and Shimmick broke and con-
fessed. It was a pathetic story young
Shimmick told. While he had been a
good student in high school, he had
never been popular with the girls.
This had been one of the great dis-
appointments in his life, and when he
went south and met Leemon, whom
he had corresponded with, and saw
how handsome he was and how suc-
cessful he was with girls, Shimmick
looked on him with a certain amount
of hero worship.
Leemon told him that to be popu-
lar with girls he had to have money,
and if he would do as Leemon sug-
gested, they would have money. They
started out looking for somebody to
rob. It wasn’t until they got to
Waynesboro that they got 2 enough
nerve. They stopped Judge ushby at
Quitman, but when they saw he had
a passenger, they refused the ride.
Later Tom Boykin came along and
picked them up. Shimmick sat in the
front seat, and when they got on that
lonely road he hit Boykin over the
head with the blackjack. They pulled
the ex-sheriff out of the car and
dragged him to the bushes. He re-
gained consciousness and started to
yell and fight. Leemon hit him again
and then took his knife and slashed
his throat.
Shimmick had returned to the car.
When Leemon heard the game war-
den’s car coming, he ran out of the
woods and the two fled in Boykin’s
car, abandoning it near McLain be-
cause it was too hot. They got $400
from Boykin.
On January 6, 1944, District At-
torney Labrano went before the
grand jury and got an indictment. Six
days later the youths were brought
to trial and found guilty of first-
degree murder. Judge Graham sen-
tenced them to die in the electric
chair.
Because of their age, a determined
fight was made to save them from
paying the extreme penalty for their
crime, but all appeals were turned
down, and on January 14, 1945, the
portable electric chair was brought to
Waynesboro and the two high school
graduates paid with their lives for the
murder of Tom Boykin.
SAM LEFLORE PAYS THE PENALTY
"OF lS GRIME, ©
in?
0
(oh wien
a Firm Step,
But to the Disappointment of che
Crowd, Speaks Not a Word.
sain Ledore, colored, was hanged
te das in the pal yard for the murder
of Ike Wilkerson, also colored, about
wyear ago, Tke was in) inoffensive
barber, but he had wuterferred) with
a bold lighway robbery which Sam
Wiis about to commit.
Karly in the morning — Father
Picherit) visited niny and remained
with him in) prayer until he
ten minutes afterwards Ato ra:2
ening very attentively seemingly, to
the words being spoken to hin by the
good man on his left, once or twice
pgiving wnod of recogmitfon to some
words spoken. ‘The noose was quick-
over his head. ‘Vo the surprise of the
immense crovd present not*a word
was spoken by him, nor was he ask—
edit he had. anything to say, At
12:27 o'clock, only three minutes from
the time he ascended the ‘platform,
his body was dangling in the air,
Not a sound was heard except faint
cry froma colored woman ina. cell
just east of the scaffold.
The hanging was done by the
means of a heavy weight which jerk—
ed him up in the air, not. over four
feet. At 12:50 he was pronouced
dead by the attending physicians,
Drs. S$. D, Robbins and ‘T, G. Bir-
chett, but his neck «was not. broken,
He-died--irom—strangutation:---"The
body was turned over to Undertaker
PIshehe ea og? 02 Sabah
““After,the body was jerked up it
turned halferound with the tyist of
vas._.pulled —his-face-was—northward;
but when the body was taken down
the face was towards ie west.
Sam Leflore di not — look
like a bad negro. He had a
bright looking face for acriminal, and
his conduct from the time he left his gcll.|
door till he reached the platform did
not_ convey the idea that he ~ in
the least feared death. He was dressed
in adark pairof pants, a clean white
shirt with collar, had on a pait of new
suspenders and wore a cross of the Cath-
olie faith. Te appeared to be about 5
years old and weighed about 16U pounis.
‘ NOTES,
It was difficult to estimate the number
.of people present, about 100 on the inside
and the balance on top of the walls,
houses, in trees and on the ground on the
outside.
f pt? beet wan enger to sce the hang-
ing and many of them just aa eager to
gee the body after it was put into the |
coffin.
#heriff Brennan deserves credit for the
fine order he kept. A man who was on
top of the wall spoke loud enough for |)
the Sheriff'to hear liiin, asking if he
would allow the “nigger to take a drink
before he was lianged,” at the same time
procure a half pint of whiskey. The |
Sheriff told him to keep quiet or come |
down. “You sad better come up here |)
and take me down,” he replied. The
Sheriff did not go, but he sent two police-
men, and peace was restored once more. |
ed
He Ascended the Platform: withe}
ascended the platform and — for]
oclock pom. the condemned man was |
brought from his cell, arnsed) on. the},
left by Father Picherit and on. the |)
right by Sherif Brennan. He ascend- |
ed the plattorm with a firm step, list. |
the rope and> the struggles of she)
condemned man. When-the-rrnmser |
une. |
ly adjusted and the blak cap placed 1.
Sam Leflore alia
~~ VICKSBURG@ EVENING POST! ‘THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1892.
‘ Teplone ,
Vicks burg Even _ Pest
; (
CUie sburg ,
ss.)
May '4%, (84¢e
Pp 3 col.
am
had
Vest-
e he
>cCOvV=-
day P
unty
after
istrict
ty At-
prose-
al in-
terlous
publed
From
2 case
hand
ng in-
i com-
o Mc-
black
€ reg-
e the
and
and
fé Was
oting
EES ey
Finger-prints played a big part in
Lofton’s capture. Above is a pho-
tographic copy of his finger-print's
under the alias of Fred D. Hill
Was Lofton a_ professional
gangster and gunman, and
was there anything to the pop-
ular rumor that he and his
companions were Chicago
racketeers who were in the
South “on the dodge’ from
Chicago detectives? Would
Lofton ever reveal the name
of his companion? These and
other questions concerning the
prisoner the police endeavored
to answer.
The tireless efforts of Sheriff
Guy and his assistants brought
more facts. It was learned
that Lofton had traveled from
Canada to the Gulf of Mexico
and was alleged to have com-
mitted many crimes, from
jail-breaking to grand lar-
ceny; it was alleged that a
case was pending against him
at Horatio, Arkansas, and that
he was wanted for escaping
from the penitentiary at Raw-
lins, Wyoming, where he had
been sentenced to serve from
three to five years for grand
larceny.
On Thursday, October 28th,
the counsel for Lofton filed a
motjon before Judge E. J.
Simmons of the Pike County
Circuit Court for a change of
venue, but the motion was
over-ruled. Then a plea was
(Left) Sheriff Thad Ellzey, of
Pike County, Mississippi, whose
duty it was to write the word ‘‘finis”’
to the Westbrook murder case
entered that the prisoner was
not physically able to stand
the trial. Six physicians ex-
amined Lofton and all testi-
fied that in their opinion he
was strong enough to stand
trial, so Judge Simmons set
the case for 8:30 Tuesday
morning, November 2nd, and
ordered a special venire of
seventy-five men © summoned
from which to select the jury.
The courtroom was packed.
Mr. and Mrs. D. S. West-
brook, father and mother of
the slain officer, his widow,
Mrs. J. Earl Westbrook, her
two children, and other rela-
tives of the victim were in the
room.
The defense counsel entered
a motion to quash the special
venire on legal technicalities,
- contending that the jury box
had contained names. with
wrong initials and duplications
and other disqualifying fea-
tures. Judge Simmons sus-
tained the motion, and or-
dered a special venire of sixty
to be drawn and made return-
able at 8:30 Friday morning.
November 5th. On this date
the trial got under way.
The legal battle was one of
the hardest ever fought in
Pike County. The evidence
32 The Master
against Lofton was damaging. Witnesses testified to the
facts concerning the shooting, as related earlier in this
story. Mrs. Maggie Goodwin of New Orleans, who was
visiting in the Bethea home at the time, testified to the
meeting of Westbrook and Lofton and the shooting.
The late Coroner Bethea corroborated this testimony.
Philip Heidenreich testified, as did several officers, that
the check given him on the date of the shooting was a
forgery.
Lofton, when put on the stand at his own request, did
much damage to his
case. He admitted
that he pulled the
gun first, but said
that Westbrook fired
the first shot. He
admitted serving a
six-year sentence in
Wyoming, and escap-
ing from prison there,
but declared that he
was recaptured after
being at large only
seven months. Also,
he stated, that he
was arrested and
convicted under the
name of Fred Hill in
Vancouver, B. C.,,
Canada,
O statement made
by Westbrook be-
fore his death was
used. However, the
brief story as told by
the dying officer might
well be related here.
Policeman J. P. Clark,
a close friend of
Westbrook, other offi-
cers and I, talked to
‘him shortly after the
shooting, even while
preparations were be-
ing made for. the
operation.
“He got me,” he
said weakly. “But |
got him; I had to.
His first shot hit me
and he fired several
more before | got my
gun.
Detective
the jail at Magnolia with a Negro woman carrying the
noon meal for the prisoners. When he got to the cell
block on the second floor in which Lofton was lodged. he
suddenly found himself facing a gun in the hands of Luther
Knight, of Kentwood, Louisiana, an escaped convict from
the Mississippi penitentiary. Knight was in jail on a
charge of alleged automobile theft. Martin was com-
manded to put up his hands “and be quick about it”
The young man was taken completely by surprise. To
reach for his gun would have meant death, and the pris-
i oners, Once in posses-
sion of his keys,
would have escaped
just the same. There
was no alternative.
Knight quickly dis-
armed Martin and
took his keys, locking
him and the woman
in a cell, Working
with great speed,
Knight quickly un-
locked the cells on
that floor, allowing
seven other prisoners,
including Lofton, to
escape.
The prisoners raced
downstairs, unlocked
the two doors be-
tween them and free-
dom, dashed across
the jail yard, jumped
into Jailer Martin's
Ford car and dashed
toward the swamp of
the Little Tangipahoa
River, east of Mag-
nolia.
BESIDES Knight
and Lofton, the
other prisoners with
them were Remus
Calhoun, of Kent-
wood, Louisiana, al-
leged automobile
thief; Stephen Boar
and Andrew Zariski,
of Detroit, Michigan,
held on a charge of
robbing a McComb
store; Leon Hill and
Jerome Brown, Ne-
Many _ witnesses Superintendent J. W. Spalding, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, groes, under five-year
were called by both who identified “Edward D. Kenny” as the man long wanted by Pike sentence for robbery;
sides, but the jury County, and who gave valuable aid to the United States officials and another Negro
returned a verdict of
guilty as charged. Lofton received the verdict without a
sign of emotion, and was sentenced to hang on Decem-
ber 10th, 1926.
Immediately a motion for a new trial was made, but
this was denied by Judge Simmons. Then the case was
appéaled to the State Supreme Court, thus automatically
delaying the execution until the higher tribunal had _ re-
viewed and passed upon the case. The record of the trial,
which filled a large volume, was filed with the Supreme
Court on December 16th. Judge Simmons has a record
of rarely ever having decisions from his court reversed by
the higher court, and the case was regarded as practically
closed.
At noon, December 28th, 1926, while the case was still
pending in the Supreme Court, Felix Martin, nineteen-year-
old son of Jailer Dan Martin, acting for his father, entered
named Charlie Stew-
art, who was being held on a minor charge.
The jail-break was made in the middle of the day and
the prisoners passed within a hundred feet of the Sheriff's
office, located in the court-house building on the same
square. It was the most daring jail delivery in the his-
tory of Pike County. J. W. Lampton, Magnolia mer-
chant, saw the prisoners running from the jail lot and
called the office of the Sheriff. Hurried investigation re-
vealed that Martin and the cook were locked in a cell,
and the story of the escape was quickly told by the
young assistant jailer. But the prisoners were gone.
A posse was formed by Sheriff Guy and the chase was
on. South of Magnolia the car of Jailer Martin had
been abandoned. The prisoners had taken to the swamp.
Heavy rains had swollen the river until it overflowed its
banks, and the weather was bitterly cold. This handicapped
e To
e pris-
posses-
keys,
scaped
There
itive,
iv dis-
and
icking
voman
orking
speed,
Youn
\ls on
wing
soners,
mn, to
s raced
rlocked
s be-
d free-
across
imped
‘artin’s
dashed
imp of
sipahoa
Mag-
night
n, the
with
emus
Kent-
na, al-
mobile
Boar
Zariski,
chigan,
arge of
{cComb
lill and
n, Ne-
ve-year
ybbery;
Negro
2 Stew-
{ay and
Sheriff's
e same
the his-
‘a mer-
lot and
tion re-
a cell,
by the
So egn sen sea oer oe
ise Was
ins had
swamp.
wed its
icapped
$500 for Lofton—Dead or Alive! 33
the searchers, but it would also handicap the fugitives.
Roads were guarded in every direction, but the day
passed with but one of the fugitives captured, the Negro,
Charlie Stewart. He could throw little light on the jail
delivery, but under severe grilling said that the pistol
was smuggled into the jail in a loaf of bread and had been
concealed there for several days. He said the fugitives
separated when they abandoned the car and that he had
been traveling alone since that time.
It was revealed then that Lofton had made three previous
attempts to escape from jail. He had received a pair of
shoes from Chicago, and in the soles were sewn several
hacksaw blades. A package of cigarettes mailed to him
from California also contained several hacksaw blades.
The day before the escape of the prisoners Sheriff Guy had
found a knife and a saw in a cell next to the one occupied
by Lofton. These were believed also to have been hidden
in a loaf of bread and intended for Lofton. The Sheriff
expressed the opinion that the
gun had been smuggled to
Knight, rather than to Lof-
ton, because a closer watch
was kept over Lofton and
those occupying cells near
him. Was Lofton’s mysterious
companion responsible for the
jail delivery?
The earth seemed to have
swallowed the fugitives. Days
of search by all officers in
Pike County brought no re-
sults. Police departments in
cities throughout the South
were notified but failed to
find any trace of the fugitives.
Sheriff Guy offered a reward
of one hundred dollars for the
capture of Lofton; to this the
city of McComb added fifty
dollars, and the late Governor
Henry L. Whitfield of Missis-
sippi offered one hundred dol-
lars. Private subscriptions
raised the total to approx-
imately five hundred dollars
for the capture of Lofton,
dead or alive!
MAY false tips came in
and all were _ investi-
gated. On January Ist, 1927,
Sheriff Guy received a tele-
phone message from the Sher-
iff of Neshoba County, Missis-
sippi, saying that two men tal-
lying in many respects with
the descriptions of Knight
and Lofton were being held
there on suspicion. Guarding
this information closely, Sher-
iff Guy made the trip to Ne-
shoba County to investigate
this tip, but the men were not
those wanted, and accordingly
were released.
Suddenly the theory spread
that Lofton, in his weakened
condition, had probably died
of exposure in the swamps,
following the escape. The
swamp had been flooded by
overflow of the river and
the temperature was low at
the time of the jail delivery.
In an article commenting, upon the escape the Magnolia
Gazette said:
“That a man in such poor physical condition could have
survived the hardships incident to his (Lofton’s) escape is
a matter of grave doubt.”
[N view of the fact that absolutely nothing had been
learned concerning Lofton since his escape, many people
accepted this theory as plausible. But Sheriff,Guy con-
tinued his investigation on the theory that Lofton was
very much alive. Weary months passed and none of the
fugitives was captured. The customary criticisms of the
officers were made. ‘Then on April 15th an anonymous
tip informed the Sheriff that Lofton had been seen in
St. Tammany, Louisiana,.a few weeks prior to that time.
Through tedious investigation in, that section of Louisiana,
Lofton was reported to have been seen on a small straw-
berry farm, where he had been (Continued on page 61)
‘ Ba eas Pa
Photographic copy of the extradition warrant issued to the keeper of the provincial jai! et
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, authorizing the delivery of the prisoner to the United States
of America.
Note the number of aliases used by the man
> the
- the
er of
fac-
-e of
my
cht IT
ntier
and
ough
< the
last
ip of
pped
ess |
ide—
s di-
girl:
r my
d re-
see).
The
“ance
. wit
d on
yined
y of
your
hour,
her |
rs in
ee
July, 1932
“Be on the alert from now onward;
this place is infested with German
agents. After this outpost is passed we
shall have to run the gauntlet of the
barrier control. We are just com-
mencing our troubles.” 1
At the outpost our papers were again
examined and we were questioned, Ga-
brielle in most cases doing the talking.
I can see her now as'I tell you these
facts. Small, vivacious, with big blue
eyes that challenged you in any mood.
White teeth, magnificent in their reg-
ularity, cor gg every time she smiled
or laughed. Face oval and perfect in
contour, with a sweet little tip-tilted
nose. | Natural vermilion emphasized
the beautiful bow-shaped lips. Raven
black hair with luxurious little curls at
the nape of her neck. From the crown
of her head to the heels of her dainty
little feet she was exquisite, but irre-
spective of her personal charms, it was
the wit, the intelligence, the personality
of this little French girl that com-
manded admiration.
N° doubt it was these things that
so hoodwinked the German sol-
diery. She had a joke for one, a smile
for another, a ready and quick retort
to any who questioned her in, French.
If her examiner could not speak her
language, she simply smiled her wa
under his guard. She was splendid.;
Our papers being viséd, we -passed
on, but had gone only another, half a
mile along the road that léed ‘to free-
dom when we came to the familiar
German flag and a bar across the road.
$500
employed, near Slidell, Louisiana. The
man who said that he talked to Lofton
had been associated with him in
California eight years before, accord-
ing to the informant. It was reported
that. Lofton had been obtaining his
meals at a Negro’s cabin under an as-
sumed name, and it was said that he
was heavily armed. Inquiry at the
cabin brought stout denials from the
inmates that they knew “any sech
white man”.
It was learned at this time also that
Lofton had been forced to swim the
Tangipahoa River at the time of his
escape, and it was reported that he
had told of hiding in the woods near
Highway 51 and watching Sheriff Guy
and his posse pass. After a weary
round of investigation, Sheriff Guy re-
turned to Magnolia without his man.
Everyone was disheartened and the gen-
eral comment was that Lofton would
never be captured. His ability to dis-
appear was phenomenal.
At the time of the fatal shooting,
I was living about three miles
north of McComb in the town of Sum-
mit, where | had served for many
years as a police officer. In the mean-
time I had moved to McComb and
opened a private agency for conduct-
ing investigations.
About this time relatives of the slain
The Master’ Detective
A German raised the bar and an-
other one beckoned us on. As the bar
was let down behind us, another was
seen in front. . Between the bars, we
came to a halt in front of a wooden
hut; and a sous officier came out and
again took our papers. -
We could see him at a telephone. “He
is communicating with Brussels about
us,” said ‘Gabrielle.* “They always do
at this control. If anything is wrong”
—she just smiled and made a gesture
with’ her hands. Ms
After a long time ‘he came out, gave
us our papers and ‘lifted the bar. With
a sigh of relief we turned down a lonely
road, broken and sandy, which ran par-
allel with the frontier. As we came
near a small wood, a German soldier
dressed in an officer’s uniform called
to us. Gabrielle gave a little cry.
It was un militarie Allermarde, a name
given by the conquered people of Bel-
gium and France to the dreaded mem-
bers of the German Secret Police.
With an arrogant leer he came to-
ward us, and addressing Gabrielle in
excellent French said, “What is the
story this time, mademoiselle? 1 have
been looking out for you for months.
Just missed you the last time.
“I am afraid I shall have to detain
all of you, irrespective of your papers.
We have just discovered that a great
many of these so-called papers are
forgeries.” °
With a quick movement of his hand
he tugged at a chain, and in a flash had
a whistle to his lips. He was destined,
however, never to: blow that whistle
for Lofton—Dead or
(Continued from page 33)
police officer persuaded me to take
active part in the case. When I took
up the trail it was several months old.
Every clue had led to nothing. Lofton
had had ample time to escape into a
foreign country, and the world was the
field in which to search for him. How-
ever, since he spoke English only, I
reasoned that if he had shipped to a
foreign country it would be one where
English was spoken, or where a large
number of people spoke the language.
I gathered all the information avail-
able on the fugitive and proceeded sys-
tematically to broadcast his descrip-
tion and a summary of the case, also
his photograph and finger-prints. From
past experience | knew that a criminal
rarely ever “goes straight”. I hoped
that by broadcasting his description,
officers elsewhere would be~able to
identify him in the event that he was
arrested for another crime. | mailed
“circulars to all the principal cities in
the United States, Canada, Mexico,
and a few to the leading ports of Cen-
tral and South America, and to Aus-
tralia. I sent a few, also, to Scotland
Yard, London, England. In addition,
I traveled over ten thousand miles
working on the case.
Of course a search for the other
prisoners who escaped with Lofton was
still*being made. Eventually Stephen
61
again. Like a cobra striking, the Bel-
gian sergeant plunged a knife into his
heart! Horrified, we all stood white
and speechless, stunned at the sudden
turn of events.
Gabrielle was the first to gain her
presence of mind.
9 ppt Quick!” she panted, “Drag
him into that ditch. If a guard
‘comes along, we shall all be shot on
sight.” The little knoll of scrubby pines
where we stood was the only break in
this barren, sandy, tragic waste and we
could see for miles along the stretch of
frontier. But before we could move,
two patrolling sentries advanced!
“Hurry, for the love of God,” said
Gabrielle. “I will try to keep them
engaged. Join me as soon as you can.”
She raced off toward the approaching
sentries.
Can Gabrielle keep those enemy
sentries from advancing too far? Per-
haps they noticed the disturbance and
it is too late anyway. Gabrielle is
clever and beautiful and daring. Time
and again she has risked her life in
the service of France. Time and again
she has matched her wits against the
whole of the German Army of Occu-
pation. But—a German officer has
been killed! Is she clever enough to
keep his death concealed until she and
her friends have reached the Dutch
frontier—and freedom?
The dramatic events following this
staggering episode will be revealed in
the August issue of THE MASTER DE-
TECTIVE. On sale at all news stands
July 20th.
Alive
Boar and Andrew Zariski were cap-
tured in Detroit, Michigan, and _ re-
turned to Pike County. They could
give little additional information.
After the escape, they said, the fugi-
tives had separated and traveled alone.
The public lost interest in the case
and it dropped completely out of the
newspapers. Then, about. June Ist,
1927, the Soo Railway Station agent at
Pinewood, Minnesota, noticed a strang-
er sitting in the waiting room of the
depot. He realized suddenly that he
answered the description of Lofton
contained in a circular he had seen.
So sure was he that the stranger was
Lofton that he decided to act at once
rather than risk'the escape of the man
while officers were being summoned.
He informed three other men of his
suspicions and together they ap-
proached the stranger.
“Aren’t you Lofton who escaped
from jail in Pike County, Mississippi?”
asked the agent.
The stranger, realizing that he was
surrounded, leaped to his feet with
the agility of a cat, struck down one
of the men and, drawing a gun in the
same manner that Lofton had done on
the day Westbrook was fatally
wounded, yelled: :
“Get to hell out of -here, you fel-
lows! It doesn’t mean anything to
GMALE MSH
‘ a WITH HIS LIFE
FOL crs
fan TION TO SAY ONLY “
© AML READY.” a
munoniies Gi a nOUR Niiwacrs
OFTHE wiktaR PAMILY, —
1 _ Dine. UPON GALLOWS. .
t
4a
oe
'S
“es “ony
soy f
L,: lied Aug. ‘ viata
Guat Monroe’ Ripon ‘ phe
Wag vhargéd: With ‘ths at oar
mambora of the tantfty of Robe
yr & neighboriig: tevinee aie eon:
¥ feted to death for o clit te tee
‘Youngest of. tho. victinan; nt,
pki to hava been Maribatre child
ir gr ies In the. coonty Jatr’ mete
19. the presence: of: ANY Re0
‘eh wince While a ees of rt eoveral
re tae
man.
pe A NDA RAR AA rr rrr
twtr ee “
Marshal! announced through his at.
plorney, Judge Claude
ihe would make no statement. and
‘none was made.
fore thea time get for ¢
read without a show
Preparations were bein
trap wag Sprung at
Death wag Practically {
ready.” Judge Clayton fald, juat be.
The éondemed man mounted the
scaffold and heard the death Warrant.
Neither did he weaken while final
Clayton, that :
say, he 1s,
he execution.
Of emotion.
& made. Tha
1:16 O'clock.
natantaneous.:
ee
"amory, Mississippi, January 16, 1920, - (HKAMMAXUKRKR (Leased Wire.) - A quad ruple
murder was committed last night two and one half miles from here when Bob Miller, his
wife, son and his daughter's baby, were murdered and the house in which they lived
was burned, Charles Marshall, aged 30, alleged bootlegger, under indictment for biga-
my, was arrested, charged with the crime, Marshall was brought to Amory last night
and carried to Aberdeen for safekeeping. Feeling is high here, but it is not believed
| there will be any lynching. One of Miller's daughters hid behind a door while the
- murderer was perpetrating his awful deed. Later while he was firing the ‘house, she
escaped unseen, came to Amory and gave the alarm, The young woman's story is a revolting
one, She says Marshall first threw dynamite under the house and sought to blow it up. ;
He then called Miller, her father, to the window. She says the dynamite failed to
explode, but .when Miller appeared at the window, Marshall shot him to death, Seeing
that the dynamite fuse had gone out, Marshall, she declared, then entered the house and
shot down and killed her mother, sister and brother and later knocked the infant in the
head HXEK-with his pistol, battering out its brains. The girl, only 16, said Marshall
set fire to the house, pouring coal oil on the floor. The house was burned to the ground
and the bodies incinerated, When arrested Marshall had a ouantity of whisky on his persone
He was indicated 8 months ago for BX bigamy and is charged with having wronged one of
Miller's daughters." STAR, Meridian, Mississippi, January 16, 1920 (2—)/5¢)
The condersmeit iman mounted the
Rak 1 Se. oe eee "i
cee 2
Be. scaffold. and Reard-the death warrant
a read without a ahew of emotton. Neitth-
g er Gd he: weghen- awhile fina} Prepare.
K
tag - -
aes
sprung at 1:160'elock, Death was prac-
Ucaliv instantane
— The" erewh gum gathered about
the jail, Whild)'Mexer to. Set a giitmpse
of the . we ai orderly.
@ time fixed for the
mounted a plat-
treet, erected es-
ou
bare
4,
ys
Murderer’ dee Pour
pecially for te one in the event
he wished (and urged orver.
notneed frem
Lee i Sa le . oo,
has. *
Troghls | pen fensd Toniy Onceduring
the day and Wf wus quickly guited with
ibe arvest of % Men who treatened jo
tear Geray the _screeamer bearde of the
tleath chamber to xain a view of the!
execution.
The ertme for which Charlie Marshall.
Monrne ecoutny farmer, was sentenced
to be hanged—the killing ef Wintism
Miller, an infant and youngest qf four
members of the famtly of Robert Min-
er, who were shot or clubbed to death |
at thetr home enar Amory, Miss, on the -
niht of Jannary 15 last, was deescribed
by Justice Holden. of the Mississipi
sj ee I's child wan] | Supreme coart in announcing the court's
Wo god. in theme ty -s011 here -tofny ir decision affirming the death sentence,
the - Presence, me } two BCOT® witnesnen as “one of “flendiak “BPt TAT ty—uon na rat-
‘GF wovers| thousand hae. pee in. the criminal history of the
ed the Streets Ahowt the HH entionure, Btate” .
waiting jn vald itor a sp ears pi ) Miter —and—tts—sen “end -daurhtery; the
| the condemned mn. . ‘hatter the -mother- of ‘the - tnfant.- were
| Marshes" «ntgta
torney, Ju BD >.
would. ee eS
UF eimriee
: shot and the baby clubbed to death and
GU . through his at. thelr bodies burned tn a fire which de-
“Clayton, that he Stroved the Miller home. Thetr_char.
ent ar’ none was red bodies were found tn ‘the ruins.
wi:
- Charlie Marshal, a neighbor af the
Millers, and atieged to have been the
Yather oF: “William” Miller was accused
of the killing by Pear) May Miller four-
‘teen years old, and..only member of the
famtiy who escaped. At Marshall's trial
hela in Tupelo on ehange of venue from
Moaroe: county... Bhe told ef witness.
ing the work of tbe slayer from a place
of: éoncealment where she sought safety
after the dwetling had been partially de-
stroyed by the explosion ef a charge of
dynamite. She escaped just. before the
slayer.or. alazyers applied the torch to
| the building.
4+—_Owing-to_jntense public feeling Mar-
TRHATI WAZ removed te Jackwon for safe-
keeping after_his arrest_and during his)
‘arraignment at Aberdeen and trial here, |
state troops atood guard over the court-
house.
P ey Marshall, father of Charlie Mar-
aball, and the latter’s brother, Fellx
Marshals, also were méafeted |! neon-
“neetion “with the -muréer: Tre elder
Marshall was found gullty anc senten-
ced to life imprisonment, but on ap-
peal to the state stipreme court the ver-
dict ef the lower court was set aside
and the charge on which he was tried
was ordered dismissed. Felix Marshal
has not Been’ placed ontiral.
' All of the Marshalls denied the charg-
es and declared they hag no knowledge
ihe crime, Several witnesme: tes-
ron at the trial of Charlies Marshal!
pand his father that all of the accused
men were at their homee-at the time
the murder was supposed to hev "been
committed,
>
Lo
. mmm
KNEW TOM BOYKIN CASHED A PAYROLL CHECK ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON
concérn and when, shortly before midé crazy man. Now I knew Tom wouldn't ago, That's a long time to hold a grudge.”
Flash- night, he was found at the edge of a small push his machine like that, so I took after € went into the file room to look for
: woods. under- stream, his head crushed and jugular vein it, but the lead was too great.” Tom Boykin’s official records, The phone
1 tangled a lost severed, each resolved to have a part in “What was he like, the man you saw?” = rang again. Harbour took the call and
jen sought h no bringing the savage killer to justice. Detective Harbour inquired. spoke briefly. :
‘or A ice y 2 A. M. a handful of officers were “T can’t tell except that he was fair “It’s about the convict,” he said.
nit it, all would | gathered in the sheriff’s office. Westover, sized and moved like a young man.” “George left Laurel Thursday afternoon.
Ss alive he q his deputies and Robert Fisher were there. “Anyone with him ?” “That so?” Ruffin, looked up quickly.
. this. Ever ss | T. D. Harbour, superintendent of the bu- . “I don’t know.” cess “How do you know ?” :
m for hee at reau of identification at Meridian, 50 miles At the telephone Ruffin lifted an arrest- “A car dealer took a young chap of his
game war merge north, Captain A. B. Ruffin of the safety ing hand. “We may have something description down the line to Richton.
w a man € car patrol and Vivian: Boykin also were pres-. here,” he said tersely. “Otto George is George is medium sized and can be iden-
nto a pai aos a ent. Westover filled a little leatherette loose in the neighborhood. He was spot- tified by a scar on his face. We'll try '
aese days if would a _ book with notes. Between telephone calls ted at Laurel Thursday.” ote picking up his trail at Richton. Did >
that of itse But | he outlined the situation. “Who's Otto George ?”= ' Boykin lose anything besides the cash and
r’s gg kin’s, “Tom and his brother Operated a gen- . “An Alabama convict who escaped early his auto?” P
» car as ne vowel eral store and turpentine distillery at this month. Headquarters is on the line, a. :
vt exceed t % tee Battle, about 17 miles south of here. It’s- Westover, . They want to know about a A EYES turned to Vivian Boykin
as wrong, a little place. Store, distillery and a broadcast on Boykin’s car.” who nodded slowly. “Yes, a leather
rsuit. ef. ..1t house pr two, Tom went to the bank “Sure.” .The sheriff scribbled -a li- jacket and his gun.”
sas on rag g, aint today as usual, cashed his check for the cense number on a scratch pad. “It’s a “So he was armed,” Harbour mused. it
fternoon 0 troubled. Payroll and left about 3 o'clock with black Chevrolet’ sedan. four door, 1941 “I wonder why he didn’t defend himself.’
‘arden was it pay- around $100 in his pocket, He stopped to model.” a “He hadn’t a chance.” Westover had
wing. a veeaty was | speak to someone outside the bank—I Repeating this information, Ruffin set returned with a huge book of records. i
each Saturday haven’t yet found who it was—then drove aside the instrument. “They’re sending.a “He was struck from behind, and his
+. olace of. 4 away . That brings us to about 3 :15.” He man to Laurel to investigate. Now about head crushed in four places.” .
call to his eo im lifted the receiver as the Phone rang again. — the doctor’s report: Do you have it yet, “Was he in the habit of carrying a
ie hadn't _ spread “Hello ; . . Yes, -he’s here. For you, _ sheriff ?” gun, Mr. Boykin ?”
yolice. Mes Sheriff | * captain.” He passed the instrument across “Yes. “Boykin bled to death. Seems “Only when he went for the payroll.
posse led by brother | to Ruffin and. Swung around to the game he was slugged first, then his throat cut. It’s a 32. He'll have the number writ-
Tom Boykin prsieinnree OD warden. “Youtake it from there, Fisher,” My guess is the killer was probably a ten down somewhere. Tom kept a record
1 the forest, cowtht, ' .-“T’ve little to tell,” was the reply, “I hitchhiker.” of everything.”
angle of eit owner = § live near Battle. I started home at, 4:30, Harbour rubbed a hand across a lean “If he was that methodical he'll doubt-
leaves
and had gone five or six miles when I'saw cheek. “Mayb
/ iat had
e hint of what a_car down the road ahead of me. About Boykin have
e it wasn’t a Stranger. Did less have his gasoline coupons properly
; any enemies ?” endorsed. That’s something else to look }
ion deepened. a half mile, it was. When I got close | “Td say not. Tom was everybody’s for. The killer won't get far without
The tension 1. abiding ‘saw it was Boykin’s. He wasn't anywhere friend. Unless,” Westover qualified, “he — buying gas.”
friendly soul, of the in sight but some fellow ran from the made some ‘while he was sheriff, He went “They're endorsed. Tom was particu-
il - yet % Every. woods, jumped into it and was off like a out of office in 1936, nearly eight years lar about such things. He did it the day
-ved as $ . ,
he received them,’
Sheriff Westover had grown restless.
Glancing first at his watch, then at the iH
windows, he closed the record book with i]
a snap. “This can wait. I want to see that H i
creek by daylight.” i |
f In the gray dawn two carloads of offi-
"cers sped south from Waynesboro. About 2
_ five miles out Robert Fisher signaled a f
t...““There’s the lane where the car
“he declared.
ng in'the |
had 's
felt a deep, personal
1 ods, pausing to
Wapel t’s no. ohe-
“ “4 :
ing now,
ows lingered in’ the deeper
lently the men made ‘th
creek. Here the sws or
= fingers to cover the spot
RIED @ up this lonely Mississippi lane loodstained and damp: y
etBoykin was killed when he Cloaked the body, - Moving, ‘
mene! Tegaining his. senses. half circle they found,- 20. feet
LEEMON Jo fond Q CULT TMINTT SZ
in 5) seoh & SHIMNIOK Ms . A Pe ing
“ 9 “aurL_ce whs, dlec. Waynesbor Me T)
’ ’ c. Waynesboro, MS, Dec. 29, 1944,
we
THE GALLOWS awaits Maurice Shimniok EVERYONE IN THE TOWN KNEV
(left, below) and Joseph Leeman. On file :
for them is an appeal to a higher court. :
; T WAS DARK in the woods. Flash- concérn
| lights bobbed through tangled under- night, he
brush as a score of men sought a lost Stream, hi
f friend—or his body. For although no severed, ¢
\ - one was yet ready to admit it, all believed’ ringing t
F that if Jom Boykin was alive he would By 24
? have been found before this. po ed j
| wv ‘The search had gone on for hours. Ever T 8 ieputie:
since Robert Fisher, game warden at A ae Mah Har!
} Waynesboro, Miss., saw a man emerge eau of ider
: . e,° north
i from the timber, leap into a waiting car » Capt
' and flash away. In these days of war- ova and \
i time speed restrictions that of itself would " k West
| have drawn any officer’s attention. But h with n
Fisher recognized the car as Boykin’s, € outlined
and knew Tom wouldn’t exceed the speed sii poe and
limit. Something was wrong, he de- RB sagen é
’ » aDout
SPN ER.
i
f
oo
oe
cided, and sped in pursuit.
From the start he was outdistanced. It
was then late in the afternoon of Novem-
ber 13, 1943. The warden was troubled.
Boykin’s habit of drawing. a weekly pay-
a little
plac.
house or bee
today as usu:
Payroll and
roll. from the bank each Saturday was os ir
well known. haven't fg
When a telephone call to his place of
business showed he hadn't returned, ©
Fisher went to the police. Word spread:
quickly, At dusk a posse led by Sheriff
C. L. Westover and Tom Boykin’s brother
Vivian went through the forest, scanning
every covert, every tangle of undergrowth,
every heap of fallen leaves for the owner
of the car or some hint of what had
befallen him.
Hours passed. The tension deepened.
Boykin was a quiet, friendly soul, abiding
to the spirit. as well as the letter of the
law he had once served as sheriff. Every:
man in the group felt a deep, personal
"| THINK we can locate our killers by
a patch on a pair of pants,” said Detective
T. D. Harbour, an identification unit head.
away . That b;
lifted the
“Hello ! _
captain.” He
to Ruffin avid.
warden. “You
ly ve little t
near Batt!
and had gone fi
a Car down the
a half mile, it ,
saw it was Boyk;
in sight but so;
woods, Jumped i
$s
iy
‘shin siaak ch ew
FRONT PAGE DETECTIVE
March, 1945
Seas ae
ne
eS sew”
a a Ege iiss RS
log that marked the death spot, a 12-inch
length of ‘rubber hose, lead-filled, with a.
short leather strap for a handle.
It was a crude but deadly weapon. A
D. Harbour shook his head. i
“This shows we’re up against the most
vicious of criminals, the man who goes
out purposely to kill. This murder was
no sudden impulse, nor self-defense, either.
It was a cold-blooded crime. Who could
have hated Boykin like that es
“No one,” the victim’s brother protested.
“Tom didn’t have such an enemy. It’s a
hijacking! It has-to be!”
“All right. In that case the killer
would be someone he picked up on the
road... ..
“Or someone who knew he'd been to
the bank,” Harbour tlirew in. “Don’t
forget, Westover, he got himself an eight-
hour start by his clever disposition of the
body. He might well be someone who
knows his way about this community.”
“That’s right. How about fingerprints
on the blackjack? Will there be any es
“T doubt it. Such a surface seldom
retains them. If we just had the knife.”
They found no trace of the knife, nor
of any other object connected with the
murder, But there was a footprint where
a man had stepped close to the still, green
water, It was made by a long slim foot.
Harbour made a cast of it. Finished
in the woods, the officers returned to
Waynesboro. A deputy looked up from
che telephone as they entered the office.
“Just in time, Captain Ruffin,” he said.
“Headquarters is calling again. There’s
been another murder.”
Ruffin was startled. “Where?”
“At Pascagoula. A chap by the name
of Williamson.”
Pascagoula is a waterfront town about
90 miles south of Waynesboro. - There
was, Ruffin found as he listened, a cer-
tain similarity in. the two cases.
“The police think two men are in-
volved,” his chief explained. “William-
son, a pool hall operator, was found early
this morning in his trailer house back of
his place of business, beaten and robbed.
Only in this case the killers shot their’
victim instead of cutting his throat. The
murder’ occurred shortly after midnight
and the police are looking for two fellows
who had been hanging around at closing
time.” ‘
Ruffin relayed word of this latest crime.
Westover rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Wonder if the bullets in Williamson’s
body came from Tom Boykin’s gun. Head-
ing south at 4:30 yesterday afternoon,
Tom’s slayers could. have reached Pasca-
goula.” : @
“Otto George was also heading south,
as long ago as Thursday,” Harbour sug-
gested. “Of course, there’s nothing to
show him back in this vicinity, but even
so, until we locate him—and_ until? we
know who could have seen Boykin cash his
payroll check—he’s a logical suspect.”
Early Monday found the police at the
bank. According to the cashier Boykin
had come in just before closing time, when
the place ,was filled with customers. He .-
named a dozen or more of them. All
were known locally. All, save one, were
above suspicion. ,
Waynesboro is near the Alabama line.
With filling station operators warned to
32. watch the gasoline coupons they accepted
. officers,
stay Sunday and be on th b this:
and the highway police on the alert for
Otto George or any other suspicious per-
sons, local officers gave their attention
to this one small lead. For’ among those
in the bank when Boykin drew his money
was the son-in-law of a man once’ Sus-
pected of robbery.
This had happened during Boykin’s
term of office. Hastily checking records
they found where Cole Whitten was re-
leased, free from all suspicion when an-
other man convicted of burglary confessed
this crime as well.
Whitten had been bitter, however, and
was never very friendly toward his ac-
cusers. However, not only had his son-in-
law been inside the bank with the vic-
tim, but Whitten had spoken with Boykin
as the former sheriff emerged from the
bank on thé day he was killed, The
sheriff’s .little leatherette book disclosed
the oddfact that, after years of coolness,
Whitten was the man with whom Boykin
had paused to chat before getting into
his car to drive away to his death.
ARBOUR considered this. Why had
this man. stopped Boykin? Had re-
sentment smoldered. through the years to
such an extent that he was ready to
strike down in cold blood one who had
merely done his -duty.as an officer? Or
could. Boykin’s full ‘billfold have given
impetus to any latent vengeful impulse?
Remembering the theory that the crime
might have been committed by someone
who knew his way about the community,
Harbour talked it over with Waynesboro:
According to them hitten,
‘though somewhat improvident, had al-
ways been considered harmless. But they
could take no chances. He was ordered
booked for investigation. —
However, neither Whitten nor his so
in-law were at home. .
“They've gone to Mobile to work,” the
daughter said. “They left late Sat
afternoon, intending to find ‘a*: plac
ing.”
_phoned the. Mobi
THE victim (above) formerly was
the county sheriff. Had he made
some murderous enemy while per-
forming his duty as an officer?
KNOWING Boykin wouldn't speed.
Game Warden Robert Fisher chased
his machine. That was the start
Harbour’s interest quickened. The
youriger man was a hothead, arrested for
disorderly conduct sevéral times in -the
past. Hitherto neither he nor his father-
in-law had shown much disposition to-
work. Making discreet inquiries the: de-
tective learned that shortly after 3 o’clock . #
they had been seen getting into their bat-
tered old car to take the same road Boy-
kin had traversed a few minutes. earlier.
No one had thought about it at the
time, but phis fact. now assumed signifi-
cance. True, U. S.No. 45 was their logi-
cal route to Mobile—but what was this
sudden show? of industry? A desire to
put distance between: themselves and the
i iga : Harbour. tele-
murder. investigz
, asking them to
seek the susp
plants, Hf ir “the police at Pas-
cagoula.» the two under sus-
picion,, d the other middle
-a@ scar across one }
boro on another road.
tolet sedan containing
eemiseen there about 8
ofthe murder.
than the other,”
highway patrol-
Pthis in ‘ormation.- .
young,” was the re-
of this Mississippi murder probe. .
he numerous defense f.
btowni, a small place
ply. “No
other day. Wy)
Five over? K.
ton and that, yo
Corge was las
wichton and
miles from Way
aS young c i"
bile what At
Highway No
reached Knobto\
; The filling statio
ted the SuSpicio1
ticed its license
sure that both a
tikon asa 4
fully up a river
_ Suddenly the soi
icy stillness. The
tracks as a despe
smoking, stepped |
slayer frisked his -
ing bodies to the
the ice and slid the
O’Brien then step
Scene with satisfa
witnesses .
formerly was
Had he made
s enemy while per-
ove)
riff.
ity as an officer?
uickened. The
Saul, arrested for
éral times in the
he nor his father-
ich disposition to
t inquiries the-de-
mrtly after 3 o’clock
ting into their bat-
he same road Boy- @.
ew minutes earlier. @,
ht about it at the J
Ww assumed signifi-
o. 45 was their logi-
-but what was this |
istry? A desire to ~
themselves and the 4
1? = Harbour tele- |
slice, asking them to |
he numerous defense *
ad the police at Pas- |
f£the two under sus- |
ind the other middle
ave a scar across One |
idone when a report |
sage pos" gers
t another roa e
rolet ass containing |
‘seen there about 8
tof the murder. =
tamper than the other,”
of the highway patrol-
iS information. .
} os ; was the rea
att 4
“TOM WAS slugged first, then
be Great was cut.” This cer
Captain A. B. Ruffin indicated
@ cold-blooded plot against Boykin
ply. “No one seems to have noticed the
other chap. Why don’t you and the sheriff .
drive over? Knobtown is close to Rich-
ton and that, you remember, is where Otto
George was last seen.”
miles from Waynesboro. If Whitten and
his young companion had started to Mo- .
bile what were they doing over on State
Highway No.
reached Knobtown late in the afternoon.
The filling station operator who had spot-
' ted the suspicious Chevrolet hadn't no-
“Was it the right rear
manded.”
reply. “They had the air hose around on
_ that side.”
tantly. “We're on the right track. That
ton.
Patient in
town disclo:
missin
ered the eati
_ call servin
shorter,
night. Wh
vanished
towns.
tire was
officer declared.
picture.
New Orleans.
the lookout, but
he’d had any int
wouldn’t have advertised it.”
Reluctantly the two officers turned to-
ward home, stopping in Knobtown to show
giving Tom trouble. It hasn’t
been a week since I saw him
into it.” To the attendant he a
tice which way they went?” ,
“No, but I think they headed for Rich-
They mentioned eating there.”
inquiries at the neighboring
sed no further trace of the
g car. Harbour and Westover coy-
ng places. No one could re
g a tall slim youth with a °
stocky companion on Saturday
at seemed a promising lead had
somewhere between the two
Their trip wasn’t altogether lost
time, however, for they contacted a patrol-
man who gave them a r
photograph of the hunted convict,
putting air
dded, “No-
ogues’ gallery mug
George was here Thursday night,” this
“The man who brought
him from Laurel recognized him from this
He claimed to be heading for
The policg there are on
it’s probably a blind. If
ention of going there he
the station attendant the convict’s picture.
He regarded it doubtfully,
‘I reckon that could
Stayed in the car, but it:
was busy. I can't be sure.”
Reaching Waynesboro aro
they stopped at the office
thing new had developed. On
over’s desk lay a maze of
persons who
observed what now a
cious’ characters,
of loafers, of panh
ers in a score of
have to be checked:
Westover swept them into a drawer, too
Richton and Knobtown are some 30
15? The two officers
Westover’s head went up in quick hope.
titer” he de-
“Could have been,” was the laconic
The sheriff swung on Harbour exul-
“Good morning,
antly.
‘murder. How’re
“Not so good.
don’t get us anywh
ing downs each da
you’ve been haulin
Harbour grinned
third person: we fi
“I heard
, judge?
wryly.
be the guy who
was dark and I
und midnight
to see if any-
West-
reports from
, in the last few days, had
Pppeared to be suspi-
There were accounts
andlers and hitchhik-
localities; each~ would
ticed its license number. But he was weary to speculate further that night.
sure that both men in it were young. . Early Tuesday morning Harbour met
“They stopped to put air in one of the | Judge ‘Arthur Busby on the courthouse
tires. The second man looked to be steps and picked up still another report.
taller, sitting there in the car. He didn’t The judge, who also lived at Meridian,
get out.” was in town for the fall term of court,
Harbour,” he said pleas-.
you were here on this
ou making out ?”
¢€ have leads but they
ere. So you're driv-
I suppose
g hitchhikers,
“About every:
nd has been playing the
too.”
role of the Good Samaritan lately.”
Judge Busby smiled. “Well, I' did have
a rider Saturday.” “He named a fellow-
townsman they both’ knew. Then he so-
_ bered. “Those others—the two -who
didn’t ride,” he said slowly. “I won-
der...” ;
“Wonder what ?” Westover prompted.
The judge fingered his driving gloves
thoughtfully. “You know, Harbour, w
might have something here. I nevet
thought of those boys from then until
now, but their behavior was strange.
They were at the edge of Quitman. Want-
ing a ride, I thought, and would have
picked them up. But just as they started
to get in the car the fellow with me
called me ‘judge.’ And they backed away
like they’d been stung. They said. some-
thing about waiting; a friend would be
along soon. Do you suppose they didn’t
want to side with an officer ?”
“Could be. This was at Quitman, you
say? About what time, judge?”
“In. the morning.”
“Time for them to make it down here
by 3 o'clock?”
“Oh, easily. It’s only 20 miles. They
were quite young and good looking. One
had a scar of some sort—but they were
clean and presentable.” xe
Harbour drew Judge Busby into the
sheriff's office for a look at the George
picture. But his hope was dashed.
“| DON’T believe that’s the chap,” the
jurist said thoughtfully. “He’s ‘too
old—and, from the description, Fd say he.
is larger.”
“What about the scar ” -
“It’s similar, -but I couldn't swear it’s
the same one. You see, I didn’t look at
the fellow closely.”
Harbor drove to Quitman.
had been around long others
seen them. +
He returned after a busy half day and
set a small object on the sheriff’s desk.
It was a spool of navy blue thread.
Westover cocked an inquiring. eye at
it. “What’s this? You look like a cat
at the cream bucket.”
Harbour grinned. “That is thread
strong enough to hang a man if we can
catch up with hint. Look!” The big
detective tossed his hat in the direction
of a filing cabinet and drew up a chair.
“Two fellows were out on the high-
way’ Saturday (Continued on page 49)
If the boys
must have
Blue Ribbon Case: No. 6
Ir was Christmas Day in the Arctié
Snow drifted down on the banks of the
Yukon as a party of three men moved peace-
fully up a river trail.
Suddenly the sound of gunfire shattered the
icy stillness. The thtee men. dropped in their
tracks as a desperado, his six-shooters still
smoking,
slayer frisked his victims, dragged the bleed-
ing bodies to the rivet’s edge, cut a hole in
the ice and slid them into the water. George
O’Brien then stepped back and surveyed. the
scene with satisfaction. Theré had been no
witnesses . ae
stepped from his hiding place. The
Inspector William Scarth of the Royal
Police, on the trail of
followed it until it led
him to the scene of the ambush. . The crimi-
nal investigator then collected clues, evidence
that would be eloquent in court: a broken
and lead clinging to it, a
a bloodstained moccasin—until he
had identified the four Principals and recon-.
Scarth finally located
the three frozen bodies caked in solid ice.
As though the clues were living mouths,
they told their gruesome Christmas story at
The slayer was hanged
Canadian Mounted
the missing party,
tooth with flesh
key ring,
structed the crime.
O'Brien’s trial,
before Easter,
—Dan Forey.
es
mot
aaa rete
——-
LaWls «& LTRUDELL, Elec, Woodville
122 = Miss,
whether such party ‘had been the Cali-
fornia {Company or T. F. Hodge, should
file another petition seeking that the mat-
ter be heard again as a condition precedent
to an lappeal.” We refer to the opinion in
the. companion case, reported as California
Co. v. State Oil & Gas Board et al., 27
So.2d 542, (Not re ee in State
Reports.) . ety bi.
However, we did, not. condemn this pro-
cedure in the instant case, No. 36162, and
our main purpose in announcing that it is
controlled “by | the opinion in the other
case, was to extend to it our conclusion as
to the interpretation’ of-‘the statute, and
the application of , substantive ;law, and
other . pertinent, decision. set out in the
other. case, eT viii VAN
The suggestion of | error is overruled:
“ SYDNEY SMITH, c. J. did not _par-
ticipate in this decision, .
Ot | thet ge CMG Saree Ye T tae
4
fe) s © xey NUMBER SYSTEM
T wT? . Lal.
pide
i ie dé ( nD
pe Ff vbrSiats ‘ ' ,
L. ti, ib sys i Yat deo
_ LEWIS v. STATE, ;
) ., WNo, 36245.
_ Supreme Saurt of Mississippi, in Bane.
> dat Cin} I bid
= “Nov. 11, 1946. %
Li ti a wJhbahi do dave
i. Criminal 3 daw @2535(2) | i
vii) Evidencevof' circumstances Sande the
confession of defendant established corpus.
delicti and sustained | conviction: ‘of. mur-
i
der. | ) favdais a ea OES
4
if
2, Criminal law 6531). heres!
Evidence did not cniabheh that con-
fession of murder was extorted by fear. .
3 Criminal: law G>1166!/2(6)' ") wil i
-i\' Where’ it: developed, eile jury was’
bing: selected, that:regular panel and spe-i
cial’venire -called for’ capital’ icase ‘had’
both been exhausted; denial ‘of défendant’s
motion ‘to call.additional’ jurors from gen-’
eral jury box was fairer to defendant
than. sustaining’ the ‘motion ' would : have!
been, though it resulted in: expenditure. of:
defendant’s two remaining peremptory
as 28. SOUTHERN REPORTER, ‘2d: SERIES ¢
LOY ma TED
challenges, when general jury’ box. was so
nearly depleted that ‘many jurors’, would
have had to. be drawn from -box: of «the
district where’ the nomicids! occurred.
Code 1942, §§ 1A, aided fou Meat aiiw
od fA
4 Infants C>18-
Where district attorney ‘obtained ju-
ventie court’s permission to prosecute.
youths in circuit court for murder, refusal
of circuit court to reopen_the ‘matter -of
transfer to juvenile court was not error.
Code 1942, §§ 1792,’ 7204-7206 ; Const.
1890, §§ 27,. 2, 156, 171, 225. ,
5: BalliG743. 08 fo 1a ih, }
Statutes governing» Sesesations of
juveniles, if construed. as: giving: juvenile
court the right to offer refuge’ to juvenile
capital offenders for reform, would be: in-
valid under: provision: making ‘all offenses
bailable except capital offenses’ when the
proof is ‘evident or the presumption great.
Code 1942, §§ 1792, Cnet ‘Const. 1800, f
§§ 27, 29, 156, 171, 225. |
6. Constitutional law oma a
iQ
\
The court assumed that Aegislature,
careful: to consider the constitutionality,
of legislation, did not intend statutes in a,
“sense that would render them invalid.
7. Infants G18 7 :
Statutes’ governing circuit court’s re-
linquishment of jurisdiction to: juvenile
; court do not apply to capital cases.. Code
1942, §§ 1792, 7204-7206. _
rn
fw
Qitatcce mt :
Vem RayS 5
wot
-
Appeal from Circuit Court, Wilkinson
County; R. E. Bennett, Judge.
James Lewis, Jr., was convicted of mur-
“, der and, he appeals, OO. ALMERT IAQ
Affirmed, = -}# f9 (G7. aGu
Braden & Coleman, of Natchez, for ap-
pellant. i ei pueish i a Wd fiir
Greek L. Rice, ' nage Gen; and Geo. H.
aaah Asst. AMY: Gen., for appellee,
A re ue
F
Ta Aa: SMITH, Gra Tuntcssuncbetonne
‘This is'a’companion case to Trudell v.’
State, ! Miss.,: 28 So.2d: 124. Appellant
and Trudell: were indicted jointly by the
grand jury of Wilkinson County for mur-
Bok a sinlogs A
Sa ass
TN i a ale dal ll a nln ae © ieee toes OEE. ‘
eae ae aa ee teks hy Spee ie
was first imposed XKXNAKAKXXIARAKXXMUK by the Mareh termof the Wilkinson
county circuit court that year, was stayed during the BXK sixteen months
that ensued while the legal battle to save:their lives carried to the «
‘United States Supreme Court. The execution took place in the Wilkinson
BERARF County jail in WAMAXKXXKY Woodville, with only official witneswes
present. The chair was set up and operated by John Laird and his helper,
C. W. Watson, who are employed by the state. Official witnesses
included Sheriff Nichard Whittaker, Deputy Sheriff Claude Henderson
and.Dr. K, W. Navin, county health officer, acting as medical officer,
;Alsocpresent were Rev. Patrick Moran of Woodville and Rev. Ennis
Harris of Natchez. Fr, Moran and Fr, Harris entered the boys! cell
shortly sfter MXHKXKAKX midnight, and remained with the youths, praying,
until timefor the double electrocution. Sheriff Whittaker left the
order in which the youghs would die to Fr. Moran who chose Lewis to ‘so
to the chair first, The shot which killed Mr. McKey had been fired by
Trudell, and Fr. Moran explained that he would suffer greater punishment
by being the last of the two to go, The two youths nemained calm to the
end, stating that they had found solace in religion. Shortly after
the execution, the bodies of the two youths were turned over to their
families. They were taken to two funeral homes in Natchex where they
were to be buried with the Catholic service," WOODVILLE REPULBICAN
Woodville, Missississippi, Friday, July 25, 197, page 1, column 6.
g N senna
itwls, James and TRUDELL, Charles, elec, at Woodville, M3 on
.
a
Jhours took the lives of two Ceen-iip ing ©
7-2 4=-1947.
4
i i a ” - eee eure tre cot
Negroes last night were ppent bi l
TEEN-AGE YOUTHS =" |
sie: * dark the trier |
i
H
After state
j
| ARE PUT T0 DEATH vhich carries a generator fer |
I ’ supp ing ROO Vvoils ta the porta |
= ext thle electric chair arrived at the!
1
{
t ‘ oye , tas ‘ . |
‘Jail Returns to Its Routine Jai. The chair was ret up in
tronam on the lower floor, |
After Electrocutions the fey Patrick Moran an
Ithe fev. Kenneth Harris a
(The Associated Press: ' .
Woodville, Miss, July Onn W206 pom. visited the prisonete
Normal routine returned today tothe vouthe recelved commumiorn
the small ivy-covered jail here IN gah held crucifixes A holy can |
which Mixsiasippl's portable elece ip burned on the prison table, .
tric chair in the early MOrMINR! prydel) gald. “1 don't fear «
= ee for slaying 8 waite, Lewis commented, |, Theres
Tmmediately after the exec: nothing to be afraid of
ittons the bodies werr removed to Shortly after J @ om. the gene
t®o Negro funeral homer at rator war started, Lawis wan led
Natchez. | ito the chair by the priests, He
Services for Charles Trudeti, 17, continued to foflow them in pray-
the elder of the two youths and era they recited. at 1:20 a. m. he
the second to go to the chair; was electrocuted.
were held in the afternoon. Mem- Thirteen minutes-Jater the pro-
bers of the family arranged for aicess was repeated with Trudell.
Catholle burial, | ‘Then the chatr was. placed. in
The hedy of the other youth.;the truck and it started back to
James. Lewis, 15, was being held
pending completion of arrange-
ments, Tentative time was.set for
noon tomorrow. The body was ‘le. |-
Jackson. A group of about 20 men
who. had gathered outside the jail
during the executions went honte.
Tims S- Pn YUAal &
Ry daybreak ‘thé bau routine
livered Into the custody of the was back to normal. Sate gett
family, who planned Catholic) ~~~ — ;
rites. ee orien | Leadivaeliig
‘Both of the. youths went to! eo F
thelr deatha calmly — reciting} Hearing hid User’
rayers ‘led by two priests. Audi-| ‘ '
le-to the witnesses Were prayers || ¢———- | Booklet tells he
to be forgiven’ for. the: slaving.: feeces| got ea
which neither of the: Negroes de-||| 4 SAVE ON BAT
‘led’ during their 17 months: tn! a | “Medase battery ar
ail, Barros ret Dae ;
"During that time. legal efforts) + ings
to save theif. lives were exhaust: ||. chats |
ed in-the state and federal: nu>: FREE. MAL CF
724-747
(p {2- Cals 34)
‘Yr ap-
‘o. He
lee. avy
wr
lell v.
vellant’
ry the
> mur-
/ LEWIS v. STATE Miss. 123
Cite as 28 So.7d 122
«of Mr Harty McKey, for whom they
{ been working fora few days. A sev«
nce was granted to Trudell, who was
xd first, was convicted, and appealed.
| Appellant! was also’ “found guilty as
Neharged. Under the statute it was the
gandatory duty of the circuit judge to
stence both to electrocution, which he
The facts. of the fiomicide are out-
{in the Charles Trudell case, and we
i] not further discuss them here.
[1,2] It is contended in this case, how-
that the corpus delicti was not prov-
a dehors the confession, which itself was
“admissible as not being, free and volun-
. We have carefully considered the
fence, ‘and are satisfied that the circum-
nces outside the confession are sufficient
sustain the jury’s verdict, and. to. ex-
e every, other reasonable hypothesis
‘that of guilt. We also find no justi-
Peation for the plea that the confession
was not free and voluritary but was extort-
Seby fear.) On the contrary, the officers
went ‘beyotid the: scope of their duty just
“Wb protect the appellant from any sense of
sion ‘ot intimidation, or ignorance of
This assignment of error is
There are several other assignments of
error, of which we, feel. it necessary to
idiseuss only two. One of which is that
Pater the case was called for: trial, and the
was being selected, appellant moved
the court to call additional jurors from the
box, since the regular panel and the
jal Verire had both been exhausted,
Sand appellant had only two peremptory
Tdullenges left. This motion ‘was overt-
Peiled and ‘appellant immediately expend-
Tad his two’ challenges. It will be noted
Mat these matters developed after the
lrand and. petit juries had all been em-
Spinelled, and during the course of the tri-
val of this case itself. Sections 1794 and
P1795, Code. 1942, | deal respectively with
hen the court shall order juries: drawn,
and special venire facias in capital cases.
he former section was Chapter 304,
3, 1938, while the latter has appeared
our statutes for a long period of time.
¢ considered. Section 1794 in. J. W.
TSanders, Cotton Mills, Inc., v. Moody, 191
Pyies. 604, 2 So.2d 815. In that case the
“main ground urged for reversal of the
judgment is the action of the court in
overruling appellant’s motion to quash the
panel for the week, from which the jury
was to be drawn to try the case. Only
twelve of the jurors drawn from the jury
box qualified. The tales-jurors were sum-~
moned by a constable of the county, un-
der the direction of the judge.” » ‘This
Court reversed that case because it’ violat-
ed the mandatory requirements of Chapter
304, Laws 1938, Section 1794, Code 1942.
Thete was no such action here, ‘to quash
before the organization of the’ juries, and
heiice that case is not in point here.)
me i j , yi Dilw ref
[3] Chapter 301, Laws 1938, .now
Section 1792, Code 1942, was construed, by
us in McCary v. State, 187 Miss. 78, 192
So. 442, where we held, in substance, that
in a prosecution conducted during ,the
third week of. term, wherein it. was
found that, the petit jury and talesmen
had been exhausted after eight jurors had
been accepted by both sides, the action of
the trial court, in overruling a motion to
draw requisite number of names to be
summoned by the sheriff from the general
jury box and, in directing the sheriff to
summon 20.men to serve as jurors to com-
plete the panel, was not error as against
the contention that the statute required
the circuit judge to draw from the gener-
al jury box of the county, under such con-
tingencies. In the case at bar, the gener-
al jury box was so nearly depleted that
many jurors would have had to be drawn
from the box of the’ district where the
homicide occurred, and in our judgment
the action of the trial judge, under such
circumstances, was fairer to appellant
here than if he had sustained his motion.
We, therefore, overrule this assignment
of error.
[4]. The next assignment of error
worthy of discussion is the contention of
appellant that the trial court should have
sustained his motion, but did not, to fe-
open the matter of transfer of the cause
to the Juvenile Court. Before proceeding
to seek indictment in the circuit court the
district attorney had sought and obtained
permission of the Juvenile Court to pros-
ecute appellant in the circuit court for
‘Joution chamber, Father Harris held |
a Crucufix on which. both boys
fixed their eyes. The youths repeated
prayers spoken by Father Moran
until the electric enrreny was Je
plied.
Shortly before the executions the
boys gave news: smn a fined inter J,
view,
“Y'd Hke to tell other boys,” Tru-
dell eaid, “that if they haren’t
got religion’ they shoutd get it.
There isn't a (iner thing, you might
gain everfthing you sought. but ff
you don't gain Heaven you gain
nothing.
“My advice to all boys—colored,
white, old and young--ls to belong
to some religious falth.”
‘1’ Lewis said that he “found Christ
with the Catholic church. I'm going
to meet God tonight.”
- “Yea,” said “Trudell.
Sharp Change In Behavior
Newsmeni who had Interviewed the
boys six months ago were amazed
at thelr calm and serious behavior,
The Jast time the boys showed an
alr of bravado, read comic books
and plunked their guitars, This (me
thelr prison cell was ittered with
prayer reading books.
For the lart:meal the boys ate
{ried chicken and drank a quatt of
milk apiece.
Members of their samities visited
the fail Tuesday might with
(Continued Fro From ‘Page 1).
Charles Trudell, we wearing & binck
:thirt and khaki trousers walked fn.
He was sented in the chair at $:27
A.M. the current.was applied at}
1:32 A. M. and four minutes later
Yrudell was pronounced dead.
‘Eyes Fixed On Crucifix
Father Moran of Woodville and
Patber Kenneth Harris of Natchez,
Miss., walked the boys to the exe-
—.-
: UKE GOLDEN
BROWN FRIED FOOD
THAT'S DIGESTIBLE
P'Il’S ALL VEGETABLE a
BARBAROSSA
Lhe Bemiun BEER
WEEMS INSURANCE AGENCY
: Albert Weems
[eieincE
NSURAN
1C
Since 1870
Lamar Bldg.
SER Vv
Phone No. 1
ISe- 30 Until @ P. M—After 4 P.M, 25¢-X9¢-45e, Including Tax
LAST TIMES TONIGHT
Tae
lhopeful of hitting
Washington, July 2 (UP) =Gon-
ssions! lenders,
th
tion bills to run the government
during the current fiscal year.
Other high-priority legislation in-
cluded the Army-Navy unification
bill, soctal security -tax freeze bill
and measures to reincorporate the
Inter-American institute and to con-
tinue the subsidy program for Cop-
per, lead and zinc.
Other congressional developments:
VOTE FRAUD—The polltics-lad-
en Kansas City vote fraud case was
sidetracked again by republican
senate leaders who feared that It
might touch off a democratic fill-
buster. However, house republicans
served notice that if the senate
fails to act, they will seek house
inquiry into the Justice department's
conduct {n connection with Mis-
sourt's congressional “purge” pri-
mary jast fall.
UNAMERICAN -—. Chairman J.
Parnell Thomas, R., N. J., of the
house unAmerican activities com-
mittee said information that official
Russian visstors obtained: secret
data on U. &. aircraft and subma-
rines would be turned over to the
“appropriate” government agencies.
But there was some doubt that any
punitive action could be taken, since
the incidents presumably occurred
‘ltears in tHelr eves and shaking
voices to say goodbye.
Outside the jail some 50 white
persons assembled to awalt word
of the execution. The only negroes
In the vicinity were those in the
nearby funeral parlor. to claim the
bodies, .
The case attracted almost “world-
wide attention when an alling west
coast woman, Mrs. Blanche Meiers
of Oakland; Calif., made a cross-
country trip to seek clemency for
the boys.
Made Personal ‘Appeal
Mra. Melers made a personal ap-
peal to Gov, Fielding L. Wright, tn
his chambers at Jackson, Miss., say-
Ing that “boys so young could not
be bad.” Reportedly fll of, cancer,
Mrs. Melers said that she wanted
to “perform one final important
act before I meet God.”
Wright had granted the boys a
60 day reprieve to permit appeals
to the supreme court, but the na-
tion’s highest tribunal declined to
review the case.
The governor, {n spite of thous-
ands of eritical letters, declined to
grant commutation of the death
sentences and spoke harshly of “out-
Side: interference.” Because of the
racial iasue Wright even interviewed
the boys in their cell later an-
nouncing that the boys “seemed
uncoacerned tn admitting the kuill-
ing.”
A member of Britain's parllament
had condemned the death sentences
as “butchery,” »,
ie]
To relleve R:
barn, itch, ,
and sting of |
Heat Rach
PERSPIRING
oie. Dauahtor |
CHILDREN
CONGRESS STRUGGI
“TO CLEAR ITS SL
some y—Con- |some time ego. They
~{nereasingly jto the committee by ©
elr Saturday |chenko, a former mem
adjournment target,- cleared the jviet purchasing comm'
deaka Wednesday for fast action on jcountry who has reno
a handful of important appropria- | with Russie.
PENSIONS—The ser
ice committee soug!
through congress be!
ment a bill almed at
government pension o!
Andrew J. May, D., |
halt pensions of forr
men “convieted of of!
ing the improper use
fice. May, who stil «
sion, recently waa cor:
and bribery in: conn’
war contract rackrt.
WAQGE-HOUR—A
fon of the wage-horr :
at the next seasion oc!
cording to memberr ©!
bor committee. Rep §
Connel, Jr, R., Pa,
hour subcomm&tre
Hearings om possible
said recent hearings
“the act in Its prree:
to satisfy no one."
DUTCH MAK:
(Continued fror
Dutch from entering
a week or Jess.
SEE REBUKE TO D
Washington (UP)-
nesian “war” case is
the United Nations, t'
can not expect the s
from the United Sta
ceived when the &
raised the Indonesir
months ago, it was
American officials
technically the prese:
Indonesia ts ar int:
matter. But potentia
{lame the entire Sout
area where native |
extremely conscious «
nationalism and «dr
dence from their ec
In the current situa
government decided '
force without accept.
mediation offer whic
by the Indonealan r-
appears to have bur:
of both official or 4
pathy in this count:
The U. &. statemer
foundly regrets” the
was designed to be pr
Dutch gorernment {>
force to achieve Its «
spite the fact that n
officials admit Dutch
been sorely tried by t!
The major hope he
shooting phase of t):
nesian argument wil] fb
duration—sufficienuyr
8urring up similar
nearby Independent ;
tc
,
Organize City
(t @8vd wor p.
beck, Jr. Lions club,
lison.
Mr, Davideon prest«
sence of Jaycee Preed
tle Crooks who was «
of the death of a
chairman stated the
was called to take st
of a bigger and better
emphasized the nend
ing and planning eff:
tloned the success of
In such a combine! pr
Was made that the ¢!
thelr pet profecte bev
124 Miss.
murder, under Sections 7204-5-6, Code and Friday, December 13,..1946,' is fixed
1942.. We do not think it was error to
overrule this motion. .We have had these
sections before us heretofore, but the At
torney General here for the first time rais-
es the question of the constitutionality of
these statutes, if interpreted to have appli-
cation to capital cases, under several sece
tions of the State Constitution, notably Sec-
tions 27, 156, 171. The first section pro-
vides for indictments by a grand jury;
Section 156 confers upon the circuit court
original jurisdiction in all matters, civil and
criminal, not vested by the Constitution
in some other court; and Section 171
deals with jurisdiction of petty misde-
meanors, |
[5-7] Section 225 of the Constitution
confers upon the legislature the power to
establish a reformatory school or ‘schools,
and provides for keeping juvenile offend-
ers from association with hardened crim-
inals. But Section 29 of the Constitution
directs that excessive bail shall not be
required, and that all persons shall, be-
fore conviction, be bailable by sufficient
sureties, except for capital offenses when
the proof is evident or presumption great.
If these acts be construed to confer upon
the juvenile court the right to offer refuge
to a juvenile capital offender for reform,
then they must be declared unconstitution-
al, because’ then Section 29, supra, would
interfere; and it would not be opposed by
Section 225. We do not believe the legis-
lature, careful to consider’ the constitu-
tionality of legislation, intended to pro-
vide as contended by appellant. He cites
Farr. v.' State, Miss., 25 So.2d 186, «in
which we held that the application in these
cases rested in the sound discretion of the
trial: judge, and if that case be applied
here, we-could not hold .that the trial
judge abused his discretion in refusing to
turn this appellant over to the juvenile
court. In the Farr. case, the constitution-
ality of the statute was not attacked. We
do not think the above statutes apply to
capital cases, and since we are here con-
sidering only a capital case, we commit
ourselves no further. We, accordingly,
overrule this assignment of error.
It ioilows, therefcre, thar the jude-
mest of te “ower cer mes te armel.
28 SOUTHERN _BEPORTER, 2d SERIES
for date of execution. 4, de Lad
Affirmed,
‘SYDNEY ‘SMITH, Cc Te did not. par-
ticipate in this decision,
44
TRUDELL v. STATE.
No. 36244, —- ia “
Sunprecs Court of Mississippi, in Bane, -
Noy. 11,.1946,
1. Homicide €=250
Evidence authorized conviction of
murder. ate om
2. Homicide €5332(1)
Where proof was so conclusive in mur-
der prosecution that there was nothing, for
jury to debate except whether death sen-
tence should be imposed and nothing but
youth of defendant was left to bear upon
that question, jury’s determination thereof
was not reviewable,
ee
Appeal from Circuit Court, Wilkinson
County; R. E. Bennett, Judge.
“Not to be Reported in State Reports.”:
Charles Trudell was convicted of murder
and he appeals,
Affirmed,
William Braden, Jr., and Walter D. Cole-
man, both of Natchez, for appellant.
~ Greek L, Rice, Atty. Gen., and Geo, H.
Ethridge, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee, ' nT
GRIFFITH, Justice.
[1,2] Appellant was convicted of the
murder of his employer against whom he
held no grudge and who had been kind to
him. The crime was committed jointly
with another person, named Lewis, whose
conviction is this day affirmed. Lewis vy,
Scare, Miss, 2% Sa2d 122 It was a de
TRecay Tamed ani hearies’s TRA
assassinati
bery, and
there was
except wl:
be impose.
the assas:
question, \
answer an
» Afirme
is fixed as
SYDNI
ticipate in
3i
__ Supreme
You
1. Wills &
"' Wher.
writer ‘had
it and int
forth the:
should oc
‘will’,
See \
Edition,
Meh) eee
ia .
on
2. Wills ©
Quest:
date appea
ter sought
required t
Could ‘not
to. have in
_ Appeal
County; |
UProceed:
of:Mrs. -
From a ¢
L, E Ma:
bere «le
4 / hie bride-to-be,
—~/ } unusual pro-
s Frater to go
yon her finger
enid yes. Will-
Telephoto.
HELL
y saboteurs,
fore dawn for
coast of Java.
’ In congress
Is bands: were
near Bulgaria.
ble and Radio
charging Rus-
will be turned
spt on three
s to whether
JOP presiden-
S)GHTY
~SFENSIVE
-aused By
nded »
ire Lifeguard”
as the Pales-
.
at
port of Halfa,
isport used in
yprus,
DBrittsh officer
injured when
own up Mnear
Tel Aviv area.
was In serious
vas electrically
of two four-
s filled with
i¢l region, four
jured when a
thelr military
fe ditch.
IVER
of Producer
went to a play
kept on going
ner and Marte
@ and couldn't
sSippi
chine Gun
| Hertky, who
vwisslpplan, and
rked ba & baw
See ee ee
‘ Help for among old age pen-
siona and sharing of tate revenues
were among subjects of addresses
Tuew.eay night by candidates for
the democratic nomination as gov-
ernor of Misalesippt.
Mayor Frank L. Jacobs of Me-
ridian declared at’ Vaiden that the
state needs “a business administra-
tion to help tbe farmera.” He
criticised “socialized medicine” and
said “everyone should have the
privilege of having the doctor of
htt choice.”
State Benator Jesse M. Byrd told
‘| Natchesg voters that he favored as-
sistance for the aged according to-
their need,
might be.”
“With the additional p revenue pro-
vided by the taxation of- Mquor,”
he declared, “we will be able to
provide the money necessary to
talse the minimum pay of teach-
era and the minimum pension of
the aged,” he declared,
Governor Fielding L. Wright,
seeking renomination, sald at
Charleaton that “with the state tn
sound financial condition" the
counties and municipalities “are
entitled to a share of state reve-
nues.”
Wright sald that “In all muntict-
palities and counties people have
paid ‘sales taxes which helped put
the state In good condition, and
these people are now entitled to
® xhare of state revenues.”
a
CABLE AND RADIO
WALKOUT SETTLED
10 Cents An Hour Hike
ls Granted Workers
New York, July 23 (INS) —A-atrike
against three trans-oceanic cable
and radio companies, which handle
one-third of the nation's cable and
radio business, ended early Wed-
nesday less than three hours after jt
got under way at 12:01 a. m., EDT.
‘A Joint announcement by com-
pany and union officials sald an
agreement had been reached pro-
viding for an acréas-the-board In-
crease Of 10 cents an hour, retro-
active to last June 1.
Affected by the short-lived walk-
out were Commercial Cables, Mac-
kay Radio and All-America Cables.
Their employer are members ‘of the
ClO-American Communications As-
sociation, and the All-America Ca-
bles Employes Association, an in-
dependent unton.
The two unions had demanded
wage Increases of 15 centa an hour.
“regardless of what that
HERE AND THERE|
Five deacene will be ordained at
the South Side Baptist church
Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.
Political rally-chicken supper will
be held at the Martin school Wed-
nesday, 2 to 10 p. m.
The ninth annval meeting ef
the Mississippi seed tmprovement
nasociation was held at State col-
lege, Tuesday. ,
Richard M. Heever, San Antonio,
Tex, and Sally D. Bryan, Meridian
pelig issued a marriage license Tues-
day
Tha 138 Lauderdale county farm
workers have been selected to make
the trip to South Dakota for the
wheat harveat. They are to leave
Priday.
K. E. Freeman, Meridian, poll
conservationist,-led a Lauderdale
county delegation to the Btate As-
sociai:on of Boll Conservation Die-
trict. Commisatonera meeting tn
Gulfport. bs '
Two celered couptes purchased
marriage Hcensea at the office of
C. QO. Ferrill, cireult ‘clerk. They
were: Curtis James, Jr, Livingston,
Ala. and Beasle Mae Mobbley, Ward,
Ala, and Will VY. Moore, Daleville
and Lula Mae Cole, Meridian.
oe yn goby feurth anneal Here.
ord Field mp nit Rowe August
38
ie asain peg Sa
QZS Pel | GY Way Par Py le ont was reached ‘aol
- - pln Amant oe he came oR and as
waa eee
reached wih
fs ie Was Te wepeenthy fe hda ts a. 4
a the Fitnthote plant in Meridian, to strike Tuesday at midnight,
gancelled when an agreement was reached wih the company lato Tuesday p;
afternoon, °
Reports sald the employes were-granted a six-cent-per- hour ey
Approximately, 1,800 workers are® net i
membera of the unton.
The union had submitted {ts de- the cancelled on | instructions from
@ International Union office | in,
mands about "month sgo and éf-| riatenapoli, Ind. ‘The funeral waa,
forta at negotlation followed, eres tuC.
held at Cuba Wednesday afternoon
George Leigh of Birmingham,
conciliator of the U. 8, Labor De- hive burie} in the community. cam
partment, was ‘n"t-men*s$ tn
bringing the company and union
spokesmen to an agreement. )
Pidns of the Teamstera Union, on| pickets from the Coca-Cola plant,‘*
strike at the Meridian Coca-Cola| ruling that part of the members j
company, to withdraw all pickets at}could attend the funeral, but that-?
the plant Wednesday s0 that mem-| some pickets must be on duty durs
bers could attend the funeral of] jng the day, as well ea other days
J. R. Truelove of York, father of} as Mage as the walkout ig in prog
Letter Truelove, a unton }_ member, 'P
TWO: DIE IN
FOR THEFT OF $64
Saying ‘We're Going To Meet ( To Meet God,’ Two Teen-Age
Negroes Are Executed For Death Of Employer; a
Woodville, Miss., July 23 (UP)—Two teén-age negro boys who said
“we're golng to meet God” were executed In Misairsippt's portable elec.
tric chatr before dawn Wednesday for killing thelr white employer more ',.
than a year ago.
Fifteen year old James Lewis went to his death first to give “further
punishment” to 16 year old Charles Trudell who fired the shot that ' ‘
killed Harry McKey, a farmer and sawmill operator, The crime patted i
the boya $64, ‘
It was Father Pat Moran, kindly @
Catholic chaplain who suggested
that the older boy die Inst. Sheriff nN
Richard Whitaker had left It to the|“y ais was neated In the ant \
Priest to decide. dealing chatr at 1:12 A. M. (C87),
James Lewis, wearing a white sport |The current was applied at 1:18
shirt and khaki trouser; walked alA. M. and he was pronounced dead
short distance from his prison cell/at 1:23 A. M. . i
on the first floor of the two-story} Within four minutes after the’;
stucco building to the small room|body was removed from the chair, |;
housing the electric _chatr. Two (Continued On Page 2.) mt
newsmen were witnestes to the mr, ot
cutions.
Fun, food, swimming, boating, contests and especially eating were en- ”
joyed by seventy-odd Meridian Star Carrier boys—city and outside
Meridian—at Clarkco State Park Tuesday in addition to several guesta -
~? Circulation Manager James “Red”
; carriers have had In ae.
Sgy 5 Candidites For Br deny’ Of Fun
Governor Talk the rahe arrived p cartes
Everything is in re in readiness for the ; fun. '
political rally and barbecue at Lau-
Kderdale Springs Saturday. Speak-
dng will begin at 9:30 In the morne
ing with the candidates for secre-
tary of state starting the program. H
Cif Denton will be master of |raced for them. Charles “Tookum”: ‘
ceremonies. An old-fashioned bar- |Naylor was the firet of the partici.
becup plate will be served at noon.
The affair Ja being sponsored by the |celved a major league baseball for. :
‘
Farmers of America,
Program:
Beeretary ot ee ay hogs (rete texisome time and were named
ecllector, a! Tearurer, | aw
10:10-10:30; state superintendent of e¢-| oats” of ‘the exciting event,
weation, 16:30-21, :
Candidates for
verner will speek es
foltews: Lyeurgue
hoon; Feul B, Johnsca, Jr, 1-1:20: Jesse | finals over Robert Storey, The two.
Byrd, 1:30-3; state land eommisstover, 2
1.238; publie pervice commisetener, 270, | C2 In the semi-finals,
2:90, Righway commissioner, 2:20-2:40; \
Une (eamty’ iiss “eam Tao [Une PAeTICN, the thres. legged roe:
Teptoremtative (euts erty), ‘Sthely 39: was won by Palmer Wilkes ead
sherift, 2: as “3: oe; eer elortr, arse Billy Pace who received cash, prizes
tet wept, of education, Cab-e ity ceimay [ONG Albert Bullock and Billy
4:39-4:38 and swperviver Beet 2. 4:30/to take second honors, { fr:
€:40. The most interesting . . at least”
. e ° fi ta tors ry e,.
Wright To Louisville eon entthing torical: “Aibaenwnel
Loulsville— Gov. Fieldthg Wright jlock and Billy Jonea agnin‘ took;
will speak here Saturday at 11a, m,|honora by winning the “hen’ frase
ig als, nla test being the last of the! larga’
ernor, (Continued On Page el
ORGANIZE GROUP: TO)
Wy ki
to ‘sanction the withdrawal of alli:y\/
’ ¥ ' -
VT a reg
Ags
PREPARE FOR PICNIC| ==, sfzzties who aang
to have five hours of continuous ;
finding contest” in which all boys: i
placed their shoes in one pile and) Wh
pants to locate his footwear and re- ft
Lauderdele chapter of the Future |a reward. Norbert Quave and Qrady_ 4 t
1-33:36; Peta. wate
ing Wright, 1h}612; Prook Le Jesose 13 {Rushton C. Ivy after taking the
Bitorney, 4:10-4:30; coroner and’ ranger, |Jogged in close behind the winner’ (
oie
NE a SR ARS teciicinh- soene ip Bieta ‘ cae ‘i .
= e Seaek Rar cd Bee A | - <
ig, ore,
ee
SE NEL ELE LIL ICT AR Be BT ai titers ny, ois
3 SDD pet a & ik
“
Cee back of pagel.
HENRY LLOYD, Hanged, Meridian, Miss., 9-10-1920
"Meridian, Misse, 3=2-1920-Henry Lloyd and Will Echols, negroes, have been arrested for
the murder early Sunday morning of Henry “. Davis, night watchman at the Prime Lumber
Company plant, and the shooting of James A, Tyrell, suburban merchant, the night before,
One of the negroes, Henry Lloyd, when positively identified by Tyrell at the hospital
where his is still linzgeribtig between life and death, and a negro woman who was in the
store when the merchant was shot, according to Chief of Police Monette, has made a complete
sonfession, implicating Will Echols not only in the shooting and robbery of the merchant,
but declaring Echols fired the shot that instantly killed the night watchman, Both negroes
were taken on the early morning train today to Jackson for safekeeping, as the peeple here
are much aroused over the brutal mfder and attempted murder,
"Lloyd, the officers say, confessed that he and Echols borrowed a singleebarrel shotgun
from another negro fbr the purpose of going hunting, and that late Satruday night they went
to Tyrell's store and while Echols waited on the outside Lyoyd entered, asked for the pur-
chase of a can of peaches and when Tyrebl turned to the shelving to get the peaches he gp
producted the shotgun mmm from underneath his coat and commanded the merchant to throw up
his hands, but not waiting for him to comply, fired the contents of the weapon into his
side, He secured $).50 from the cash register, A negpo woman who was in the sbore fled
with the report of the gun, Joining Echols onthe outside, the money was divided,
"The two then went to the vicinity of the Prime Lumber Company's plant where just before
daylight Sunday morning the aged night watchman was murdered, Lhoyd, according to the m
officers, stated that here Echols took the shotgun from him, saying, 'I am going to get
this one,'and slipping to the boiler room in which the watchman was sitting huddled over
a fire, he deliberately fired at the old man, the contents of the gun entering the back
of the head, causing instant death, The body was then robbed of $17 in cash, a gold
watch and the dead man's pistol, The booty was divided and the gun was taken to the home
of Lloyd, where it was afterward found by the police, The watch and pistol were also re-
covered, the watch having been sold for $5 and the pistol Bor $) by the allgeged mrderers.
BIRMINGHAM AGE HERALD, March 3, 1920
ome eee hb OLSD
| “THE VOICE OF THE SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST” |
feet / St. Louis -
_ Waveland - chemeednerd: P
SUNDAY, .DECEMBER 10, 197
ass Christian : 2 :
SINGLE CUPY 15 CENTS.
By RICH ADAMS,
Charles Edward (Chuck) Depreo will °
stand trial Jan. 22 for the second time in __.,
Hancock County Circuit: Court on,
charges stemming from~ the eee
shooting murder _ of | Wav dang
schoolteacher Janice Ladner. | |
wodales s 3 six-day-long ay in matee er
»
on declared a vast by Circuit ae ‘only a convictions for murders i in
Court Judge Leslie B. Grant after the ‘ Hancock County have been handed .
_-12-man - ot ea not decide - on. a
ee and two in 1974.
8 -~. presided over a two-day murder trial in -
which Mack C. Lewis was sentenced to.
death in the electric chair for the April,
|<: 1953 shooting murder of wealthy New.
>, Orleans. businessman: Kenneth as:
“Mason.
_- Mason was reportedly avis a white
Cadillae- convertible on the Gentilly
Highway when he spotted: Lewis hit-
chiking, news reports from 1953 reflect.
_. Lewis, a serviceman stationed with -
~ the Army, told Mason he was enroute-to
Buffalo, New York to visit his wife and
-one-month-old child. Bi
Mason was reportedly in-the habit ot
picking up bitchikers> and ufteret
Lewis a ride... | ;
Near Pearlington, on what was calles :
the old Lower Bay Road, Lewis.
MURDER Page | aise
- down in the past 25-years, one. in 1953. i
In September, 1953" Judge Grant}
: | Eman pulled a gun on Mason, =e ne
him flvé times atter ebbing him of pa nana Bicdon’ sep teed Necaise,
and drove off in the late-model car. Pgs ee Miller, James Kimmell, W. R.*
‘Lewis was stoppéd:: by? police'in’ tadner, Alvin McGathan and ‘Vernon:
Petersburg, Virginia on a peeing _ Cuevas. ya
aL A ‘charge A week-and-a-h lf pie Mason. ,
by Lewis:
te be admitted as evidence: /“? ee
«Judge Grant sent the jury out and
pak ie nes Lewis. ‘took the stand before a cour: i
Lewis essed ‘committing the “*={¢90m packed with spectators. © ;
mur der, saying, ‘I. wanted to take Mr.” sare . Under = questioning,, -Lewis id, he.
*Mason’s ‘ear. °L waited until we passed ' f ies “Gened the confession pecause va ns
‘the last. bridge, and then pulled my. (o. , oh ae
atevolyer and made him pull off. the =F Iughtencd. 1 He added no punis!
zie Be ae ie » threats had been used to.force him to.
He ‘reportedly deliberated about what A"tadmit’ to the slaying, but said New.
‘to do. with Mason for five minutes after 25" Orleans ‘Detectives Allen’ Dupre and —
cd robbing the New. Orleans businessman.~--. “Lawrence. Cassanova had told him |
: ett thought I had better kill him. So, i 3s things ‘would “go easy” if he confessed. 5
‘| shot him once in the stomach,” Lewis , . Sheriff Nalett denied the promises i
th yee oh aR Son
". “Mr, Mason aid. Why did you. shoot. fe
‘me?’ I backed up a few times and shot; 42, ‘The jury ‘returned to the idence aa
par
_ him four times. He fell to the ground + and the ‘confession was read. ‘After -
and didn’t make any more ;f ise,nv ene 4 ny
Lewis added. ©» é
Egloff and ‘Mississippi Highwa
Patrolme en fe found. Mason’s body 75. f xd: do ‘de
Off the ‘dirt trial “known ‘as old Lower yt ir 8 ontence, ant | “the dome was
-*. Bay Road in Hancock County following’). = “geheduled: for Nov: 30,;1953 in the
i in a fepann anal “hour | search. ‘on. “foot 2 “$rancock County Jail, using the state’ Ss
a
Se ie : eX
” District Attorney Boyce:C.. “Hollima ani. age vi ’
eprgetied the state i in the trial, ‘along: vi : Lewis appealed the ‘Circuit Court's
‘Saanlek of the verdict on Apr. 14, 1955. :
ey Lewis’ trial ae “Monday, Sept. 2 a
"1953.4 After two days of Toning’ fon Records do not give the date of Lewis"?
execution, OF, ‘where the electrocution |
aa cesta AG's: a ary viouid be als “County cit Gourt oo aoe
Dyno y ' d f Ra G ey execution report verifying Lewis’ death
ee yulaca jury consisted 0 y /was eee by Ae Circuit Seatss ek
prospective jurors, ‘both prosecution |
NO APPEAL.
LLOYD, Henry, black, hanged at Meridian, Mississippi, on September 10, 1920.
; TYRELL'S DEATH. } |
"James P, Tyrell, age )8,. suburban merchant who was murderously shot last: Saturday night by
a negro, Henry Lloyd, according to the latter's alleged confession, while in the act of
waiting on the man who entered his store pretending to make a purchase, died at the Meri-
dian sanitarium at 3:30 o'clock this morning from the single-barreled shot gun wound in his
side inflicted by the negro. According to the negro's confession, he fired the shot that
cost Mr. Tyrell his life and his companion of the night, Will Eckles, fired the shot with
the same borrowed shotgun that killed Henry “ Davis, early Sunday morning, only a few
short hours after Mr, Tyrell had been fatally wounded. Both negroes were taken to ,
Jackson and placed in the Hinds county jail for safe keeping until their trial is held here,
The funeral services over the remains of Mr, Tyrell will be held from the Horace C, Smith
_ Chapel Friday afternoon at 5 o'clock, the Reve We J. Ferguson, pastor of the Fifth Street
Methodist church, officiating. The interment will follow in Magnolia cemetery, De-
ceased who was a prosperous suburban merchant, has no immediate relatives except a
nephew, W. Te Raper, Amory, Miss, Pall bearers: Ne Ce Powell, J. T. Poythress, J. T.
Bustin, T. Platte, Be Be Harper, J. He Laney Eo Le Plate."
STAR, Meridian, Miss., March , 1920 (5/3.)
: when - LLOYD DESCRIBED AS DANGEROUS.
"A citizen of Marion in talking of the murder early Sunday morning of Henry W. Davis,
nightwatchman at the Prime Lumber cmmpany plant here, stated that Henry Lloyd, one of
the negroes arrested charged with the murder once killed a negro near Marion. and that he
had known him to have been a frequent violator of the law. He said the ngro bore the
reputation of being a most desperate character.and that when he first heard of his arrest
he was satisfied the authorities were not far wrong, regardless of the confession the
negro is alleged to have made," °
STAR, Meridian, Miss., March , 1920 (2/6&7.)
ARREST OF LLOYD*AND ECHOLS,
"ith the arrest last night of Henry Lloyd and Will Echols, negroes,-the police and sheriffs
departments in less than 8 hours after the murder of H, W. Davis, night watchman at the
Prime Lumber Company's plant, had the men guilty of both the murder of the night watchman
and the shooting Saturday night of J. A. Tyrell, suburban merchant, in custody, according
to a confession alleged to have been made by Henry Lloyd. The arrest of Lloyd was made last
night about 10 o'clock when it had been learned by Police-Officer Culpepper that he had
borrowed a single barrelled shotgun early Saturday morning from another negro for the pur-
pose of going hunting, The negro was found talking to other negroes at the corner of 17th
Avenue and lth Street only about 3 blocks from the-scene of the early Sunday morning murder
of Mr. Davis, when the latter was shot in the back of the head, the entire contents of the
weapon entering his brain, He was carried to police headquarters where he was closely
questioned by Chief of Rolice Monette, Sheriff Martin, District Attorney Martin Miller,
County Attorney Cliff Mulloy and other officers. He stoutly- denied his connection with
either the murder of Mr, Davis or of the shooting of Mr, Tyrell, who was probably mortally
wounded Saturday night in his store on the northwestern suburbs when he turned his back to
secure a can of peaches for the negro kho shot him, He was then taken before the negro
womah who was in the Tyrell store at the time and witnessed the shooting, She promptly
identified him, the officers say, as the tall black negro who, as Mr. Tyrell turned his
back,” produced a single barrelled shotgun from beneath the long black overcoat that he wore
and with the comman, 'Throw up your «=.= hands,' fired the contents of, the weapon into the
merchant's side and then robbed the cash register of a small amount of money, but failed
to gethrough the pockets of the wounded merchant, who had only a few moments before taken
nearly $100 from the register and put it in his pocket, After being identified by the negr
woman, .ileyd was taken to the Meridian sanitarium and into the XX room’of the man he had
so cowardly shot down, Without the slightest hesitation, the officers say, Mr. Tyre@l i-
dentified him as the man who had shot him, With this accumulation of evidence of his guilt
staring him in the face, Lloyd is said to have finally made ‘a confession implicating Will
Echols, who stoutly denies his guilt. Then, little by little, the officers secured a story
of murder and attempted murder that has few equals for coldebloodedness, Lloyd first de-
nied and then admitted borrowing a gun to go hunting. He first said he went alone and then
admitted that he was accompanied by Will Echols, “Chief Monette stated, and his story in
substance, according to the chief is about as follows:
| A ore We. ir
Hi, HENPY, OLnCK, Nangea, |
“ /
a § an QO/10/1020
: LM bind Wid 9/ ohis V/ 1 Y x Ww
‘Henry Lloyd Convicted N 0, Pays
mi » Lolivicted Negro, Pays
iDeath Penalty for Murder of J. 4. Tyrell
om Henry W. Davis, Two White Citizens:
xecution Takes Place in County Jail
Echols Saved from Death af Last Moment
Henry Lio
Murder of Farman ere CORvicted of the
ergy and in less than forty-eight hours
the guilty parties wore under arrest, the
credit for the quick action on the part
of the police, department being mainly
due to the efforts of Police Officer Cul-
pepper in locating the owner of the
gun who had loaned the weapon to the
murderers With thie Information In
hand Chief of Police Monette and the
othera of his force moved ewiftly and
circumstances piled up go rapidly that
when Lioyd and . Is were placed
under arrest the identifica ot Lloyd.
m merchant - yrell, a subur- neccinhe ew we eww wnalanl tay boone pares Ge
1 Spring, was cs this ry OD the early The murders were planned by the two!
ware companion, “Wi} were fUS8! | negroes one Saturday night in eariv|
Mg of the murder of Hen ols, con-| | spring, the possession of a ringis bar.
plane eet watchman for a local Ta sit reled shotgun which they had borrow-
afte WAS also to have been han ever ed fof the supposed purpose of going
but at th at the same time ae ieee hunting, evidently prompted the dou-
1A.'s ban’, last moment. his attorney: ble crimes. Later jn the evening of the
| Inted b tae and R. E. Wi] ourn, ap. day on which they borrowed the gun
Porat’ hake woe C. C. Miller to defend they planned to go to the store of Mr.
court which dee appeal to the supreme Tyrell, kill and rob him. This plan
tion. The ape as a ey of execu- was carried out, tha two negroes visit-
fession of Lioyd that based on a con. ing the atore about 19:30 o'clock when
r. Davis and th th he alona kilieq it was empty with the exception of a
prevent at the time. Echols was not negro woman and Mr, Tyrell. Lloyd
d been made by ie arrangements entered the store wearing a long over-
tin for, the execution f John M. Mar. coat underneath which he concealed the
from the same Scaffold, both blacks gun. Echols remained on the outside?
prevented for the time belt the appeal armed with @ pistol to watch while the
of ten NE the death murder and robbery ws executed by
‘a Was pre s companion. Lioyd asked for a can
Deputy Bheritt gy tor @eath by of peaches. The merchant turned his
A. E. McGee. The trap otc and Jaller back to, the supposed customer and at 7
heriff Martin at 3:08 o'¢} s eprung by that moment, Lioyd told him to throw UY)
NekTO Was pronounced d ock and the up his hands, at the same time drawing
utes, hia neck havin po in ten min- the gun from under his overcoat and
Just before the etek ce broken, firing. The shot proved fatal @ day
cd over the negro’s head pe won pac: or wo later. The negro woman ran
all those presen to meet } he cailed on from the store at the report of the
he crime, fro whic} via tn heaven. gun and {dentifled Lloyd when the lat- wi
alty had been pro ran the death pen. tre was arrested as did Mr. Tyrell be- ,
men appear te havanced upon the two fore he died. “¢
Planned, according to tester nerately After the two negroes had committe!
out at the trials and Wraeeiey brought this deed they went to the lumber plant ; :
od, according to the evidecm ut of the Prime Lunmer compnny early In|
duced at the trial oe wncence Intro. the morning of the same night ani "1
cases and the confessio the respective shot the aged night watchman, Mr. Da- —
i. the time of his arrter one? Liovd vis, to death. Echols, It being stated ~ Q
© witness stand. Ha ami ater on by Lloyd, slipping behind the watchman
(ie had fired tha shot that rescy ott and shooting him in the back of the
al to Mr, Tyrell and th proved fa- head, death halve almost instantaneous. N \
companion, Will Echots, tral’ :uarder The body wan then robbed of watch
that instantly killed Heng fred the shor pistol and a small amount of monay. Wy, ~N.
days ago he stated ede Davis. A few Thea two negroes then separated ac- ~
that he alone had kill te the authorities cording to thea confernion of Lloyd, each
that hols chad plans afr, Davin. tue going to thelr respective homes, Lioyd ao
Later he made Other ce vO Savini heen xiven the spolls ‘of the J
discredited thig on a that murder by Echols, the latter statins:
ete that he had made a Nia oth. that he =a afraid that 1f he kept any ~
at Iittle ‘attention age) Mutt aD extant of It his wife would hecome suspictoun. ai
The two murderous deeds aroused tha
people of Meridian as they were never _
aroused hefore. The authorities. went
to work on the cares with great en- |
\
wi
left no doubt tn the minda of the of-
fleers that they hed captured the mur.
dorerg 1
Tha twa negrnes Were carrled to
Jackson and kept in the Hinds county |
Jail ounty IMndge CoC Miller convened
the cirems?® eourt here Thew were re.
turned to Meridian, Promptly todisted
by the preent Rrand jure, trhed and
CONnVIctEd. Llowd was tried for othe
murder of Mr Tyrell and Behola (or
the murder of pfe. Davia. Lloyd was
Rentenced by Tudee Miller to hang on
Friday, September %. Echols war nen.
tenced to ha hanged ane week later.
Fridny, September 30. Governor Rus-
well gave Liovd a respite of-ane week
in order that beth Dlacka might be
hanged on the enama Aav and the dont.
execution took place thin afternoon tn
the’ prasence of avnumber of officers
and @ fow others such as the Jaw allows
shell witness jegal death fceenes
ee
Early Saturday he borrowed a shotgun to go hunting and he and Will Echols did go hunting,
leaving town about 1 o'clock in the afternoon. On beturning late, they fooled around at
Echols's home,: hot a great distance from the Tyrell store. Echols remained on the outside
while Lloyd went in and shot the merchant, secured about $).50 which they divided, They re-
turned to Echols's home and remained there until nearly daylight,. when they went to the
Prime Lumber Company's plant. Here Lloyd, according +o his statement, to the officers,
says the gun was taken from him by Echols who said, *I am going to get this one.’ He
slipped to the door of the boiler room and shot the aged watchman from behind, killing
him instantly. He then Wént into the room and robbed the body, securing $17 in cashy Mr.
Davis! gold watch and his pistol, which was turned over with the gun to Lloyd, Echols say=
ing he was afraid to have the stuff when he reached home as his wife might suspect some-
thing. The shot gun was then hidden at the Lloyd home, Chief Monette stated this morning
that the watch and pistol taken from the body of the murdered man have been recovered,
~The watch had been sold for $5 to another negro and the pistol to one for $l by the alleged
murderers, the chief stated. While there was not talk of lynching or anything of the kind,
Sheriff Martin deeming it safer, sent the two negroes to Jackson on the early morning train
today in custody of Deputy Sheriff Wells and Police Officer Culpepper, where they will be
kept until their trial in this city, which probably may be had at a special term of the
court called by Judge Heidelberg for theprupose, The work of all -thos officers who were
connected with the investigation and arrests is -being highly commended today by all citi,ens
who have heard of the investigation and its results," STAR, Meridian, 3-2-1920 (1:5&%6,)
' . MURDER OF DAVIS.
"He We Davis, aged 65, night watchman at the Prime Lumber Company's plant, 17th Avenue and
B Ste, was murdered and robbed of $17.50 and his gold watch, the deed having been committkd
sometime after 5:15 o clock Sunday morning, although the body was not discovered until H#aES
ARXBXAX nearly 8 o'clock, Death was caused from a gunshot wound in the back of the head dk
and is supposed to have been instantaneous, The murderer used a shotgun loaded with
squirrel shot, according to the police authorities and is believed to have slipped behind
his victim to carry out his fiendish purpose. When found by a negro employee of the lumber
plant the body of Mr. Davis was near the door in the boiler room, An investigation that
followed revealed the fact that the nightwatchman's clock had been punched at 5:15 aeme,y
indicating that the murder had been committed after that hour, A coroner's inquest re-
sulted in a verdict that deceased had come to his death as the result of a gunshot wound
at the hands of a person or persons unknowne Chief of Police Monette is strongly of the
opinion that the man who shot J. Ae Tyrell Saturday night in the latter's store in the
northeastern suburbs of the city is the same party that murdered Mr, Davis from the fact
that Mr. Tyrell was shot with a shot gun loaded with squirrel shot as was Mr, Davis. It is
believed that after the shooting of Mr, Tyrell the man who was described as a tall negro
wearing a long black overcoat, from underneath which he produced the singlebarrel shotgun
when he fired on Mr, Tyrell, made his way to the vicinity of the railroad crossing which is
near the Prime Lumber company plant, for the purpose MAK of making his escape from the city
on an outgoing freight train. Loitering about the vicinity awaiting for a train it is
believed he approached the boiler, room of the plant to warm and seeing the aged nightwatch-
man alone killed and robbed him. The body of Mr. Davis, the murdered man, who was well
known and highly esteemed, was taken to the home of his son, Fred C, Davis, 461) Paulding
Ste, from where the funeral will be held at some hour tomorrow to be announced later,
Besides his son, deceased is survived by his widow and several daughters, one of whom is
Miss Eula Davis, popular cashier at Hyde's Cafeteria on 23rd Avenue for many months." STAR,
Meridian, March 1, 1920 (1:5&6e) esp
' ‘ t
€ e
SHOOTING OF TYRELL.
"Last night about 11 o'clock an unknown negro entered the store of James P, Tyrell, 17th
Ave. and 20th St., asked for the purchase of some small article and as the merchant turned
to secure the article from the shelf, the negro raised a double barreled shotgun with which
he was armed, ‘and fired at Mr. Tyrell, the contents taking effect in his side, “infliciting
a wound that may prove fatal, When the wounded man fell, the negro is said to have rifled
the cash drawer, but only secured a small amount of money, less than $5, and made his es-
cape. The police were notified and Chief of ‘Police ‘Monette led a squad in a hunt for the
negro but up to a late hour this morning no trace of him had been fired..."
STAR, Meridian, Miss., Feb. 29, 1920 (6l.)
(115 SOUTHERN 592; cert. denied 9 SUPREME COURT 83).
LOFTON, Robert Percy, hanged at Magnolia, Miss issippi on December ll, 1928.
"Magnolia, Miss., Dec. 1h, 1928-With excessive smoking the only outward signs of nvevousness
Robert Percy Lofton, who was hanged here today for the murder of J, Earl Westbrook, a
World War veteran of McComb, went to his death on the gallows calmly and silently,
"He mounted the scaffold unaided, looked out over the spectators while guards strapped his
arms and legs, said hehad nothing to say, and died while a Baptist minister recited the
Twenty-Third Psalm.
"His execution closed one of the most persistently fought legal battles in bhe history of
Mississippi's jurisprudence, Five times he was saved from the deadly rope and today almost
simultaneously with the springing of thetrap another judge ruled against an injunction
sought by his attorneys to stay the sheriff's hand,
"The trap was sprung at 12:32 and Lofton was pronounced dead at 12:57, by Dr. W. B. Lampton,
county health officer, who was assisted by Dr. T. E, Hewitt of Summit. Death was due to
strangulation, they said.
"Sheriff Ellzey was assisted in the execution by Sheriffs N. B, Travis of Liberty, Martin
Brister of Brookhaven, and N, E,. Conerly of Tylertown and a corps of deputies.
"The special guard who spent last night in Lofton's ce&l said the prisoner slept very
little, He did not touch his dinner today, but smoked steadily and was smoking a ca@garette
when he was led from his cell to the gallows,
"A large crowd on the outside was held up with expectancy that something would happen to
prevent his hanging as Lofton had escaped hanging on five previous occasions, As the
reprieve expired at noongtoday, Lofton could not be hanged until betwem noon and h PM,
"The fatal shooting of Westbrook, nominated for McComb Chief of Police, occurred Aug.
2, 1926, in a rooming house where he went to arrest Lofton for passing a forged check on a
merchant, Lofton pleaded that he did not know Westbrook was a police chief and appealed
his original sentence of death to the United States Supreme Court,
"While awaiting the court's decision, he broke out of jail, rambled over the United States
and wound up in a jail at Calgary, Canada, under the name of E, D, Kinsey, with a four-yeah
sentence for burglary. While serving this sentence he wasidentified and the Canadian au-
thorities turned him over to Mississippi." TIMES-PICAYUNE, New Yrleans, lLa,, 12-15=1928(1h),
X 4 (Ups Sg ye oe
p a PA Cen ee Testes
SR ae
?
Ra
oirntin <a wets
‘ c i ATE ~ eeeS th! } NATURE OF OFFENSE PLAINTFG SATS ORNE:
Vi ee as WSR ee ee Ro AL ee oe
DEFENDANT’S ATTORNEYS
PIES APSA ARETE, SE RIT Ta BR SEE RT SERS ise Up ee ees ye Sea et See ee CRSaee StU R Re Ie acc ee : Pe
2 SOAR OR TS SRNR THES IA ee eS abo : oe enka : Go ree res
Date of Filing Indictment ! '
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Month | Day
Negro Kills Walter Wells and
oe George Saxon at Vardaman
‘curred at Vardaman, Miss.,
cone of the most shocking and
deplorable tragedies that has
Pver. happened in Calhoun
County.
" My, George Saxon, cf that |
place, hada difficulty with a:
negro named Volley Lyon and |
from what we learn gave the’
-'megroa bit of a trouncing.
The negro, who lived in one
‘al the sect ion houses just,
"across from the ‘depot, went
immediately to his house and
procured a shotgun and some.
shells and informed his . wile’
that:he was gcing to kill Mr,’
Saxon. : |
.
|’ He camé back, around the:
\depot and immediately opened
Gre on Saxon, who, being vn, ?
rmed, made a {mantic effort’ to
“escape {rom the jnegro. . The
firse |shot from the negro’ s
hotgun took efiact in Saxon’s: ong ‘shell intd. th
iside,| , and the ;second | s shot,
aimed. between the bars of an fi
xpress truck, st uck Him prac-!]
tically in the same piace, rid- |B
dling his lugg, and he fell to
the ground mortally wounded.
seconds. "| ° Ce ee
On last Friday there oc-] :
ull t ae happened in two’ or eats
Ag ong the. few. mien who a
ere standing near.the depot|f
was Deputy Sheriff Walter :
Wellsg-a ‘man known “all over §
re a’ County. as an abso. Iie
ucceeded 1 in
ro. ‘started
he negro to
, he only
ro. was desp
ot to ki
v.
ree
& on and co
e ol hi
oad the gun.
——— ——.
°
~
istol out. of histBocket and al-
r a slight difficulty, because
t was on the wrong side, he
getting out © his
pon. Just as the last shot
as fired at Mr.. Saxon, the ne-
to | ‘unbreech and
drop the shotgun.
ngtead ol dropping the shot-
made mere > haste
sload. Seeing that the ne-
erate an ad intendéd
yvagain use the gun, Mr.
5 >oened ao He stated
dy fiz vd . twice
an’ ‘effort 10 scare tke negra
“the fastitims’ he tried te.
it, | The Neto. |
rhing | with feverish. haste, |
hrewi open the fees “jammed
ba rel. and
hout taking time tO put it ito. |.
hig. “shoulder, OF
Bointe |. it'in, rh!
pie. ; aim,
te
sed ae trig yer
ee. struck [Mis | ‘Wel's
is face and ‘bead,
‘ Deputy Wells
en‘leveled his pistol atid told
|
CALHOUN MONITOR,
Pittsboro, MS —
Feb.
13, 1919 (1:2)
LYON, Volley, black, hanged Pittsboro, MS, on May 1, 1919
Negro Was Hung
Here Today
4 The negrd Volley Lyon was
hung here today at 11 o’clock.
There was a big crowd here
in spite of the heavy rain, The
crowd was well behaved.
The negro made a talk, say-
ing that he was sorry, ‘and that
Whiskey and crap shooting was
the cause. He said he -was
guilty and was ready to take
the punishment.
The law of the state calls
for a private kanging’and Sher
iff Wright and his -bondsmen
who are | responsible | for ‘his
actions, decided . that|the law
- must be car ried out—therefo
. he is was hung . ‘on: op “
“side. ae ebeahiece * "9
ee.” a se Bota
¢* J j ‘ st
“Ht ¢
CALHOUN MONITOR, Pittsboro, MS, May 1, 1919 (1/1)
62
me to kill a man. Get out of here, or
I'll kill all of you just to see you kick.”
The station agent and those with
him were convinced then that the man
was none other than Robert Percy
Lofton! But they realized too late
that they had under-estimated the char-
acter of the fugitive. They stood riv-
eted in their tracks while Lofton backed
out of the station and escaped.. The
sheriff of that county was notified and
a posse was organized, but the search
proved futile. Again Lofton had van-
ished when his escape seemed im-
possible,
This episode brought the case ‘back
to the front page of the papers. It
also narrowed the field of search, for
it was learned that, while in Pinewood,
Lofton had inquired concerning the
route to different points in Canada,
among them Winnipeg and Moose Jaw.
Immediately | flooded this territory
anew with circulars, reaching among
other places Emmerson, Bannerman,
Gretna, in Manitoba, and North Portal
in Saskatchewan. I wrote a personal
letter to Inspector J. W. Spalding,
since promoted to Superintendent: in
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,
at Calgary, Alberta, requesting his
personal aid in apprehending the fu-
gitive. I had had the privilege of help-
ing him in a small degree in the famous
Connell case.
Lofton’s picture and _finger-prints
were published in the American Legion
Monthly and many other papers. All
told, there must have been a million
pictures and descriptions of Lofton in
newspapers, periodicals and circulars.
In the meantime I had entered the
race for constable and was elected.
Thad Ellzey was elected to succeed D.
W. Guy as Sheriff of Pike County.
The newly elected officers took oath of
office January Ist, 1928, at which time
I was appointed deputy sheriff in my
district.
After the episode at Pinewood, Min-
nesota, there seemed little chance that
Lofton could remain at large much
longer. But to the surprise of every-
one he dropped completely out of sight.
The trail grew more silent and dark
than before. Not one word came for
nine months.
ONE night in March, 1928, the safe
of the J. J. Petrie Company, at Cal-
gary, Alberta, was blown open and
ten thousand dollars in negotiable
bonds stolen. No clue was left for the
detectives to work on. All they had
was a description of the stolen bonds.
The persistent efforts of the Calgary
detectives working on the case were re-
warded a short time later when a
Greek merchant of that city, whose
name is withheld for obvious reasons,
informed one of the detectives that a
“suspicious-looking man” had tried to
sell him some bonds. He had refused
to buy because he believed the bonds
were stolen. The description of those
offered for sale was given by the mer-
chant, and coincided with the descrip-
tion of the bonds stolen from the Petrie
Company. While the conversation
with the detective was in progress, the
merchant suddenly exclaimed, “There
The Master Detective
tha
is the man now!” indicating a man who
was walking leisurely down the side-
walk on the opposite side of the street.
Quickly the detective, S. J. Patter-
son, and an assistant, dropped in be-
hind the man indicated and without
attracting his attention trailed him to
a rooming house. Shortly after the
man had entered the house and gone
into his room, the . detectives pushed
open the door to the stranger’s room
‘and entered. In the center of the room
stood a man of medium build, witlt sal-
low complexion and steely blue eyes.
He had just removed his coat and vest
and tossed them on the bed, and with
them his gun.
HE detectives had him covered and
he surrendered without a fight. A
search of the room’ was made and the
entire lot of stolen bonds found. The
man arrested gave his name as Edward
D. Kenny. Shortly after he was taken
to police headquarters, detectives re-
turned to the rooming house and ar-
rested his companion, Leonard Reid,
alias Frank MacPhail.
Kenny and Reid wete arraigned be-
fore Magistrate. Sanders. Kenny en-
tered a plea of. guilty to the charge of
robbing the premises of the Petrie
Company to the’extent of ten thousand
dollars, while Reid elected to be ‘tried
before a higher court. :;The- finger-
prints of the two men were sent to
Ottawa, Canada, where I had’ the: fin-
ger-prints of Lofton on file: ‘Kenny
was sentenced to four years in the
Prince Albert Penitentiary. I knew
nothing of this case in Canada until
March 30th, 1928, when I received the
following telegram from Inspector
Spalding: j
DEPUTY SHERIFF E E BLOUNT
MCCOMB MISS
BY CITY POLICE CHARGED BURG-
AND REQUEST HE BE HELD STOP
CREDIT DUE YOUR LETTERS SEND-
ING CIRCULARS
J W SPALDING INSPECTOR R C M P
It seemed that at last my efforts were
to be rewarded. I was sure that In-
spector Spalding had the right man;
and that man had already received a
sentence in a Canadian penitentiary!
Court officials of Canada knew of no
instance when a prisoner had been re-
leased from a penitentiary there for ex-
tradition before he had served his sen-
tence. How, then, would Lofton be
9, to. justice in Mississippi?
” A letter from Inspector Spalding ex-
pune the case, and at the same time
lasted the theory that Reid might
have been Lofton’s mysterious com-
panion in McComb by saying that Reid
had a police record in Canada and
that he and Lofton came to Calgary
from Winnipeg only a few days be-
fore the robbery there.
“It does not appear likely he was as-
sociated with Lofton in your country,”
wrote Inspector Spalding. “While the
Lofton case is not yet finished, it is
good to feel that in a small measure |
have discharged some of the debt I‘owe
you from the Connell case,” he con-
cluded.
Lofton was carried to Prince Albert
prison immediately after his convic-
tion. It was reported by the Calgary
Daily Herald that, despite the vigilance
of the Canadian prison guards, there
were found hidden in Lofton’s clothing,
less than an hour after he had received
sentence, two large nails, two forks
which had been fashioned into “pick-
locks”, and a file.
On April 14th, 1928, extradition of
Lofton was formally requested by Rush
Knox, then Attorney General of Mis-
sissippi, in a letter to the State De-
partment at Washington, D. C. The
extradition proceedings were set in mo-
tion through the office of the Attorney
General by District Attorney Hewitt.
The fight continued from then until
October, involving much correspond-
ence between high officials of the two
countries and officials of Mississippi.
Samuel C. Reat, American Consul at
Ottawa, Senator Pat Harrison of Mis-
sissippi, and other prominent persons
rendered valuable aid in an effort to
obtain the extradition of Lofton.
ANADIAN law provides that
death only shall release a prisoner
before his sentence is served, unless he
is “otherwise” released. On that single
word, “otherwise,” the fight for extra- -
dition was made. The Canadian au-
thorities requested that Governor Theo-
dore G. Bilbo, who had been elected
to succeed Governor Whitfield who had
died in office and whose unexpired term
was filled by Lieutenant Governor’ Den-
nis Murphree, give reason why Lofton
should be released to this country be-
fore his sentence was served in Can-
ada. . Ih reply the Governor informed
them ‘that Lofton faced only a four
year penitentiary sentence in Canada,
while in Mississippi he was under sen-
tence of death for the murder of a
police officer.
On August Ist, Attorney General
Knox said that Canadian authorities
had agreed to release Lofton upon
proper identification. In company with
Clarence D. Westbrook, brother of the
late J. Earl Westbrook, I left for Can-
ada. On August 3rd, papers were issued
calling Lofton before the Supreme
Court of Canada. When the officers
went to the Prince Albert’ Penitentiary
to get Lofton, the prison-keeper, sur-
prised at the unusual procedure, was
hesitant about releasing Lofton until
the order was verified by a telegram
from the Canadian Minister of Justice,
A few days later the case was heard
before Chief Justice W. C. Simmons,
and Lofton was satisfactorily identified
by Mr. Westbrook and me. At the
hearing: Lofton fought extradition on
the grounds that he feared mob vio-
lence. He said this fear prompted his
escape and his willingness to enter a
plea of guilty in the Canadian court
on the burglary charge. I had no diffi-
culty, however, in proving this fear to
be groundless, as every precaution had
been taken to :prevent mob violence
and all threats of this nature had long
since ceased.
. The prisoner was then committed for
July, 1932
extradition, and was ordered confined
in the Lethbridge Prison for fifteen
days, in which time he had the right
to apply to another judge under a writ
of habeas corpus as being illegally
held. He failed to make this applica-
tion. Because this was the first case
on record in which a prisoner had been
released for extradition before serving
his sentence in Canada, Canadian news-
papers gave many.columns to it.
I HAD previously received a requisi-
tion dated April 25th, 1928; and
signed by Calvin Coolidge, then Presi-
dent of the United States, and Frank
B. Kellogg, Secretary of State, com-
missioning me to return Lofton to the
United States. After the hearing in
Canada, an extradition warrant was
issued by the Deputy Minister of Jus-
tice, W. Stuart Edwards, and the latter
part of September | received notice that
the Canadian authorities had informed
the American Consul that they would
deliver the fugitive to me at Portal,
North Dakota. Later it was decided to
release him to me at Lethbridge Prison
instead of Portal.
Shortly afterward I again went to
Canada, accompanied by Sheriff Thad
Ellzey and Deputy Sheriff Edgar Sud-
duth. I received Lofton at Lethbridge
and the return trip was made without
incident. Thus the “long arm of the
law” reached out twenty-eight hundred”
miles from the scene of the crime t6
bring the fugitive to justice.
Lofton told. a brief story of his
travels since his escape, but did not go
into details. He said that after his
escape he was in the vicinity of Mag-
nolia for some hours. At one time a
party searching for him and the other
prisoners came within his sight, but he
remained quiet and they passed on.
He said that on this occasion he was
armed and would not have surrendered
alive.
Then he made his way to New
Orleans where he boarded a ship for
Galveston, Texas. There he said he
shipped to England, later to Scotland,
and then to Amsterdam, Holland.
Being without passport he did not
leave the ship for any length of time at
any port, he said. From Amsterdam
he returned to England and then to
Galveston, Texas. There he said he
purchased an automobile and drove to
Chicago, where the “car went on the
rocks”,
He then took a train to Detroit, he
continued, where he worked in a fac-
tory for about two months. Leaving
there he wandered through several
states, including Minnesota, and finally
crossed into Canada at Windsor, On-
tario. He stopped next at Winnipeg.
That was in 1927. From that time
until his arrest in Calgary he worked
on farms between Winnipeg and Cal-
gary. However, this part of his story
was doubted in view of the fact that
a number of safe-cracking jobs had
been done between Winnipeg and Cal-
gary, and the Canadian authorities sus-
pected Lofton of having a part. in this
work.
Upon our arrival in Pike County,
the prisoner was placed in jail at Mag-
s
- preme Court.
The Master Detective
nolia. Then another unusual feature
of the case developed. District Attor-
ney Hewitt saw no chance for rein-
statement of the case in the Supreme
Court. But, being in jail, Lofton could
not appear before the Circuit Court for
a new date of execution to be set. Cor-
oner Bethea was called upon to ‘serve
a writ of habeas corpus on Sheriff
Ellzey, ordering him to deliver Lofton
before the court. On October 2nd,
Judge E. J. Simmons’ set November
nd, between the hours of 11 4. M. and
4 p.m. for Lofton’s execution. On
October 4th, Lofton was carried to jail
at Meridian, for safe
keeping.
A feeling of relief swept over those
working on the case. It seemed that
the battle was over—but it was only
the “beginning of the end”. —
Lofton’s attorneys’ made every
move possible to save him from the
gallows. Public sentiment had changed
Mississippi,
Leonard Reid, alias Frank Mace
Phail, who was arrested in Calgary,
Alberta, Canada, in connection. with
the burglarizing of the Petrie Com-
pany. Reid served a termin a Ca-
nadian penitentiary for this offense
and many persons were for commut-
ing the sentence to life imprisonment.
However,. on Friday,. October. 26th,
Governor Bilbo refused to commute
the death sentence to life imprisonment. '
Lofton’s attorneys then filed a writ
of certiorari in the United States Su-
The clerk of that court
telegraphed Chief Justice Sidney Smith
of the State Supreme Court to issue a
stay of execution, or to have the Gov-
ernor issue a reprieve, in order to give
the high cofirt time to consider the mo-
tion to review the case.
Governor Bilbo was in Arkansas on
a speaking tour at the time and in his
absence the reprieve was granted by
Lieutenant Governor Bidwell Adam.
On November 16th, the next date set
for execution, Governor Bilbo granted
an extension of the reprieve to Novem-
ber 30th, after a conference with Lof-
ton’s attorneys. On November. 26th,
the clerk of the United States Supreme
Court telegraphed me as follows:
63
SUPREME COURT TODAY REFUSED
TO GRANT PETITION OF WRIT OF
ee el ON PERCY LOFTON
On Friday, November 30th, all ar-
rangements were made for the execu-
tion. As the appointed hour drew near
newspaper men and witnesses were ad-
mitted to the jail. and assigned their
places. At exactly 2:58 p.M., just two
minutes before the death march to the
scaffold was to have begun‘ Sheriff
Ellzey. received the following telegram
from Governor Bilbo:
- I, HEREBY GRANT A_ STAY OF
EXECUTION. OF ROBERT PERCY
LOFTON UNTIL NOON DECEMBER 7
The message was verified by a tele-
phone call to the Governor. Again the
gallows had been cheated!
“T had a hunch that I wouldn't
hang,” Lofton told newspaper report-
ers. “I believe that to hang me would
be a greater crime than the one I com-
mitted. It would cause so much more
suffering; suffering of innocent people
—my people and my friends.”
A strange philosophy for a man who
had killed a policeman, leaving a wife
and two children without husband and
father!
After granting this reprieve, Gover-
nor Bilbo was quoted as saying, “I
have washed my hands of this case.”
About the same time newspapers of
A age Mississippi, reported that
ilbo received the following message:
Bilbo, I am here in Jackson and
I am enclosing a small size sample
of what you will get if you inter-
fere with the hanging of Lofton
any more. P. L. H.
Enclosed with the note was a card
upon which was written in red ink the
single word, “Vutcan.” Since Vulcan
is the God of Fire in mythology, news-
papers interpreted the message as signi-
fying that the Governor would “get a
free trip to the infernal regions”, if he
again interfered.
Lofton’s attorneys made another plea
for time to prepare another writ for
presentation before Judge Simmons,
and as if in defiance of the alleged
threat, Bilbo granted another reprieve
of seven days, which moved the date
of the execution up to December 14th.
This was the last reprieve. The writ
was denied. -
ON Friday, December 14th, 1928, at
12:31 p.m, Sheriff Ellzey sprung the
trap in the gallows in the jail at Mag-
nolia, and Robert Percy Lofton paid
the supreme penalty for his crime.
He had faced death calmly.
Wate sa Lofton,” the Sheriff had
said.
“Good-bye, Sheriff,” had been the
steady reply.
The next day simple funeral services
were held. Lofton’s mother was pres-
ent. The body was carried to a little
cemetery at Countyline Baptist
Church, four miles north of Crystal
Springs, Mississippi, and laid to rest
near his birthplace. Lofton carried to
his grave the identity of his mysterious
companion on the day of the fatal
shooting in McComb.
|WO Jallor Boys
Are Executed For
Murder Of Sheriff
Youngsters Pay ©
_ Supreme Penalty -
For Brutal Slaying
Joseph Leemon and. Murlce
Shimnick, two. 19-year-old sail-
ors, were executed this morn-
ing {n the state’s portable ‘elec-
tric’ chair at Waynesboro for
the brutal slaying on Decem-
ber 13, 1943, of former Sheriff
Thomas, S. Boykin, «
Wayne County Sheriff w. M.
Bankston said, Léemon was
pronounced dead by the coun-
ty physician at 12:54 and Shim-
nick died 16 minutes after the
first execution,
Shimniok, of Madison, Wis., and
Leemon, of Maylene, Ala., have
been held in the ‘Lauderdale. coun-
ty jail at Meridian, about 55 miles
from Waynesboro, pending final
action on the case.
The boys’ last. chance for life
vanished yesterday morning short-
‘Iv before 11:30 when Governor
Thomas L. Bailey, in: whose hands
rested their fate. said that he would
not intervene in the case.
Unshaven and showing signs of
a slecpless night, the state's chief
executive issued the statement
from his office in the Governor's
mansion.
| “T have decided,’” the Governor
said, ‘‘not to interfere with the
judgment of the courts. I have
read the record carefully and
have read and considcred a great
number of appeals for, clemency
Which have come to me.
“The penalty inflicted in’ this
case was imposed: by the jury.
Under cur law, it is the duty of
the jury to fix the punishment and
I cannot sce my way clear to over-
turn the verdict of the jury and
the judgment .of the courts.”
The death sentence by the lower
court was upneld by the State
Supreme Court. which: fixed the
‘date. of execution for December
29. °
..One of the.mapy, ‘who’ urged the
Governor.to commute the sentence
was Father’ Edward J. Flanagan,
. founder of Boy's Town, Nebraska,
| who arrived in Jackson hy train
late Wednesday to personally
speak to the Governor in behalf
of ‘the two boys.
Court records show that the two
saflors killed Boykin after ’ he
(Boykin) ‘had picked them up to
give them a ride near Waynes.
boro. Boykin was knocked in the
Kead and his throat was cut, his
bedy thereafter being deposited tn
a clump of weeds near the road-
Side. °
; early today in the Wayne county
\Families Of Sailors
ArrangeFor Private
|domefown Burials
Bodies Carried To
Meridian Claimed
By Parents
Waynesboro, Miss., Dec. 29—!M
—The families of two 19-year old |
vx-Sallors ‘who were ‘clectrocuted
court house here for the hitch-hike
murder of former Sheriff Thomas
5. Boykin of Waynesboro, were
arranging’ today private buritals
in the boss’ hometowns.
Bodies of Joseph Leemon of
‘Maylene Ala., and Murice Shim: |
niok' of Madison, Wis. were . car-
ried through the cold gloom of a
misty Mississipp! morning to Me-
| ridian where parents waited to
claim them.
Leemon was the first to ‘pay the
ultimate penalty for the Slayine
of Boykin on .November 13, 1943
FIARY
on a lJoncly state highway after TY we
robbing him. Sheriff William: LZ COL ,
Bankston said Leemon was given
first place ‘‘because Shimniok was
named first in all newspaper arti-
cles.”
Smoking a cigarette, Leemon:
entered the death chamber’ and
helped Alrap himself .jnto the
state's portable electric chair. He
fmiled at the Rev, V. V. Hosey of
Meridian who was present at both
Cxecutions and; said tearfully:
“I am ready to die. I am not
afraid and hope to meet every-
one in Heaven. Tel] mom to hold
up and be brave."’
Shimniok, Smoking as he set-
tled into the death chair, asked
the Meridian evangelist, “how did
Joe go?" .
“Like a man," Hosey replied.
“Fine,” Shimniok said and
then told those ‘assembled in the
county courtroom “I feel God {js on
my side nnd that's why I'm grin-
ning, My’ Rdvice to you fs to give
your hearts to God,” “
Two of Boykin's brothers, “Red"’
Boykin and Vivian ‘Boykin, who
Previously had ‘asked .Governor
“homas: L. Bailey to""'R6e~ that
the law takes ils course," witness-
ed the, clectrocution.
Shimniok and Leemon were
brought here {rom Lauderdale
county fail Thursday night after
Governor Bailey had refused to
commute the death sentence to
Jfe imprisonment,
Enroute to the chair, the
boys
Were cheerful and 58ng snatches
of popular Songs, whistled and
the time of the crime,
pt '
2] 30 l/Fyy
son,” Wis.,. yYyee-
boro shortly after midnight Pri;
day for the murder.of ex-Sher-
iff ‘Tom: 8,’ Boykin ,of Wayne
COUNLY. “eH ie to Fe
The youths were moved from
the Lauderdale county jail to
of Sheriff .W Bankston,
highway patrol, .
trol escort. :
pe dpa gal pie °o-% and
Hughes and the Rev, Vernon V.
Hoeey, .of the: Ohristian Mis-
sionary Alliance, who is head of
the East End Radio Tent
here, .and offered spiritual aid
to the youths the past months
and .up until the last minute
before they died. :
In Becond Car a)
In the second highway. pafro!
car were Highway Patrolmen,
Gray and Neal, Sheriff: Bank-
ston and the two youths. In the
third car were Chief Todd and
news representatives of The Me-
ridjan Star, the Associated Press
and The Commericg]l-Appeal.
The trip, as a precaution, was
made via Highway 11 to Laurel,
and thence to Waynesboro. The
three cars arrived between 9 and
.10 p. m. and there was at Jeast
three hours’ wait before Leemon
walked into the courtroom in a
nonchalant manner, flipped «a
cigaret aside and sat in the
chair as one might take a seat
at a table to eat dinner.. ‘
The Rev. Mr. Hosey said that
he sat.in the cell with the two
ouths, reading to them the 23rd
Paaim. Leemon and Shimniok,
and. the Rev. Mr. King, of
Waynesboro, ‘joined in singing
” Grace.” Leemon re-
quested of the Rev. Mr. -Hosey,
that when the latter holds fu-
neral services over his body at
Bessemer, Ala., Sunday, that he,
the Rev. Mr. ‘Hosey, sing “Death
Is Only a Dream.”
Joke During Trip
It was stated that as the
youths were in the patrol car
‘en route from Meridian to
Waynesboro, they joked with
‘each other, taking turns at play-
‘ing the part of the preacher,
one being the preacher one time
and the. other the condemned
the Wayne. ‘jail in charge}
with Rred "Todd, chief .of the]
providing the
first patrol car were Highway
As. the boys were in a cell on
the top floor of the - Wayne
courthouse, they took turns look-
ing out the window and asking
each other if they saw anything.
The Rev. Mr. Hosey said he be-
Neved the youths were a arr
to meet their Master, but that
possibly as a front, or pretense,
they wise-cracked and acted in-
different. . ee
: Highway patrolmen said that
both Leemon and S8Shimniok
manifested the same 100 per cent
courage that Grady White man-
tying bel Sel was sp ne hg
hat Philadelphia some four years
ago. There, was' no weakening
on the. of either boy: It
was as lf they knew they mist
pay the penalty and-it was the
t step in a series of exper-
ces merging with the period
ter they went AWOL from the
=z
Keep Pians Secret
Persons going. from Meridian
traveled via ‘Highway 45 direct-
ly to Waynesboro, as Chief Todd
did not announce until] after the
had requested . the
journey be made via Laurel.
Excepting for highway patrol-
men stationed here, no officers
Three officers from Laurel at-
tended, including Wayne Val-
entine, traffic officer and police-
man there for many yeafs. .
-It was stated that following
the electrocutions there was s
slight mix-up in reward -to the
bodies. One undertaker was to
take. the Alabama youth and
another the Wlaconsin boy. For
a minute or_so, the undertakers
had the wrong remains, but the
mistake was rectified quickly,
The courthouse was brightly
lighted and a considerable num-
ber- of: cars were parked about
the building, but“ for the most
there -was not.much at-
night 'was:that an hour or’ so
before the executions, the dyn-
amo: which furnishes the elec-
tricity ‘was.started-up and played
about the’ building, 2
SHALE
naval] -station near Pensacola, .|
cars left Meridian that Sheriff’
Bankaton:
from Meridiun-were at the scene. |
tion paid to: the: circum- |:
stances,*i-An™ Incident ‘of : the |:
& :- gruesome: tune as perhaps .
—F Vitrircha wn ft V/) SS
Father Flanagan
Confers With Bailey -
In Sailors’ Case
Two Teen-Age Boys
Scheduled To Die
In Chair Tomorrow
Governor Thomas L. Bailey said
iate last night, following a lengthy
conference with Father Flanagan,
that he would have no statement
to make until today in regard to
the efforts to secure commuta-
tion of death sentences of the two
sailers scheduled to die tomorrow
for the murder of Tom S. Boykin,
former Wayne county sheriff.
“I am not in a position to make
& statement until in the morning,’
Governor Bailey said. “I have
promised to confer with one more
person before I announce my de-
OlBlons eh ae tepueetie
-FolléWing’ the executive mansfon
conference, Father Flanagan re-
turned to his hotel. He said he was
not certain what action the gover-
nor plahned to take, but hoped it
would be in the two sailors’ be-
half.
Discussing his mdssion in behalf
of the two sailors. neither of whom
is a member of his faith, the Cath-
Olic priest. said:
“IT came down here on my own
initiative and at my own expense
to bespeak a word in behalf of two
youths who have committed a ter-
rible tragedy that is inexplainable.
“I don’t think any psychiatrist
in the world could give -a reastn
° -
| they did it.
for this tragedy because the boys:
themselves are ignorant of why:
“They perhaps constitute one-
half of one per cent of the wonder-
ful army of our service men who
are contributing towards the suc-
cess of this war. These boys per-
3, 0 hacegeee, as eal obs
haps have not reacted to the train- |
ing destained to make them great
sailors. The training rather has
reacted to their own detriment and
has taught them how to kill, rob
and steal.
“Who Cant oda y Was vases
~ J cer-
responsible for their acts.
tainly would not want to be the
one to convict and say that they
should die in the electric chair.
“T realize the great responsibility
of the governor, and realize the
many requests made upon him to
see that justice is done.
“But justice is a word often-
es abused.
alin by justice it means these
boys, with full knowledge of their
deed and full deliberation, went out |
and cold-bloodedly killed, I would
say justice was done to rid society |
of them.
“But, I have my doubts that jus-
lice wills, st..be served for them
to die inmaie*electyic chair.
“rT rather feel it would be much
better if they were given time to
‘rehabilitate, meditate and to think
over the terrible tragedy they are
ilty of.’’
corns seems to me also that time
might prove to be more of a help
to society and to making them
serviceable to society in the years
to come than the snuffing out of
| their lives at this time.
“y don’t think anyone can say
they are doing the right thing in
wishing for their electrocution. I
shouldn't want to be one of them.
“Tf an error is to be made, it is
best to be made on the side of
charity—rather than this mistake
of snuffing out the lives of these
| boys.
“JT think our Blessed Lord would
rather ask for the same request
that I, as an humble citizen make
that these boys be saved that they
may be enabled to express a dif-
ferent kind of service to God and
come.
“That’s why I came down—to ex-
press that wish.’*
' The two sailors, Maurice Shim-
‘nick, of Madison, Wis., and Joseph
_Leemon, of Maylene, Ala., both be-
‘ing held in the Lauderdale county
jail at Meridian, were convicted
and sentenced to death in the lower
state supreme court.
Court records disclose that the
two boys, AWOL from a Pensacola,
Fla., naval station, knocked Boykin
in the head and cut his throat, lat-
‘er leaving his body in the weeds by
the roadside near Waynesboro. They
| were apprehended later at La-
Grange, Ga,
mn
to their country in the years to.
court, and its action upheld by the.
MAE - Ae hate
/
STAC, Merz
LESTER. and MATHIS. hanced O
nd MALoHLIO, hanged Oxford
s oy inter of the Two Mentgom
fe iSteeys Near Oxford,
Yalled When the Verdict
“Was Brought ine : |
Whit Owens, an Alleged Ao-
~ complice, Called.” |
centerless gona
ews
Yiited the Oxford Jail. to
fang Mathis Thursday
——— ond
‘i {Special to the Picayune. }
mek Mine, Jun. tee WOR? Mathis’
4 denial of hiss confesstou uf
two Adutyomerys hus ereated
excitement fu the town, A mot
empigd Inst vight and deuianded the
2 ag tne Oxford Jall Crom Jatler Rand,
me their intentign of lynching. Wil
eis gad the three accused in. the
The mob. was told thut «Judge
e had the keys, and were inducert
ad. even uftel the ropes had been
and every preparation made far
the crimipais, eae:
6:39 this inuralog court wis -cuiled
and Mrs. Wi Mathis resuined
ony, She disclaimed all know!
pet previous statement, made be-
ond the corover’s jury, and suid she was
K “moder great excitement and
and did snot reniemher (what: cup,
‘she might bave nade:
pace 5 F. ? : ;
Pye. Rogland, the jaller, wa next
gqileé to identify the letters wrikten by
Reais to hin wife and. friends while dn
pe The defense objected to the Jetfters
gelag before the jury. The court: Tuled
tek fhe letters were competent testl-
- and perinitted the letters, together
te sai preg testimony, to: go befure
dery or What it ls worth,
‘Pie Richmond, the negro. sentenced
Toesday to S years in the penitantiary
fee. Wurglary, testified as to Driands
Letter's confession to him. He std that
and Jackson’ did the killiag, aut
| me Almost every particular told ‘the sane
: sere testified to by Lester when on frial
The testimony. for the defeuse closed: at
WP dock. The arguinent for the prosect-
the. was. opened up by United States
Bietrict Attorney M.A. Montgomery.
; Ha was followed by Messrs. ‘Kimbrough
r tad Mize, for the defense, The argument
fi far the prosecution was closed by District
: Mterney Roane, and the cuse was given
p & the jury at 3:20 o'clock, At 4 o'clock
\ the jary brought in a verdict of guilty as
» @harged in the indictment,
Cay itely upon. the retiretnent of the
: the case ot Whit Owens. was caiied
4 Wihentes names) were: called, Dut
in? 8 dupe owing tu the lateness of
soe nour. a jury owili be cimpaneled a:
” "WO Mathis has maintaiged a bold and
2 ae during thectrial; atl, bas in
y Sonantly Asserted bia Innocence. Whew
“gamed to fall him, andatrthe clove of
eae a vw close lof
i. Oe Case he was dejected and dow
Virnvas;
FP: When the verdict was brought int ne
> eke down. compietely.. He had rica iat
Way fs to hin innovence or guilt. iy
Mie wife was deeply atffected,.and both
Feeee eer: District Attorney: Ronne’s
* Smavinctna one of the inost eloquent and |
- ¢ ever -dlellyered cin. thin.court-
tony Balt oreie case. Is expected to be
H OURNE Case: ’
iy: ently one of the tine hae ae ee
i 3 ‘ »
5 Bes eppplog esi counsel, Intehse exeltement
Zz retiihi nS facta Drought cout in
hes “ithe .
Be prteoners will Ret yt ede hat
it ot $F at Nhl oer the i martroon is
‘ wery preewutiog | in bejug
{ eA. to protect the pet a
fom cam toka tts tes Si bet rg, 40 hat the |
~ BEFORE THE TRIAL.
oe Talked and Wrote Let e@i
; } e', ¢
‘oon. (8pectal to the Pleayune, |} ed
+ Miva” Jan, 4,-*'The Allsthagrh.
topte of laterest jn’ north Mithinnippt
Past fow woeks has beey the mur.
we Of the two Montgomery andthe
ees implicated Inthe murder, Will
ly the Drime fustigator of the flend-
» DAS talker freely from: the first,
: RA hay Insieted that Qe wnd the negro,
¥ Lentey, Are Ute only: ones who
) Wek pert in the killuy:” Later Klevetop.
show that Mr. Mathis, Whit
her father; and BU any George
each bad an metive hank Jn the
has been dlscovered jthat ou
afternogy Previous ote othe murder
athi« lowrne,? that. the two Mount.
‘ 78 were Coming cut te arrest: him
sti}l, ite
Of: thelr
testify that Mrs.
Visited Several “houses and hor.
Popes, wit), Whibete ott iX tDOWw Le. |
» the Vlefling w ere bound.
Whe hog
Was OUTED. ASX
Bat r
bea develuped that the
VOt Bor te bed ons Mathis
Caled owt stated. “The
Were Loui With the
Dorto weg frou Nelghhors ty
Mthis. aid t! Dy Mathis
fs cae Phe nba of the
(DOD ped oy BE treic lodles
IMC foseisil fe . and coal
. Pltred OVeR then aud Thea seg ou
iS’ There @ Strong eelat lon to
4 ‘Tt as herp busbund,
rout lv whey
Mer oa usb
Slti® touk fu the Morder: Nery.
Only “to Jara OL ys i,
Dewury,
’
tit aud fair com.
‘ : te
ra E sa hed Atos vty.
e ’
Montgoi,,. DUrse of Mr.
blood ON ITS wa,
Qmony a Matlifs' ORects, tnd
OWned to being Preseut whea
Were Fobbed,
thin MOCINS reaigned too lta fate,
edd leavune Pe parte >
' thatohe Marbig tat
deuh. t4.
THY One Of his ftlenels 5
v Whessuensy, Me
ow
Ancarcerat
Cheiatia®
many @ bin ere
gite
all
nen in
e has
lettets
writtes |
roken x
gone ‘. dit
our
and
“yea GY Oe,
wine ran)
Joon *:
y have
Axi) | vA
Ww py:
Wave
" nif peel
They
y yout
ceadio
for
wrine:
Nee eres
you live uath my bey je old enough,
I want you to warn him agatust drink.
ing wine of whisky. They lend to all
other silos, and have brought me where
{ am. I have beeu reading my Bible
and trying to make grace with God, I
hope my sisters will be the comfort tu fi
ow in your old age that I ought to have
jeen, and repsy your, love better than
I have. Forgive me, if you cag, fur bring-
ing you su wuch trouble, Your san,
5 WILL MATHIS..:
WILL MATHIS’ LETTER. TO HIS SON.
fo Baxter Cleveland Mathis: My Dear
Sfu-le is with « heart. Cull of saducss
that 1 write you this from the county
jail, where. [ um now confined. £' am ip
an tron celi 8 by 14. fect, where I am
kept. dingy and night. eyes thing jn. the
room is a stuve, an trop bedstead, a bard
inuttress avd sume. blankets, If you ive
to be old. enough, L want. you. to vinit
the: place: where your father spent his
last days, and Jet my fute be a lesson
to you. My. cell: fs-the second one on the
right. As. you look: in, 2b hepe that yoa
will reniize that tight bere EF spent mauy
an hour of fear and anguish on acesunt
of your welfare. Many a .thme 1 have
hugged you to my breast, and while f
loved: you with all the tender affection
that a father can feel. for. his buby, 1
bud rather you hal dled du tufancy than
tu follow the life L.bave lead; Oue talog
that Is the earnest wish of) your: loving
father In: thar you do right In all things.
from the thine you are. :old enough to
know right from wrong. Love nad obey
your kind mother and: try, ta be a ‘eOlu-
fort tu ber, aud make ‘up for the trouble
I have caused her: Your llfe will be just
what you, make it. You: can nake ita
succesn: or a-failure. You wtil) tod that
people will watch you cloxely.on account
of the. way. that your: father bas done.
Bute you will get credit. when you slo
right, und condemnatton Wheu (you: du
wrong, é
You with meet with eit) temptations.
Dut never submit to the first temptation
to do wrong. Be todustrious and ecouoml-
cal; love aud fear God, aud success will
crown your .efforts.; Remember that: pov:
erty does not degrade you of oiuike you
unhappy, Nething will degrade you but
sin. The wages of sin js death, Above
alk never touch whisky of any stroug
drink. — Never? think that. you: can take
one drink without it harming:you. Every
drut kard has seen the time whes> be
could let drink: alone, Latemperance has
rulued more men’ than every ether evil
in the workh: When whisky gets the ad-
vantage of a nan, he Is ofit. for mo. busi-
neas ar. poattiou In Ufe, All the demous
of chet combined® could not scontrive of
invent anything that. wonld. be a worse
curse to: humanity aud: work for: Satan
ae whisky: Aud f want to say hete that
women could put whisky and drinking
down if they tried :
When Lo was goung ng. ife was prom
ising, F was the {dol-of my: parents... and
wis well roitent of) oby everybody.
There. waa. vothing -to keep ine from
growing up a good man, bat T learned to
love. whisky. At drstoPowould anly take
wv soctal drink with friends, but kept
on taking [to until the. appedte grew on
ine, and LF could not. stop. It led me to
where £ am vow. Never touch: it. my
boy. Remember your father’s. warning,
aud) grow up. a good wan Fyrgive, me
the wrong PE have done you; Your loving
father, WILL MATUHIS.
neal
=)
LESTER, Orlando, and MATHIS, W,ll, hanged at Oxford, Mississippi, Stpt. 2h, 1902.
"(Special Dispatch to the JOURNAL.) Jackson, Misse, Nove 21, 1901“A special to THE NEWS
from Oxford, Miss., states that Will Mathis, who murdered the two deputy marshals near
Oxford, has been captured, and that the district attorney im now addressing the mob in
that town to prevent a lynching. A body of armed men are on the march to Yxford from
Pontotoc County, and it is believed that he will be burned toinght." JOURNAL, Atlanta,
Georgia, Nepember 21, 1901 (1/6.)
"Oxford, Miss., Jan, 10. - The argument in the trial of Bill Jackson for
the murder of Hugh Montgomery was continuéd this moming, Hon. J. EB.
Holmes spekkineg for the defense. He was followed by Hon, J. H, Kimmons
also for the defense, Both made strong and forcible arguments. At XXKB
1:30 p.m, District Attorney Roane spbke for the state. He dwelt forcibly
on the effects of whisky in bringing about the tragedy. The case went
to the jury at 3 o'clock snd at 5 o'clock they returned the verdict of
guilty of murder, fixing the penalty of life imprisonment in the state
penitentiary. Judge Lowrey will pass sentence when he passes the sentence
on White Owens, after his trial for the murder of Hugh Montgomery. Jackson
did not manifest any feeling when he heard the verdict. George Jackson
was arraigned unon the charge of siding and harboring the felon, Will
Mathis. He pleaded euilty and stated that the reason that he had done
wrong was that he was trying to keep Will Mathis in the neighborhood in
order to get his evidence to clear his brother, Bill Jackson. Judge
Lowery sentenced him to 2 years in the state penitentiary. He said that
ordinarily the penalty for su@éh a crime was 5 years, but he would only
make it 2 years because George Jackson, after he left Mathis, had ren-
dered the officers great assistance in apprehending Mathis. Whit Owens
was sentenced to imprisonment in the state penitentiary for life. He
maintained stolid silence, as he did throughout his trial, He will be
tried tomorrow for the murder of Hugh Montgomery. Additional evidence
has been gained against Whit Owens, which will probably result in the
death penalty, Will Mathis was asked if he had anything to say before
sentence was passed on him. He said he had nothing more than to say that he
was innocent and that he would be punished for what he did not do. The
court told him that as far as that court was concerned, he was guilty,
and that the jury had not shown him the mercy they had in the case of
Whit Owens, and that on Friday, Feb. 1h, between the hours of 11 a.m.
and p.m. he should be hung by the neck until he was dead, Mathis re-
ceived his sentence with avparent indifference. Orlando Lester was
asked if he had anything to say before sentence was passe on him. He
said 'Nothing.' The court went on to state that he was sorry for him
on account of his race, and that he was sorry he had associated with white
men who had led him into trouble. The court passed the same sentence on
Lester thet it had on Will Mathis. The negro received the sentence with
stupid indifference, The four prisoners, Bill Jeckson, Will Mathis, Or-
lando Lester and Whit Owens, were chained together and carried back to
jail under a heavy guard, As they were on their way to jail a bystand-
er attemptedto take Mathis' picture with a kodak, but he put his hat, over
his face and seemed very much amused at the photographer's failure,
DAILY PICAYUNE, January 11, 1902 (New Orleans, La, )
; r
fair and his connection «th
with Ingidly. Mr. Saxon
Im: diately after the shoot-
Ing, Siferiff Wright was notified
and wént at once to Vardaman
and with a posse and begah a
search for the negro. - The ne-
fro, it was alterwards learped, |
went s raivht across the canal,
throwing his gen iatas a deep
" hole in the canal. He went
trom there south by way of At.
lanta and Stepped at :a negro
house between Atlanta and
Mr. Wright wired every!
junction and station on the road
“a
att
wf nee 4 » SS ie ‘ ‘
& ior him and made him
licers were sure of his identity,
and he finally confessed.
Mr. Wripht brought | him
back-and lodged him in the
jzilat New.Albany, | :
- The nero savs tliat’ he is;
sorry bé killed Mr, Welis, bute
‘that hz intended to kill Mr, Sax-*
on, though: he. kaew at thie!
fing: that he would be jhune lor:
It. -He says he knows. thathe ;
willabe-heay and has: nothing |
Woodland, where he washed
the blood fram his face. - The}
last shot fired by Mr. Wells!
Struck the negro a Riancing |
blow in the forehead leaving a
smali wound. ‘He traveled all/
night and arrived at Mathiston
Just betore day Saturday, where
he secured food and a hiding |
place from some Neyros and!
lay up in anegro house all bay,
tosnylabout is, eke. .
+ -. 4
a
GON, JULY 9, 1926,
pemenremewransy
Frank Smith Dies
* r
Seeman tee 5
Circuit Court fee the triaf of the
negro, who on Wi day afternoon |
shot and mortally-” unded Deputy
Shenff Frank - mith, two miles
north of Greenwood.
Mr. Smith's death this morning,
resulting from his wounds, leates
the negro facing » charge of mur-
der, and the court will move Prompt. |
ly to dimpose of the cage. |
. 2 eee | |
Jedge Davis Bizes duly 2% Aa Mater j
Of Re-Conveatyy Of Circuit H
_ Court And Grand |
N\ Jury i
—- | i].
Judge 3S. oF. Dawk of the Cireult | i
Court has set Monday, July 26, asi i
the date of re-convening of the :
ACKE
A CALLESPIE, Publisher.
VOLUME 1o—NUMBER 004.
<p
= =
ter of the mast tional
Leflore county bes witnessed
yeara... The triumph of the le
_lenforcement te the fo
Eder Whiting,
for the negro, 8
hia fuseral today, asked
to say a few words.
di and Hate
wh
ite Woe Pronounced Fath : 2 : : se. The cri x
Teelve Minutes After Trep ie 3 a oceurred -about : me Roy i:
- Was Sprung Hy
Sheriff
‘<
ee ne
Frank Snath, on July
cation orcurred at the County -
. viet Farm, and shentf Crippen
Mackey ex
Syl-estet Mackey. twenty-two yest
eld negro, was hanged thts smorning: The = wae brought to}
fer the marder of Deputy — Sherilt the hospital and died two deys later}
ie x : from the effects of his wounds. ‘
On the
at 5 oO Twelve minutes later at-
tendog phypcians prepvuy)
negro dead, ami he w
he bedy was turned over f
negre ministers present tt yater>
meant, The expense of burial witt to
*
se ET eae '
Macke went ta his death with ter SYLV ESTER MACE BY tenn pee the arrival i
same imifferenee that characteriZ¢ poe a Crippen, who secared the negro
= E odact at his trial in the Cireuit elapsed from the bhi ard of the | brought him to jel.
cy
=
om
3
g
ag
gs
¢
Fy
.
os
-
4
i
8
y until at could be removed for burial. 'troops for eeveral days, until he
Hig walk was alcady | cOLvCnet Mackey had pard thei was brought beck te Greenwood. He:
to the plat penalty | demanded by the law, for; bas been kept in the jail here since |
{tym from * kh he wae to he dred tha slaying of 2 feariesa and popu- | thet time. - * ~*~)
fy into eternity in & few moments. | lar officer of the lew. | Judge Davis reconvened the etr-!
5 be The place ofexecution Was 2 the | cuit court of July 2%. Mackey was!
on the Jatform, raised above the county convict arm | indicted, tried on July E Lith. |
ihe pe ering that protected dormitory, where two sides of an el defended by able a i
lowrr part of the scatfuid from the| of the building cut off. the view {rom | sppoiwtrecst by the court, and con:
pubhc gate, Mackey faced the poblic. On the other two aides‘ victed of murder. He was
above the horizon, } of the small sq muds hang. : A "ne month
‘eo mouth |= was get, and bis exer of which stood the ecaffold, wert | and twenty days after crime. that
wore closed Ww shut suc the rays of | hung cotton bagging, to
the morning sun The trap-dour was ecution the privacy dem
clyeed.
* 1 1 if | pore ore
. Gher iff Ceppen asked en tt hte ae duty deme Sed
Te epee ges ES a ire fetes, phyrkctens.
eed that one eof the ureto mss | REO mnsqisterss : 7;
Gore present, arenes bp, there and de a, and representadives 45
Eldee nites and | the press, constituted — the small
i Ae other RETO ministers Se os (TREY Prenen at the hanging. OF'
\ r the vutaide of the convict farm Lees
4
le prayer for divine ange? ont
for the sing of the amend -
a nT “L the best trumen hy @ bur, lat proof feace. |
gre, Fider Whiting rendered the o ti coer 7 worl ara
4
eligious eid ~
a p«wpin the trap cred. Some come inside after
ei » Smeg ules plac ied, the gree hanging to view the body.
: : tout his bead. the black Mackey, according to the officers,
adlurvay placed over his face, Sher- slept well last night, apparently mot!
4 Crippen placed bis hand og Ure I disturbed about the morning. About.
‘ lever which held the trop dGr in three a’clock he Was moved {rora!
t place. the jail to the convict farm, and
“Pave you anytoing ele you want \ the fast half hour before the t
te wag 2 the Ghent asked Mackey: of the execution was siting of
A slow narrmured re sly, a tow that porch of the dermitery His
at thoae op the acalfo had te bend were held together behind in han
loee ty Rear, was made Lew nating. | UE. Near hin sat Elder W. H.
he wants you te preach hia {unetal,” Whiting. E.R Miler, O. W-
the Sheriff called to the minintee ministers © of the principal
who had prayer 729 there anything ie oharrher
t else you. sant © say T, the Sheritt | Se awa
repented. There was hy reply. oo. ot eae tices
“A quick movement of the sher- tthe screened sarc —
“ $¢t'e band. the trap door o swun present to. wi
downward, the negro's bedy Fabel Pr Mackey sat
atrpight a® plamaret throveh the { slightly war
platform, There wae & sharp twang fof acy ees "
of the rmpe pPrewght tant, when {> betaring vacant
reached it's fult extremity ith the pint heey
nogre's wright on the at ¥ it, and Paitcated ig gk
jontesa, ontt | were gerepl pie
forth |
The
a
rer ae
ne Ren five MS " vit
there. r threg tre-
j seat the. show! Hight heave f
in ation, coneed } in
ty : Fey,
ate ee 4¢:
letey the ae wae 5 prope eae vet 2 Apart
deal Kxartly taelee meratiés Redd at ane ont, S “ ie
Bee a kc, | Taner oe, wpperind
paheg oud by treaties Me
j which ferns the “ertneet,” by meee:
iad whuh the trap ie & a’
| movement of the ebertih«
Somoves “he ever, yer ree
otf the dome, and a ewe
4 a “
Sylvegter . lute
‘OURT ENTERS. | ~~ \|PRANK SMITH
COURT ENTERS. .
NOT GUILTY PLEA | FUND NEEDS AID
AND TRIAL IS ON Bc esi patie dial tedage bat |
| . afforts of interested friends hope &
° ‘ x the pr
complete the fund during t
ent week. The total is being vheck- |
COURT ORDERS DISTINGUISHED ed this afternoon, and will probub- |
ieee ly reach $2600, according to infor. 7
DEFENSE mation available at) noen, A fulll
—_ : lint. of subscriptions will appear to- |
morrow, ‘ : H
: Don't way for potae one tos! c :
ee goa nine | ie Stap in at the Daily Common: ! ;
Wealth und leave Jpur subscription, |
Court Room Is Filled, But There Are
No Extra Guards, And No
+ Pronpect Of Any
Troublo
ay
Sylvester Mackey, yer of Dep. : : . ‘
ity Sheriff Frank Smith, went to | } |
tral this morning for hin crime. With,
Jodge S, FL Davia presiding the Le-
Hore County Circuit: Court: convened
ta eutraurdinary aeasion for the dis-
position of thes negro’s case,
Promptly at nine o'clock — the '
grand juty, belding over under the
inw from the May term of the court,
onvened ang went into session at-
tended by don. J. M. Hairston, dis-
irut attorney and tlon.s Means
dobnaton, county atturney, ,
The wheels of justice had been
well uiled and sroceeded la move
wift'y, Judge Davis empanciled
tin juries for © week, out of:
which the trial pancl will le select -
ed when the trial of the negro be-
wine
All of the fient twelve juror
culled qualified for the weeks" acrv-
teen. Te of them wanted exemp-
fion because of @ disbelief in capi-
tal punishment but Jadge Devis
overruled the exemption at that
stage, informing the jury that it wus
then being empaneled Nae the week
and not for the trial of any partic-
ular case, *
The same’ procedure: greeted the
relection of ee second . jury, |
membera were excused , because. of
catutory exemptions: diclaimed “by
them, idk acta
The following citizens compose
(he juries for the week: |
dary No | Sam Balkin, FE. R,
feng, WoOS, Cowsert. WS. Marye, a
; cine GL ae c aces wl
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‘(Continued From Page One)
trip by way of Laurel instead
of going ne to Waynesboro
via Highway 45. The trip was
made without indident and the
youths ~were hurried to their
cells.
Throughout their journey,
Shimniok and Leemon sang
te together and took turns
at itating the electrocutioner
and the condemned. The Rev.
Vernon Hosey, a Meridian min-
ister, pastor of the Radio Gospel]
Tabernacle, visited the condemn-
ed pair in their cells and held
last prayers for their salvation.
Shortly after théir arrival,
Sheriff William Bankston sent
& barber to the cells to clip
their hair. Leemon and Shim-
niok quickly disdained the as-
sistance of the barber, saying
“we'll do this ourselves.”
High feeling which had pyge-
vailed throughout Wayne
county prior to the execution fail-
ed to materialize in forms of
tangible violence. Most of the
community’s citizens had nut
been advised of Governor Bail-.
ey’s refusal ‘to commute the’! te
‘
death sentences and were asleep
several hours before the ex-
ecution.
Youths Continue Joking
For more than an hour before
they paid with their lives for the
murder of former Sheriff Tom
Boykin, Leemon and Shimniok
continued to joke with officials
in the jail, eating freshly parched
peanuts and singing. The court-
room was limited to only about
30 witnesses, many of whom were
officials, A small number of
youths who made their way from
the first floor to the courtroom
were denied entrance. It was a
nse and tragic scene from its
beginning until its end.
At 1:17 p. m., when physi-
cians Officially announced that
Shimniok was dead, the Tom
Boykin murder case was finaily
closed and the electric chair
had numbered Shimniok and
Leemon as but two of countless |
grains of sand in the colossal !c
hour-glass of time. Their bodies j 1
were claimed by their parents, |
Shimniok’s remains werej;A
brought to Meridian and Lee- | 3
mon's body remained at a |?
Waynesboro Funeral home. They |e
were to be sent Friday to their jc
respective homes and _ subse-
quent last rites. -
Asks Cheap Coffin I
Thursday afternoon in Lauder- j¢
dale county jail. Shimniok told!
his father, Martin P. Shimniok | $
of Madison. Wis., “to buy the|t
}
oe es les i
> .o™
-_ ON Ott “p
cheapest pine coffin you can
find for me and don't let any-
one see my face. Things might
have been different {if I had
listened to you and what you
told me. I am ready to dle if
that 1s the way it 1s.” His only
outward show of emotion came
when he told his father that he
was glad his brother had not
seen him in a jail cell.
The youth's father told Laue |
derdale county officials that he
was not satisfied with the state's
refusal to have his‘son examined
physically. It was his bellef a.
blow on the head, sustained by
Shimniok some days before the
murder of Mr. Boykin, may have
been responsible for his son’s
actions. He also said he believed
“Southern prejudice” against
Northern residents “may have
influenced the jury.” Before his
death, Shimniok had finished
reading a detailed study on elec- |
trocutions sent to him by his
father.
~y
Fall To Make Excuse :
To the last, Shimniok and
-Leemon, failed to offer an ad-
equate excuse for the ig
of former Sheriff Boykin. Net-
ther expressed any sort of emo-
tion of regret in the 13 months
they remained in the Lauderdale
county jail. “T just can’t figure
{t out,” declared Shimniok and
a eimilar thought was advanced
by Leemon.
A late appeal to the com-
mander of the U. 5. Navy, who
was asked to Interfere and ob-
tain a stay in the execution,
proved to be of no avail, A laste
minute reprieve which some be-
Heved might come at & late hour
Thursday night from Governor
Bailey did not arrive. The
state's highest_executive at an
earlicr hour in the day had an-
nounced his intention to let the
law take its course.-
‘Sheriff Bankston and his dep-
uties of Wayne county, {t Was
sald, handled the entire execu-
tion in a befitting manner. In
the short space of 12,-finutes
the murder of Mr. ykin had
‘been avenged. The ‘deaths of
himniok and Leeman were
ynehranous with two swift body
convulsions, actuated by 2,300
volts of searing electricity.
| Tel] About Slaying
“Before leaving Meridian for
Waynesboro. Shimniok described
the Boykin slaying to officers
and hewspapermen. Both were
‘AWOL from the Navy air sta-
‘tion near Foley, Ala, at. the
of the crime.
wage stayed in Mobile
\|-while.” shimniok said, “and then
|} came to Meridian where Joe had
an aunt. We'd planned «to, rob
\| gomedody and take. his‘car, but
we had no intention of killing =
mani. Boykin Just happened to be
the one we picked to rob.
“after he gave us a ride I
|.jpad forgotten to; take the money.
him we came, back for.Jt, and
Sen neaded «for. Mobile." From
,
Mobile we. went “to,
where We were arrested.”:'. KM .
lists Whea 1 x 4 ee
Enit* chimnlee,« tather Pott thie
condemned ey seid : Aime:
niok had an . Pecdrd aad.
had enlisted? in. the: Wavy: wien’
he was 17 years old. at
ar shimniok.gaid his son he
received. & yblow,, on “the ; heed:
15, days sbefore (the:
Bailey, examine the youth, but
efforts ‘were ‘made yto..
Navy aay wallet ‘si GOVERNOR :
PRIS Ritts ity Skenea ets Coenen
DAT sUsaas, ove—~-, -. -
|
without success, ©
As to his head Injury, Shim-
niok sald: “I was cracked over
the head about three weeks be-
fore the crime. I was in Roberts-
dale, Ala., with a buddy. He went
to get a hamburger, and I was
on the street. Three civillans
jumped me and I was out abow
3 1-2 hours. I got back to the’
sick bay and had the night fore-
man dress it.”
When Leemon was asked if he
had any special last minute re-
quest, Shimniok hollered from
his nearby cell: “Joe, think up
a good one.” '
Wanted His Freedom
And the one he made was:
“I'd like to be turned free.”
Leemon left a letter to be pub-
lished after his death, thanking
those who have been writing him
and sending gifts. He said he
also was writing some farewell
notes to those who have been
corresponding with him—"“many
of them girls.” He said he wrote
a 29-page letter to an aunt tn
Birmingham, Ala., telling all
about the crime.
Both sailors sald they planned
to write Father Flanagan “be-
fore we leave,” to express thelr
thanks for his efforts in thelr
behalf. * ; .
As reporters left the two cells
in condemned row, Deputy Sher-
iff Gunn asked if there was any-
special they wanted. Shim-
niok said it did not matter about |
what the dinner menu was “be- |
cause it won’t do me any good.” |
Leemon wanted a steak or oys- |
ters, and both settled for steaks.“
largely due to the brilliant work
of Detective. T, p. Harbour of
Meridian.
~C, W. Watson, State execut-
foner . of Jackson, © threw the
switch at 12:54 a. m. Six min-
utes later Dr, 5. T. McElwain
.and Dr. C. D. Barkley of Way-
ne county, pronounced him
dead. A subsequent examination
revealed he had been badly burn-
ed about the neck and head.
Apparently as Indifferent to
fate as was Leemon, Shime
niok came Into the courtroom,
also smoking a cigarette. He
walked unaided to the chair and
took his seat, The necessary ad-
justments were made and the
current applied at 1:09 a. m,
Four minutes tater an ¢xamina-
| ton revealed ‘the 2,300-volt cur-
rent had not been effective, Yt
Was ‘Te-applied at 1:15 and, at.
1:17,. he was pronounced ‘dead.
Shimniok also made a brief
statément but not loud enough
to be heard by witnesses In' the
courtroom, Thursday afternoon,
Shimniok had declared he would
die as he had lived, fast,
Spectators Are Astounded »
| The manner: in which Shim-
niok “and Leemon expired
amayed even the most hardened
| Onlookers,, “Either they had re-
pented, were brave men or they
were plaving an act,” was @ cole
Jeetive observation. mY
For one infinitesimal part -of
& second, however, Shimniok and
Leemon: knew the terror, of
death. The horror of their fates
w arg YF was clearly written in «their
Set aa. faces by 2,300 vr of peop
Pen: vn, electrical -fury, ¢ glow ‘o
vee 8s ... ‘ek non Oy: 4, f bend was st by the pallor
"OO TANS “8, APRS a od tut 0K, on a ty Y, SF pee mond ‘ of ‘death and thelr. faces _were
'. Joseph. Leemon, Maylene, Ala. (left) and Maurice 8himniok, ‘rigid, frozen masks‘ of path,
; : Madison,. Wis, MR LE Moved Vis ee, Mei
0 OS TS eg Ql G Md a, cf o hy O a nnn gel mniok and emon .wére
"By CH. PHILLIPS: | satlies tron ine Gakic
(Meridian Star Editorial Staff) * county jail by Sheriff William
The devastating, fearful fury of the state's portable electric Bankston of Wayne ‘county, a
chalr near 1 a. m.,, Priday in Waynesboro claimed the tempestuous, number of his deputieg. and: pere.
bizarre-lives of Maurice Shimniok of Madison; Wis., and Joseph M, ponnel of the State A ayaa
Leemon of Maylene, Ala. for the brutal slaying of Tom s, Boykin, Patrol. --Fearing possible. m
one-time sheriff of Wayne county, on Nov, 13, 1943, - -Violence, the grown ‘made the
The two youths, a part of the* i (Continued on Page Five) “4
U. 8. Navy's personne! unt] the
commission of their. crime, died
in the. Wayne county courthouse
as. they. predicted ‘they would
» ©». without faltering, without
fear and with amirking, sardonic
amiles upon their Ups, °
The chair took Leemon first,
He entered the courtroom, -where
the electric chair had been
Placed, about 12:50, with o smile
on his fade, smoking a cigar-
ette. Pausing for one brief gece
ond, he moved from his point
of entry acroas the huge room to
.the chair.and sat down, flick-.
‘ing hiscigarette to the Noor,
‘Bays Is Ready
Almost casually, the: one-time 27 Lt IC |
ps,
made one short statement: “I
WY) ~ /N, | /] /,
ady to’ die and I hope to Vig, f a Ny <=
rooek poe oil he 2 nome Vuciar VIS
~ Shimniok turned to..the ‘Rev.
Mr. Hosey, who stood Nearby in
| the courtroom, and asked “How. 4 a 7
| did Joe go?” And then told those A z q Yo fpod
adsembled in the death cham- 1a | / cf Lif
ber, “I feel that God ts on my. | / /
side .and that's why I'm grin- .¢
ning.” .
Two of Boykin's brothers,
“Red”: Boykin ‘and Vivian .Boy-
kin; witnessed the execution.
Neither made a. statement for
publication, - :
Shimnitok and Léemon died tn (37 2 .
the same courtroom where they / =— fF ;
were sentenced to death. Judge /
Graham ed over
THE MERIDTAN STAR
.
& Joseph M. Leemon (left), 19, of Maylene. Ala.. clips the hair
of his companion, Maurice Shimniok, of Madison. Wis., also 19,
just before they were executed in the state's portuble electric chair
at Waynesboro,'. Friday. :A few minutes after this picture was
made, Shimniok, in turn,”clipped Leemon’s hair. The youths, for-
mer sailors, were convicted of killing-former Sheriff Thomas S.
Boykin of Wayne county,.who had ‘given them a ride in his auto-
i trea) ey were captured later at LaGrange. Ga.—'AP wire-
an *,
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Fe yy vino that at tenst he Des {31a WO MIAN OV Ages
’ ‘wore DUrned Ser Feat raven an the the the war ENersthisg
* wax Mestroved apt thy IP EPN WNA ese te tapt waeete The was ae
y Siastod mana ¥ toy the jant wae shothed in lemrs and *otphans aad
‘ yes were ahah done We are syemeaong fo the world (de Conn tbyclinp
‘ Banest the feattintecant help fa the ation Of cur chtikiren
; The “gtuctals regi vate all Oearea ts aanrs he minds Of (he peopie
paand Aelare the xewort-ip how sheathed ed all differeqcas ate atlege. in
‘ the presence of Such great intners
EG i Teer Ray the toad! aiount Kiveo hy viremt britain: even df multiphed
5 tee-foi4..wonld not suflee WO e@ine-othe war bidaes atons
Sacihantinsiectnrths eatin siesta tintetaetacntactidllch tile? aaah Bin Wight ncaa eis ne asa tae nea
= THEY WILL BOTH DIE, FIGHT AT LEBANON, :
4 i
bee i
be
pen a ctl
8
a
¢
Enraged Woman Stabs;|\
Husband,
nt
Strikers Attacks
Be inte
\
“SEVERAL MEN WERE SHOT.
“CUTS HER OWN THROAT.
Had Been Drinking
Abusing Her Daughter
and the Husband
and Strikers Fire from a Corn-|
field on the Men Inside
Steel Works and Are
; Protested. Arrested.
ape } Bae aes at
be | /
’ ig NEW YORK Aept. 24-4165 an harm!) ) LENANON, Pal sept. 24 --An ugly
soe from the Maapeth police. at ambulacce feeling prevalle Bere thia mourning The
wy eke pent earl) tota> from 8 Bren Kiyh sophers sent Sere iast night are on
wee sporty SOn ghe four-mile ohn the duty and have pitched their tents, ap-
_ en at Ja ph Alstreisn: i perenthy fOr a longa star No move has
i @ ati gecn fount the tan lying On been nie ty send the cojored fron
1 1 maer BS s pod? of bows Aiy wife sorkers away as the management of
Salbted ma” he gespet oobe bet Seen the American lros ard Steel Company
oi Grigsong ao¢ was Boum ne our CaMmaniee ie eit LO bare promised Mayor Here
" nts wneg t awe pome. } pettanted and -yestertay mod {now bociie as HM they
7 . ‘
;are to stay
The Weman tay th a bret apparently Im tle darkfiers of oariy mornice &
The tatdenr orgs Bork Oli battle Detween the moh and the nen.
Ajatrelski se wejAd while Ape eotet fpeide Loe re tek Glace and aeteral
eriased the worser +o get up wil act were shot “none fatally The eaitiere
turn? oop led Ce efray. awd made @ great
oY. many arteste
ne WEAK IN A OORNFTELD
DS» G9 The mot Dred trom a rornfeld jost
a? terand othe works tnder cover of
were 4cboem a att) of men gatherm’ tb
z $ iS freon the woras
f Herther es ts : The meg inrice
uf the :
> ee ! é ip Spee ant
* Uf they simp sed the crows of apenctatare
$f i S wyatt geiberet upoh beer nx tire
rs: z gm fon oera ced the corn tert
« TA pr 4 m9 Danes bite ad She eee lari
\ ty ee yo / ; Be Se iad Sale Berg
if ti. ,
4 bad tics | } py : had asridtecw erm wete
a tes pair 1 Shee hireets /
\ ? ¢ ery ea Puterad apa
. ‘ rms 8 . , 4 Whe epee) ot taor's
qc ‘ a Paste tak t eee Mihai UD
S iy Piston sag ae ‘? wt ieee emt Ys
3 Sere cs it PPA oot te ee rh oe
ety ke > § ‘ i C8 pM ym le [7
¢ .
tian ie cant
$y: th *. Jivat
ile
¥
hey
blacks:
~) balled .io Ube. doaigomarys’ sAealbs;;
eyerv attire pt ade te dn a
Nop sooner &
Slayers of Montgomery eee 9
{ ‘ WHR PSN ARHE Pa Sept 24 -A telen ’
; Boys Pay the Pen- tion sit Vhe catrt BE: te glob lest. rough teed wear!
i te JaHle €it bla Weoatiog were posctinns to
alty of Crime,
Horribly Beat Non-Union Men.
Feared and Gov, Stone Is
than apother bh yet
i At Nanthoke (pe atreet care wore boarted
I Net Which tet Coting From Or gulag lo week
rom Of striae ts Px hanged shore ar Wanamio
CONTESSED ON S( ATFOLD Valen pw Train iat coal r mre oAt Sy mouth & me
{ ' Or ‘ a . thele envy herme f 2 mine were held ut
t they were deft on the tway fur dead
WY TY IT is FRARED, Ma
H Brertiv after hk -gadeniand -for mw
The Negro Lester Admitted fren or sean than places in Talzerne cour
fart ther *% help ¢ aerh atone there w
‘ Shots Which pies te bloods! Bherf Jacoba efter a cor
to Firing Sb eae raal sata kw RG Wie knees. but tecepnesiin
Took the Officers’ | Shortly befere 2 wilocc nie morning the
ernor Stone, telling Bim 1h
Yond bis oatro! and teat
wowit bays 10 he sent here
pled that she matter woutd be iald
The Exeter
a’ the
Lives
“ANOTHER MURDER REVEALED.
vets. t the Birmingtas ws
TOXFORD, Mise. spe NG; de thow
sand peeple the majority of whom
E Were farmers from surrounding coun
ties: witnessed the double erscud! ton}
there thin morning of Will Mathie iva
» the negro Orlando. Lester, for tne mur: |
Ger of Johm and Hugh Montgomery, iMor os’ Fort Holds Bac ok
deputy United States marshals ta La m >
tara county on the night of Novem- U. S. Soldiers.
boer 16, wut
CONFESSED THE CRIME.
Both meo talked freely before
ing to the saffold. Leeter eluaiice
to firing both of the shote which re-
AS STRONGLY FORTIFIED.
Seite comonatt . i
j Hie statement waa corroborated by!
iMathia, who declared that Bill Jak- |
‘son, who is In the penitenlary serving |
in aentenre for com pitcity in the crime,
jis tonocent, and expressed the hope
that he may be pardoned.
; Both men thanked the faller for his}
joourteous. treatment to them during |
ithelr incarceration tn prison.-aod said
pEDAl Chey were reconciled to their tate i
Mathis confessed to District Attorney |
Montgomery Gf another killing bither- |
and Refuse to Treat
With Americans, Who
Will Attack.
MANILA. Sept,
| Perebing, of the Fifteeatn
34-Capt. John J.
t
i
}
stow
situation in ts
arder to pfeter
Tmmediately
Th
vefore the
thin morning says a moh of
of a waehery and prevented the employes fro
aber! named Burke waa knee hed down by at
large crowda nf mien and boys are gathered &
wine In operation, and the situation (a very
LPO LOLOL PP
WILL
At
=
ON
They Think It Impregnable | They
tind
¥
LOND©
infantry, ¢re-of te
te woheard ofthat of two. negroes! : the - Renting’
named Johanson —hy Whit Owens Brive| Creed oe sasinac tae ‘aig on! to the Px
Owens and Charlies Owens over twelve! " ~ «public. G
yrern age Moro position at Marie. Island of priten ¢
The men rose early thie morning; Mindanao, to be strong and has deiay- gure to
| after Pe odipg & Good night both tleap- | | edt hie attack on tt He mist throw a paltifes 1
ting soundly. The wife of Mathis was! poutoon dritge acroms a swamp and the sake
Ret permitted to see b.m eWine ss tht possibly receive reinforcement pefore 99 the tr
Larkate Git ganas TL MMM cate seangiea the, eBrmy: 2 The captain torte
HISTURY OF CRIME. maje | reconnpissnce those to the pert of +
On (he 16th of Yast Noventher Deputy Moro position and found « fert on en! was prea:
Ualted Brates Marshals John A and elevation «lose to: the lake shore,» Kent th:
High Montgomery went out fifteen tanked by ewampe, practically making Puraca
millew east of Oxford ty arreat WH! ine promostory ae isiaad memorial
*Mathia on a charge of jitfett Mating SOLDLERS BUILT RAFT AERTY RAIS
It wee feat ned thel the otfivers arrived The Amerivane bail: relte preparatory [he Unite
a Mathce bensé about sundown and ai- iio atiaching the Moroe take, aod de- Invesime
though it wae night Mathis cited to bridge the awamp and make 'Bited 5
War theaced le hitting & hog | tHe oet ay attack from ali sides. The Sultans!
the officers at Ria gate ant they Peo lof Mactn regard the position as im-!
eelet to reef e weit to hig gue in
‘preagabie and bave felused to treat)
formes) Mie tHat they
Bith Captain Perehiog
woul! take him!
GREA
ae te Dafturto that Bight Mathis ce! dirigetier Qenersl Samuel Rumner
Buby there to ort Prim Cnleh cheese twit] pend the Moros en uitimalum de +
Tee hog wD bie wife woult have jthanting peace and the retura of atuien| AT
eure: « reat while be wes gone iphepecty i Die demande sre raje ted |
WALKED (NTO A TRAP bthe piace wili be eesauiied © Captain
Tie Vtfieets wen te the house 404) Pershing han carefully maamined the!
? the ‘Rat ‘enh of them ‘of peel Bats srrven dings aad is) Seapar
. ate sf te © WHITE SHEE cha Aden of Die atlitty tf capture "4
he vet mag ap atlleted pet ee, wete! withoutieerhins heses Wi
put St ashee of Mathie Durued) «apiainm Pesshign tas fecarned to
jets Tae Bek) ae slog phen Vira ebhence he reperts Lis I:
tr ox itrind de beater was Seip the att a uf Marly aloge are howtile
og Maret eat iti te Ai co wad alge that exsijg af ihe bien airy {
H ehitars (the aria rach played res {
gels fae dimen told afferently
“yg BP pe et well SMe Be «lets AFPLIBLICAN PARTY KINGS
ah WA Piwede Wane the neg & S Abtee by
eh #4 tert hia: €5 shew the officers } Oathet Tc
wie fe ‘fh egeima! Metniy #i i Lee 1 Oapi tte
oy ‘ that be ete pent Tar che Paved he
j 1 -excrmaml "
Vy iat Sh we Bat w BRS H Peaneyy'¥
: . Seuatar Carmack Save That a .
‘
STAMPELTE KILLS Speaker Henderevo Mas 770
& “ ‘ 4
: . ; fiat Wis bar to th. ‘ “ a
IVER YO PEOPLE wea Ss
; ' aie
hanced: Oxford, Aiss.5 9-2lm19026°
4
(
a
Mp tye PO
/
ZPD
TT OO ee me @ Geen
EACUTED —A negro named Levi, belonging |
to Mr. C. H. Fountain, was hung In the sail |
vard yesterday. His crime wan the murder of |
suotuet negro, the property of Mr. George |
Willis ms. '
‘ co Pe Ga 2 woe = -
LEVI, Slave, black, hanged Vicksburg, Warren Co., June 22, 1860.
“Executed-A negro named Levi, belonging to Mr. C. H. Fountain, was hung in the jail
yard yesterday. His crime weas the murder of another negro, the property of Mr. George
Williams.”-Weekly Vicksburg Whig, Vicksburg, MS, (June 23 section), 6/27/1860.(
en
as is il
MARK ( Slave), possibly hanged Yalobusha Co., Miss., taK
one: rear a habit & "heme Daleoue fa
le 14-1844 “gi ee lag * pissisjp ig poder Mitof the Mb altind as we
lara ep Bt fo ga LOST
di shohical pe Deiat Wi el Ob. Ih Od.
mn hertted Wi Mare NELLA veiled falloung Pdi le thle : Lh eh DD
the old mart was in the practice of retailing spirits and after he liad retired
: poh a negro Knocked ap his cvor and iuched To purchase SOMC LUM. She
Old man seh ip and Waited upen hie, cated puillites beat bs pire pimahe change,
fe laid 1} on the Counter tnd was ‘deni 4 on fis specks, When thenesre witha
heavily loaded blungeort Stritch fui othe head Lad havehied hin dur and
: Glens B La ted tie blows tint he was dead He then toot the purse and made off, ff
§ that Mr Smith slept in bis liffle Sp alone about Ald yards from the dwtlip
in which his son-in- wis lives. tn Sabbath riorning he We Copyiit ‘obreakhast,
gs ustah they went fey hos tnd fotwsd his coyered with blood with lis fread
resting a sf fhe th, es) [iin and tuo large gashes ta his head. prforwatioz
was Wy ediately Stat tp ray sport ty be 0 the Watch for any /7 v0 that tig fat
90 t there fo trade, Al Sash afterwards.a negro belonging 70 Mr. Wilts
Clark named Lot ie ore an Ha gerstees 14 to have p Bhi Sites was closely
Watched and finally Tah nawiied. A fe dollar gold pléce which was
Finny ty have hte Wainy the old man was found on bios and he voluntarity
conkessed the whole nuatter, pt te Comsptth Mies trial he glintie the
whole dig af Nis horrible appar cg pected Te ly a5 Mitte
LONI AS he was by 170 The regro ies
andere fy t fall 17 Meet bay fits aa oh
ood ~ Ne \ S
G Al am ‘to sell, Harry | That is about. all, I
fe pe js es trae in the a ee Lar : - GEO ony 2 pel
.¢€ontti ft age -one«”' said, ‘No you are not either’, R : ’, His (X)
Bic ST dele abesddl beg SORE a kil” you vbefere sea’ ahAil act : re
<>
pete WEEE: ary $ iM t gO. pees $ @ ;
ackie at once ad-. re sive ‘ ing Peach «trees, there around the kit-’
RO atid: BERS Aho “Ob: “Me_and -Fannie had been talking Chenitlon: theemoke’ house around
there, and me and Fannie was at the ;
house. [ wax setting on the porch, |
and Fannie was going about ironing. b
1 met her about middle ways, and.
§
fenti fe no ob
a .returting-to . Miasissippi.
# trial here last January, he ,.
: & had determined to come ,
-vomt ashe thought” public |,
wits mad subsided sutticiencly to
m te -pet a fair trial” a
Sat Special Term
ou ous be
ing bef
at EM
~ Mageie
and: got
AED. Os
+ that
ving to “do
Marry and -set-
to grab it, she throws it up: as high?
ashe could reach, and she hollered, ;
‘Come here Harry!’ He was’ out be-}:
j he wash house, I don’t know}
‘| where. “I was not ‘mad A particle, |
sot till he entered .the door, tun? jn to
phelp take the
t pistol |
off in the dining room, Mrs. |
got shot, |
then I don’t know, |
yg ed a eee Pe Me T Sees in $
pos w
T
ms for, you ain't going to de that.’| Jesus has forgiven ine for my sins.
ark.
1s eh ee em
ie) 3
\CKIE EXPIATES mY
CRIME, ON, PALLONS
a5 Pe adhoc’
bednytiéne but fod would he’ ‘er sia ;
“it. [t-waa a bard struggle for aim. to.
ore pent ani: forgive everybody. For.
eiz btudays. he neicher ave tir glep:!
ad wake prayed. He ured) evervhoily*
ito qt Jiving fast and forge‘ting*
"Gol ty may carry you down th:ough |
“the: same sort of hoe, which 4 fanaty
fal in, if you are) not careful.” He.
{wanted ax many as could to ro to|
his daughter's home to night and
pray. yout for hin. be USL thee j
selves, “lam not talking now for -
myself, but for you, to try to. et
you to save your own hovis.” He
saeterred to. his attamnt “and , failure
“ie
d ekson ail, |
PERE OR Nae ne
® ma, =)
he wil Ha yours) : knew mi
“pave a single ou would [
ye ae 0 he Him
Sth ee ae:
Inky He urged his
the Yih who was
0 heln the
: teinke hard,
‘makes me sick
ty convert a fellow prisoner in athe:
Lene ‘sald,:
mighty ne:
her, *T. asked her, an
‘Toa es pe idea of you treatin
ware Ve
‘Why ‘what’
asks as) well give up
Twill steal) her, and
‘and! marry.’ She
Na told] t
to do
»| under the foot of the bed, brings out:
HNL he® ‘entered . the door,.run’ jn. to
help. take the pistol,. when he “tone |
f{that Iywent to. fichtine for: mys«life.!
VIf, he»Wad. not come in, UL don’t. be- }
_| lieve there would have been anything
{| coming back toward me. When Ij)
met Fannie, I throwed my left arm |}
around her, had the pistol_in) mv |).
| right hand,” ‘one’ ball in it. When T||.
ae mS Oe &.
of, you going with Fannie, reaches
a little: pistol, I. crabbed it, I started.
{to grab it, she throws it. up: as high:
ad she. could. reach, and. she’ hollered,
cana here: ‘Harry!’ ‘He was’ out. be-
f| hind | ‘the wash ‘house, I don’t know}
‘| where, I was not mad. a. particle, |
lwas a a going. | Mrs, Bolian: said, .Iths}
none of your business, . | am tired {
Saar a
Sra
happened, because Vo econld-have held!
bthe prea 0 pekeo it away from)
¥ hands: ‘ont it, and | Nm. mot
; iere would not have en an.
out-of the hotise, when she hollered |
for: larry, I-don't know where. they
went Not until later.~ The pistol |
| went. off in the dining room, Mrs. |
Bolian turned aloose, and said, ‘I’m!
i phot: and. right after she got ghot,
b..she ‘went then I don’t. know, |
r T was so busy with Harry Tarver. |
; | He “lost his nerve, and I snatched |
}ithe pistol out wf his hands. When 1!
snatched it out of his hands, I shot
him between the’ shoulders a pur-
pose, but” ‘did not know whether I hit |
him or not. Not untjl later. He
‘broke and run. I walked back about |)
the middle ways of the house, saw!
Mrs, Bolian lying on the gallery
windows and doors. | did: not see
Fannie, didn’t know which way’ she
went, until jumped the fence at Mrs.
150 yards across the éreek, between
crossed the foot log, Fannie . was
cn that the poor woman came
to her’ death by a bullet woundsin’ her | loeked up. in
chack--botween her. shoulders, showing | room. - 1, told
« fleeing stro lg ati back to ‘the
on : ited your ma.
fher/ mother to:
‘too:
Ww
and) + Fan
up North, fd
t
ung Tarver
ae
( eowa n
of it
yoack to.
pe ekier ‘anoth
sald, ‘You al
wedding dress
mother |
2 Vcha
and other, clothes
my. suit case in my}
Fannie when L-. got
house, » come. on -and}ed
lets xo in’ my. room, I. am going to
‘that. dress,’ and I told
come’ an Jn’ there, and}:
“want és na you ta’
Hike ote to. peraeit
talk, «not “xeold.-her;
“mean: to’ her, ‘just
me being. too. old
do the: same. thing? T
vill
talk: to. her about “me being too
ant vou to-promise me that,
ante th. run. away, but
mitch’ gentleman about
with: hher,: and’ leave
il¢ren® here.’ She
ansaet) ahold of you,
off’ and marrvine a
{They mall, have
nie right
ad been, and
reod> not. to
tember.
vme to
» from
made feay or
—shey thought rye was . making
ar—Wwrite letters’ to others to break
nie. ub...’ Wanted to
ent: her. to” New Orleans. I
8: north sornewhlerece Ww: ited
Fannie to her half. ‘brother's
on’'t know where he is
though ‘at-all, for Fannie to make
her-home up there, And 1. was, down
ummit. ‘the evening that this oc-
fad,” the. morning | it) Was, and
went: back in the bur-
with me, and it ‘about. the third
@ 1 had ever saw him. And I
ed him» coming along the road
t.to buy out my_ part
crop. Up, there. He’ said he
had ‘no money. ‘Cause Sug would
not let him stay there any how, We
her house. She di
any use for, him. didg’t
Ike nin ‘and in
e and him was
‘porch, talking about
er logging ‘team, an-
. [other pair mulés, and wagon, and him
driving Au i staying there. Sug
1 needn’t g0: to. Planning
young, for me ag fe
fme .thines in: the letter, th
.{the jailer, read: the letter... Sdrrell.. vay
pe pet to pull her up to.‘me. to Kiss}
her stomach. The_ ol went off,
Fannie droppadesdown: mad Be Proxelaaeel
un off ‘about 10 feet,” and I
“Pannie. dented ‘eve
letter, If they could’
suit. case, that’ I. took her- wedding
‘dress “out, they. ‘would . find letters |
from-both her and her mother at the}
same -hour’ ang minute . written to}
me, I-wrote Fannie aw: letter,: hadsit
done after ‘the trial from. dachpbe,
jail, Oliver Wactor wrote it for me
Jailer Rucker read» the: ie
short time I rot a letter ack
ra
t I. thinds
not farcotten. - Said, "Jt. Ww fh
never., happened.’ When* a
lofyer ‘back from Fannie, Mr. ‘Rucker
Jew prisoner read :the lettar ai
oner named Rice. read’ the fetter
Oliver “Wactor: read the letter.- andy
this is my pravers’ fer tha’ Rolian,
children_to have a better and .cwaete.
er home. and be taught to tell the
truth. My prayers is constantly for
EKannie. Bolian, to become to be a
true. and virtuous woman. to. meet
me in Heaven. when. lp dies,» adh)
my prayers is T hone,] wf he phy Td
lone enough to talk to My. othe our.
children. T' want them to give their
hearts to Jesus, and met me. in
Heaven, when thev die. Brother J.
J. Mayfield showed and taurht me
more ahout the Bible, right in this |.
death cell than T ever knew could be
explained to me. because I had no
education, couldn’t read the Bible.
And T pray especially, for him and
family, for showing me something I
didn’t know, Mv pravers is especial-
Vv for these officers: that has had me’
in control since T got in this trouble.
Sheriff Guv, Sheriff Wells, Jailer
-Rugker and Jailer Martin and Jehn
James, and my attorneys, E. G. Wil-
Wams and R. S, Stewart, and my.
friends, I thank them all for what
they have done for me here on earth.
and my request is for them to all
give their hearts to Jestis. and meet
hme oh the other Shore. That these
fast wavs of the world go by. The
eause of my death is the Nove that
T have for the ladv folks, My
prayers is that T have forgiven every.
enemy, every ‘soul in the world, ‘abd
deat I broke and run, went down !:
‘Ed Johnson’s. Ed Johnson's |!
hounes was closed up hard, and -tight, |):
Sr
Johnson’s yard, 1 saw Fannie about ||:
the railroad and the creek. When I if
her goodbye, she made a’ reach to}
ny hand. that the pistol was in, pull-|,
hand, | pi pistol and. Ato down | “near |
ng ‘
tad thes old i
| shot @ fired, Fannie and.» Maggie |
| broke’ and’ run out of the room, and.
|
‘annie. was. setting inthe
LW hollering. "Hi a |
BRATSTT
Soe
g system, no
to learn and
rprisingly low
leading o
; FOR
‘S$ aputts
VELTY CO.
03,".¥.26,M.¥,
2ING AID
JT BATTERY
(RIAL OFFER
tic hearing
Without BAT-
ar unnoticed.
s. Send today
1es of happy
Dealers ie
opt. 424) WLYVAITILY.
Complete Lite
Gio , Kis, $1.00
snitjl
binetel
pe
Sects
Hangman’s Noose
(Continued from page 33)
5
morning. They're young, and noticeably op-
posites, One is short and heavy, the other
tall and slim. They’re looking for a ride
but the first man who offers one is a judge—
and they’re shy. of officers. So it appears,
anyway, for although they claim to be wait-
ing for a friend to pick them up, they ride
with the next man who stops, and he tells.
me he let them out right here at the edge
of town. That was around noon. At 8 that
night two young fellows—of the same gen-
eral description—are seen putting air into
Tom Boykin’s car...” .
“Into what we believe to be Tom’s car.
We’re not sure.”
“We're reasonably sure. It’s not likely
that two black four-door Chevrolets, 1941
models, would both have a slow leak in the
right rear tire.” ;
“Probably -not. But what about this
thread ?”
“I’m coming to it. I went over Quitman
with a fine comb today. Every cafe. Every
oil station. I even tried the grocery stores,
looking for a short chunky youngster with
a tall lanky pal. At the Dobbs Motor Com-
pany I picked up their trail. They were in
early Saturday morning inquiring for some-
one who could mend a tear in the seat of
the short guy’s pants. They were sent to
a woman who does fine tailoring. The pants
were dark blue. This is the spool of thread
she used.
“I think we can locate the killer by his
patched pants. I talked with the seamstress ;
saw some of her work. It was so well done
that they'll never dream they might be traced
by it. And that’s not all. She gave me a
perfect description of them. The short one
has a long scar across his forehead. He’s
square-faced, with olive skin and dark hair.
The other is fair. They'll weigh. about’ the
same she thinks, though the tall one looks
heavier. She'll know them if she~sees them
again.” They told her they hoped to find work
in Mobile.”
“So we have Otto George heading for New
Orleans and the- other scarface for Mobile.
Probably a blind- in both cases but we can’t
chance it. The New Orleans police are al-
ready on the lookout. We'd better go to
Mobile. Maybe by the time we get there |
they will have located Cole Whitten and his
boy.” 4
“You still think they may be involved in
this ?” ‘
“T don’t know. -I just remember that the
killer seemed to know his way about around
here.”
Tilting his chair on two legs, Harbour
stared thoughtfully at the ceiling. “Westover,
* does this general southerly trek of all sus-
pects mean.anything to you?” -
“Sure. ‘It means that whoever killed Boy-
kin could have serviced the tires at Knob-
town at 8 o'clock and still reached Pasca-
goula in time to chalk up another murder at
midnight. But Whitten and the boy are out
on that job. While you. were gone today we
got an answer to the Pascagoula inquiry.
The suspects there are both young, and not
too unlike the pair Judge Busby ~saw at
Quitman—except that the chief couldn’t say
for sure whether or not one. of them had a
sear.”
Harbour sighed. “I thought we were close
to a solution when we picked up the trail of
the car, but it looks like there’s still a long
way to go.” He'smothered a yawn. . “Let’s
yet some sleep and make-an early start in
the morning.” -*
They were off for Mobile shortly after
daybreak. Captain Ruffin of the safety patrol
halted them ‘at the state line..
“You got a bottle opener?”
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your dear ones °
“I tried to get you but you'd already
started,” he “said ‘tersely. “Some of Boy-
kin’s gas coupons have turned up at McLain.
maybe you'd want to know
about it.”
McLain is between Richton and Pasca-
goula. They abandoned the Mobile quest
for the moment and turned west. The cou-
pons were surrendered some time Saturday
night, but because the dealer who took them
hadn’t heard the original broadcast warning
filling stations to'be on the lookout, he didn’t
discover he had them until late . Tuesday
night. ;
This. man had no idea who turned them -
in but he did have a hazy recollection of serv-
ing a customer with a scarred face. Shown
the picture of Otto George he shook his head
regretfully. “So many people come through
here,” he said. “I don’t try to remember un-
less there’s some reason to. It could be this
fellow. 1 wouldn’t know.”
Questions concerning a possible tall, sandy-
shaired companion aroused no memory, nor
did a long distance call to Kriobtown help.
The filling station operator there hadn’t been
close enough to the youth who put air.in the
tire to see any scar.
“So we're right where we started,” West-
over said gloomily. “We'll have to go aver
this community just like you did at Quit-
man, Harbour. If those kids were here Sat-
urday night someone must have seen them.
We'll have to search until we find that per-
son.” j
Although McLain is not large, questioning
every man, woman and ‘child in it was some
undertaking. Hours passed without a word
of the pair they sought. They finished in.
the town and, as the day wore on, began.
circling it, talking with farmers, wayside
businessmen and persons they met on the
road. Had anyone observed.a black. Chevro-
let. driven by two young men, one of whom
‘had a scar across his forehead?
The task seemed hopeless: until’ shortly
before dark, when they came upon a lanky
countryman: driving. a wagon. along an un-
paved road. , :
“T' saw_ two men in a black car,” he said.
“Don’t know. how old they might be. Don’t
know if it was a Chevvie or not.. And. it
was Suriday morning, not Saturday night.
It passed me while I was out hunting a stray
cow.” ‘
THis meager bit of information had little
." point until’ he gestured off to the right. “It
went into them woods yonder.
down the road a piece ‘you'll find a lane
leading off to an old sawmill.
way they went.” ;
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This was better, -Asked’ if he had ‘seen and the promise of a $500 reward raised by Word flashed to Wayne County. “The
the machine come out he shook his head. the people of Wayne County for the slayer dark one is Maurice Shimniok of Madison,
“No. About that time I heard old Muley’s - of one of its best citizens, : Wis. Joseph Leeman comes from some little
bell and went to get her. I didn’t come out In far away New Orleans the search for town in Alabama,” Lieutenant Hunter told
on this road again,” Otto George went on even though he was Westover. -“They claim they are just out
“
. Sunday morning,” the sheriff mused. “If virtually eliminated as a murder suspect by of high school and know nothing about any
this is the auto it means our young friends _ reason of the fact that the scar he bore was murder. What shall we do with them now ?”
had nothing whatever to do with the Pasca- on his cheek, not his forehead. Cole Whitten “Hold them,” was the Prompt reply. “We’l!
goula affair,” and his son-in-law were found residing in be right over,”
“Unless they doubled back here because it Mobile. Captain Ruffin and two other officers of
looks like a good spot to ditch a car,” Har- According to the elder man, his conversa- the safety patrol made the trip into Georgia,
‘bour agreed. : tion with Boykin as the former sheriff left the returning the suspects to Jackson instead of
They hurried on, hopeful now and anxious bank had to do with living accommodations Waynesboro, where feeling ran high about
to get ahead of the darkness, Turning into in Mobile. Neither man’s shoe fitted the the murder.
the woods they followed a narrow winding print lifted from the clay. Their finger- The boys gave their ages as 17, and said
lane until they reached a dead end. . There, ‘prints didn’t match those lifted from Boy- they were looking for work to last until
nosed into a tangle of undergrowth, well — kin’s car, And when the convict. George was they were 18, at which time they would ‘go
hidden, was the car they sought. The keys finally picked up in a movie theater at Mo- into the Army. Both denied having been
fingerprints, nothing more. No one else trousers, they sent a minute “description of Quitman. That was as far as he would go.
had noticed the car. No one had seen its .. the patch across the southern tier of States, Leeman maintained a sullen silence through-
occupants emerge from the woods. west to Arkansas, east across Alabama. — out the discussion.
That night posses combed the timber in And: late. in the afternoon of Novem. By this time Westover had been to Mobile.
every direction and- found nothing. “Appar- ber 19, six days after the murder, Lieutenant Among the articles found on the boys was
ently no one had been picked up along the David ‘Hunter and W, B. Scarborough of 4 key to a room in a cheap hotel in that
j highway. By noon of the next day this the police department at La Grange, Ga., no- city. Here-the sheriff found Tom Boykin’s
} Phase of the search was abandoned, ticed two young men idling along a busy .32, his leather jacket and a hunting knife.
® Back at Waynesboro, Harbour developed street. One was tall and sandy haired; the F lecks of dried blood in the hinges of this
the fingerprints. Some were Boykin’s but other short and dark. The officers edged _ knife Proved of human origin and matched
there ‘was another set on the door of the close. In the blue trousers worn by the dark in type the blood of the victim, Leeman’s
glove compartment. A quick check with faced youth was a mended place as large fingerprints were on the glove compartment
the state police showed they weren’t on file. as a man’s hand. o in’ i
Copies were sent to the FBI. Meanwhile Lieutenant Hunter stepped between the print left beside a Pile of leaves on the
there was the footprint found at the murder pair. Scarborough remained a few Paces in creek bank, In addition to this the lice,
scene—and the spool of blue thread, the rear, his gun in readiness. He didn’t have moved by the age of the Pair, checked with
Again the description of: the two youths to use it. Taken completely by surprise, the the Navy Department and discovered - both
went over the police radio, along with their youths were arrested so quietly that the inci- boys were deserters from the United States
clothing, a reminder of the mended trousers. dent passed unnoticed in a crowded street. -Navy.
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————__—. were in the lock, Except that the right rear bile, he too was quickly freed from all sus- in Mississippi. No amount of questioning
was low again, the tires were in good condi- Picion of the Boykin murder, could shake them.
(0: —q—~ tion. .The tank was full of gas. here remained the oddly assorted pair
TS ae Bittoan tt In the~falling dusk they checked it for who had dodged Judge Busby’s offer of a METHODICALLY the police set about
% Relative or Friend fingerprints, then drove it into town for a ride at: Quitman. Days passed and Harbour refuting this claim. Confronted with
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Faced with this: array of evidence they
eventually confessed. Their version. of the
crime was callous beyond belief. Leeman,
it seemed, was'a favorite with girls and
needed money for their entertainment. The
less popular Shimniok was a quiet, studious
boy, the valedictorian of his class the year
he graduated from high school. He had
fallen in with Leeman and they joined forces.
Leeman had the flair for- crime. Shimniok
went along for want of something better:to do
with his time.
They told of being picked up by Boykin.
It was Shimniok, in the back seat, who used
the prepared blackjack on their unsuspecting
victim, : :
As Boykin slumped, Leeman caught the
t wheel and -stopped the car. Together they
carried the.unconscious man into the woods,
robbed him and deliberately slashed’ his
throat when he showed ‘signs of recovering
consciousness,
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_ A Judge in Jail
The convict’s happy dream of seeing
a judge in jail came true in Elizabeth-
‘town,. Il. :
This particular jurist was placed in
the hoosegow in lieu of paying a fine
of $20.60 for intoxication. But the
judge saw no reason why such restric-
tion on his freedom should ‘interfere
with his magisterial duties.
There had been pending in his
court a suit of two miners for wages
alleged to be due them by a coal com-
pany for which they had worked. The
magistrate resolved to hear the case.
He sat near a barred but open win-
dow of the jail and listened to the evi-
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-to the suit, as well as the arguments ©
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He ruled in favor of the plaintiffs
and collected his fee, then went back
to serve out his fine.
man stayed to cover the body. When I saw
a car I yelled and he came running. We got
_away.. If it hadn’t been for’. that thread
you'd never have found us ‘in. a million
years,” - ; :
Harbour shook his head. “If not the
thread, then ‘something. else would have
tripped you. The farmer hunting his cow.
The slow leak in the tire, maybe—or the key
you were fool enough to keep. The killer
always makes a mistake.” oe
Shimniok. and Leeman were indicted by
a grand jury and their trial set for January
10, 1944. it ended two days later when
_they were found guilty and sentenced to be
hanged. Pleading their extreme youth, their
attorney tried to get them off with a lighter
penalty. When this failed he took the
matter to a higher court where: it 1s now
‘resting. a
. : boys had nothing to do with
These two
the Pascagoula murder. It was solved by
the conviction of a man named McClanaham
in May, 1944. .-McClanaham’s companion 1s
yet to
Enrtor’s Nore: To spare possible embar-
rassment to an innocent person, the name
Cole Whitten, used in this story, is not re
tried.” '
but fictitious. - . :
‘ Modomize Your Gna! improve Your Seore!
motor running,” Shimniok said coolly. “Lee-
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DENDEX CO. 2714 S. Hi
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‘Making Any Statement-—Ex-
presses Readiness to Die.—
Last-Minate Effort to
Save Him. >
slayer of J. E. Westbrook, was
hanged in the Pike County jail at} word that Loftor -vas in a Cana-
Sheriff Thad|dian prison. Foiiowing up the tip,
Ellzey sprung the trap at 12:26.) Lofton wus iocaced in the Prince
The body was permitted to hang} Albert Province prison.
twenty-five minutes before being! entered a plea of guilty toa charge
ordered cut down by Dr. W. S./of burglarizing a firm in Calgary
of bonds in the sum of $10,000, and |
had received « four-year sentence.
Lofton went to his death calmly,} It is said tha: as soon as he was}
showing no signs of nervousness Senizuced a pho’ograph was made|
beyond excessive smoking of cigar-|of the prisoner ind that a Cana-
He spent much of his last) dian officer recoxnized the picture
hour in prayer and scrjpture-read-/as being the same as that on the
ing with Dr. H. L, Carter, his spir-| circular deseribinz
He walked to the/ Lofton. Fingerprints were further
trap unaided, and stood while his\used for preliminary identification,
limbs were bound. Dr.‘Carter read Blount went to Canada and recog.
the 23rd Psalm as the cords were| nized the man. ba
Magnolia Friday.
Dr. T. E. Hewitt, of Summit.
ettes.
itua] adviser,
tied and the noose adjusted.
The condemned man said he was international
ready to die; that he was ready to] oaimeg by the Canadian Govern-
ment that Lofton, acting there un-
meet his Maker. X
"eee + LAM the while, E. 5. Blount, of Me-{
Goes to Death Calmly, Witheat| Comb, ueputy sheriff of Pike Coun. |
ty and special aiective, wae on!
the tre! of the f{ngitive. More|
than a million clvu/ers were sent
‘into every part >of Nerth America,
with a picturs of «ne escaped pris-
Robert Percy Lofton, condemned | Oner on them.
Barly in 1928 dlount received
He had
the escaped
The case had now assumed an :
aspect. It wag
Sheriff Ellzey was assisted by : .
; Sheriffs N. E. Conerly, of Tyler- der the name £. D. Kinney, must
i town, Martin Brister, of Brookha-
;ven;-and-N--B,-Travis, of Liberty,]
‘and a corps of deputies,
A last-minute effort was made
‘to get Chancellor Cutrer to issue
‘an injunction to prevent the sher-
lit from executing Lofton.
| chancellor refused to intervene.
| His decision was given just before
ithe time for the execution.
Just before the trap was sprung,
Lofton was asked if he had any
statement to make. He saidvhe
The fight to save Lofton from
the gallows was one of the most
spectacular ever staged in
He escaped from the gal-
serve his four years before being
turned Over to the American au-
thorities. Negotiations were be-
gun, and the Governor of Missis-
sippi made f rmal requisition for
the prisoner through Secretary of]
State Kellueg at Washington. A
trial was held sefore Judge Sim-
mons of the Prince Albert Prov-
ince supreme cuurt, in August, ’28,
and Canada did ‘he unusual thing
of awarding the fugitive to Mis-
sissippi, it being understood that
he was tu be executed on his re-|
turn to Pike County.
Lofton was returned to Missis-
sippi and held for a time in the
jail at Meridian. It being neces-
sary to name a new date for the
execution, the State, through a ha.
lows five times, once through an beas corpus proceeding at Magno-
appeal and four times by reprieves| lia, asked fur a dew date for the
Every legal/ hanging, which Judge
remedy was exhausted in his be-| granted, naming November 2 as
half, over a period of more than|the time, This tuling was appealed
to the Missis-ippi supreme court,
The crime for which Lofton paid| but that body refused a hearing,
the death penalty was committed| the records th:-re showing that the
at McComb, Miss., August 3, 1926.| original appeai of Lofton had been
Heiden-|dismisseu in february, 1928, dur-
reich hardware store that day and|/ing the time he -vas a fugitive from
purchased a stove, The clerk took | justice.
from the governor.
two years.
A stranger. entered the
the amount due out of a fiftv-dallar
Simmons
oa
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ERPAIS S.
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the amount due out of a fifty-dollar
check, and gave the change, about
$26, to the customer, The check
was made to J. B. Davis and was
on a bank at McHenry, Miss. The.
stranger represented himself as the
J. B. Davis mentioned. Mr. Hei-
denreich, becoming suspicious BS
to the genuineness of the check,
called the bank at McHenry and
| found that it was not authentic.
J. E. Westbrook, assistant chief
|-of police and police chief-elect, was
| called, and he followed the stran-
ger into the Bethea boarding house,
Jon Maryland Avenue. When the
officer entered, the stranger tnrew
Ja pistol on him, according to the
testimony, and demanded that he
ete up his hands. The shooting
followed, Westbrook firing a bullet
through the body of Davis after
he himse!f had been shot down, ac-
cording to the court records, One
bullet also entered the shoulder of
Mrs. Bethea, who was in the room.
Davis left the house by the back
way, was captured by Sheriff Guy,
\and placed in the McComb Infirm-
ary, where he was operated on and
where he remained for many days.
He refased at first to disciose his
real name, but it was reveaied that
|he was Robert Percy Lofton, that
he was a native of Crystal Springs, |
| Miss., and that his mother lived
, at Dallas, Texas.
Westbrook lingered at a local
\hospital for eight days and died.
! Karly in November Lofton was
placed on trial at Magnolia. He
asked for a change of venue, which
was denied. He also asked for a
continuance on account of his phys-
ical condition. Testimony was
-\taken on this point, six physicians
|agreeing that he was physically
lable to undergo trial.
Considerable sympathy for the
defendant was aroused during the
trial, due to the fact that he was
| alone in the courtroom, none of his
|relatives or friends coming sbout
him. It was understood at the
{ime that a brother in Chicago had
employed his attorney.
The State asked for the death
penalty, under the Mississippi stat-
Jute which makes the shooting of
jan officer prima facie evidence of
| murder. The defendant claimed
|that he did not know that he was
dealing with an officer. The de-
||fense undertook to ‘prove that the
|| policeman was on leave of absence.
| The mayor, however, testified to
\the contrary, The testimony of the
|State tended to establish that
| Westbrook had on his police badge,
jand that, in addition, he was &
|commiasioned deputy sheriff of
| Pike County. .
| November 8, 1926, Lofton was
\ convicted and sentenced to hang by
{Judge E. J. Simmons December
110, 1926, Appesling to the state
| supreme court, Lofton passed by
|
this date, December 28, along
with six other prisoners, ‘he' escaped |
from the Pike Connty jail, and re-
_ mained.st large until early in 1928.
| During this time, t..wns, since
Governor Bilbo granted & re-
prieve from November 2 to No-
vember 16, and from that date to
November 30. Attorneys for Lof-
ton filed a plea for a writ of coram
nobis, alleging that he was insane
at the time of-trial, due to loss of
blood and physical impairment. To
give time for a hearing on this, the
Governor..granted a third reprieve,
to December 7.
In a dramatic scene in the Mag-
nolia jail, a message was received
from the Governor December 7th,
five minutes before the trap was
ity be sprung and after the prisoner
had dressed for the ordeal, grant-
ing a reprieve until December 14.
A hearing on the writ of coram
nobis was held here December 10,
Judge Simmons holding that in the
light of the record it was his opin-
ion that Lofton was sane and prop-
erly able to confer with counsel
pat the time of trial. Judge Me-
Gowan, of the Mississippi supreme
court, reviewed this proceeding
Wednesday and refused to over-
rule the decision of Judge Sim-
mons.
Every effort to have Governor
Bilbo commute the sentence was
.made, ‘The Governor refused td
irterfere unless the judge and the
district attorney jointly asked for
commutation. Judge Simmons and
District Attorney Hewitt, who
prosecuted the case- from ..the . be-
ginning, stated that they were of-
ficers of the judicial department;
that they had done their duty; that
Lofton had received 8 fair trial,
in their opinion, and thus placed
the burden of responsibility back
on the Governor.
In escaping the gallows five
times and facing it for the sixth
time, Lofton probably established
a precedent for getting by the
trap.
Westbrook, the slain officer, was
a veteran of the World War, and a
few weeks prior to the shooting
had been elected chief of police of
McComb over four opponents. He
was survived by his wife, a little
daughter, end a baby only a few
days old.
It was brought out at the trial
of Lofton that he had served a
term in the Wyoming state peni-
tentiary.
Lofton gave out an_ interview
from the Magnolia jail some weeks
ago in which he said that he had
been reading the Bible and that he
had come to believe in the immor-
tality of the soul where once he
thought death ended it-all. He
stated that he had embraced the
tenets of the Baptist denomination
and desired to be baptised by im-
mersion. As there was no place
in the jail to immerse him, it was
suggested that he be taken to a
stream or baptistry. However, this
could not be dond, and it was ex-
plained to him thet beptism was
not essential , to salvation, under
the Baptist doctring; but that faith |
~
wh
Robert Percy Lofton, executed at
Magnolia Friday for the slaying
of Police Officer J. E. Westbrook.
Dr, H. L: Carter, pastor of Cen-
tral Baptist Church, conducted the
service. He stated that he had
spent much time during the last
few weeks with Lofton in the Mag-
nolia jail. He read passages of
scripture that had seemed to ap-
peal to the condemned man, He
said that in Lofton’s cell at the
jail was a picture under which the
prisoner had written, over his sig-|
nature, the words: “There is a
Higher Court; God is the Judge;
prepare your defense.” Dr, Carter
had asked Lofton what his defense
was in the Higher Court, and the
answer was, “Faith—faith in Je-
sus Christ.”
Mention was made of the fact
that a Fidelis class in a Baptist
church had made Lofton a pres-
ent of a Bible early in November,
when he was in jail at Meridian,
shortly after he was brought from
Canada. This Bible had been
much used by the condemned man:
Dr. Carter re-read the 23rd
Psalm, dwelling on certain pas-
sages, this being the scripture read
to the doomed man while he was
on the trap at Magnolia. as the
deputies were binding his arms
and legs.
The minister had spent much
time with Lofton, being with him}
an hour or so before his death.|
He gave it as his opinion that the
conversion of’ Lofton was genuine.
The mother of Lofton was pres-
ent for the funeral, being seated
near the head of the casket. An
affecting scene was that of Mrs.
Nellie Wilkinson Hunt seating her-
self beside the mother during the
service and attempting to console
her.. Mrs. Hunt made a brave fight
to save the condemned man.
Several songs were sung, by a
¢ghoir. A. K. Lanktree led in
prayer. Only a few people were
permitted inside. a large crowd
gathering outside on the street and
sidewalk.
“At the conclusion of the short}
service. J. L. Crittenden took
charge and carried the body to
County Line Baptist Church, four
miles north of Crystal Springs, to
be buried there. This is the vicin-
ity of the boyhood’home of Lofton.
So far as could be learned, no
relatives of the deceased were
presént except his mother, who had
spent many: weeks in this section.
The body was. brought from
Magnolia Friday afternoon and re-
mained in Mr. Crittenden’s estab-
lishment during the night. Hun-
dreds of people viewed the remains
during the evening and night.
LOFTON, Robert Percy, white,
S900 FOR
DEAD or .
By E. E. BLOUNT
“J. B. Davis” who fatally shot Officer J. Earl Westbrook,
of McComb, Mississippi, when the latter cornered him in
his rooming house and ordered him to surrender
A murder—a capture—and a
daring jail-break. A thrilling
pursuit of the fugitives. ...
Where was killer Lofton? Had
he died in the swamps, or was
he still stalking the earth a
constant menace to society? We
had to settle that
question definitely.
And herein is the
astounding answer
26
Ya”
* lal Sa ™ a}
hanged Magnolia, MS on December 14, 1928.
Policeman J. Earl
Westbrook, the vic-
tim, pictured at the
extreme left, with
a group of mounted
fellow officers,
shortly before the
tragedy. He was po-
lice-chiefelect at the
time of his death
Deputy Sheriff of Pike County
Mississippi, As told to
AUBREY
B. BALLARD
“is
im
SUMTER GILLESPIE, Publish
jer.
PUBLISHED EVERY AFTERNOON eAcET scart SUNDAY
ME 1! UMHER | 277.
GREENWOOD, LEFLORE a sven . TUBSDAY AFTERNOON, SULY i,
AUGUST 27th. EXECUTION DAY :
\ VERDICT OF JURY
AS QUICK ONE
tial accounts of the]
i Hairston,
ihilbing.
tu a complete story of murder, whic hy
left nu loop hele for the slaver's es-
a The witnesses varied slight-
in their accounts of the tragedy,:
cording to the angle and the die-!
the pa
The foil
He was catching rides as hitecn received
were woven for the jury an-| could along the way and had reach-| Mcmoriai Fund:
ed a point about threv-quarters of | Mrs. S._P. Southworth
;a mile nerth of the Tallahatchie riv-; 1. St. Dvans
‘er bridge, when Mr. Smith came byi yw. K. Patty
in his car. Mr. Smith stopped one Bg R. Poe
according tu Mackey, told him that'}" C) Graebe
ke fuoked bhke a man who had poe S. Kemp
caped from Parchman. and that Se D. Yelvington
thought that he had a pkture of, A. W. Heffner
hun. The negra sabmitetd to af{Cash
search, of his suit case, which con-: Jj, ¢. Hayes
tained baseball clothes and pisteli vy. W. Thomas
i cartridges. ‘A. W, Norquist
Ma aed maintained that Mr.JW. L. Hall
Smith did not inform him that he}s) MH. Curtis
was an officer, and when by fouad! Joo Dantone
a piste! on Mackey, grabbed cut hist andrew Lombard
pistol and after the officer bad gens! Couty & Webb
around the car the defendant PARED 5. M. Levitt
his gun and twice shot the officer. | Union Drug Company
Mackey admitted that Mr. Smith! Greenwood Compréss
was deving nothing to him, except | Daltoa McBee
suestioning him, and that Mr.,;p G. McBee
smith did not have a gun when shot.) Leflore Compress
‘The negro admitted thut Mr. Smita! jy H. Davis
after questioning him had to.d him! Thos. Frazier
that he would Iet him ride down the! ay B. Graves
ran? with him, but that he was not
iy nion Compress
geing far ; M. Diamond
Questioned Hy the district attern- | i Levitt Hide & Fur Co.
ey as ty why he shut the officer, [| H, Stoner
Mackey declared that he didn't! Qdom Bros.
know Mr. Smith was an officer and NB. Cogiilan
that he shot him twice. ik Davis
The defense closed with the ne-:¢. Joseph
gros testimony and the case Was) @——-
submitted. to the jury.
The lawyers appointed by the court
did full duty to their client, secured
him cvery right the law provided,
it is understeud, will not file an
?*
—
aca cau tance from which they viewed the’
Svivester Mackey, sfayer of Deous scene. AM of them agreed, however:
ty shemtf, Frank Smith will han that the slain officer, wan alreac
fer bbs crime on Bratay., Vocus 20 Gyn ken te rribly, when the fata
Thus cnds the tral afiene of the site were fired, and Yat in mortal
most aenoat onal easra in has- agony, he was either crawling gn all
tory of Letlore County, one; ifn urs eWay from his slayer, or mov-
that bas afoased more pu "Ting away, bent double in his pain
ent than any case tn recedt sy ‘when twey shot. were deliberately,
After bul oa few nmenutes deiihee- ¢ised jnta bis bedy. .
ation ihin morning, the jury cont!” Nannie Loyd. a negro wman, was.
ened of smlendid: representatwes Of othe Gret witness examined. She:
Paflore County's crzenship, re- poard the shooting, saw the officer
turned oonts oceurt their veridet, crawling al car, saw him
“We. the v find othe defendant crpaighten , » car, whirl, and
sulty an reed Bs Ae Dulict saw the See ‘deli berately take aim
nent who werdiet a and fire two shots at the helpiess,
the trio) sudye the matter She saw Mackey min away,
fieing the date of the exerntion, ving the defendant by his col-'
Judge Dawe set bork Nicest 27 _
the date for 2 ition was a pred wit-
Markey reemrudl t : irst saw
twatobedl feery ’ the whte nian on
aEntost : fece, amd crawl the car,
funreioed With what went only, that Neyo raise 2
heer : ake two deither-
Coiled fear con tererns afte thas He did not
ay had returned i> i identify t, hut saw th
in A Muute aed a half after r an Whe did the
ame the cae witheut ATOM OLE sid ye areund the house of
AL aches jo olauibunges nie eden
ly pret egnced sentence | Suas was the
rithe Iaw the detendint tar ai eine
Pod get fess tian f sd a ~ hse
apa AUGAM cag hit T' neotinag, Efe heard the ;
th endition htwo shots. saw the negro cunning
Juke Vevie from the of the car with a
RAR Cie Tpistel in his hand coming toward his
Ge comiuy with house d came on to Shei-
TSU GCS Ss MEALS yin house um that he hag the
stapping, when Judge ae a ee fee ae
Tener by the Ladse, whe i officers youn. got a drink of water,
the sentence, but it was and went on t wats the woods north
the people of tne : Set shel ss tee ahs
lendid: manner in e the vegrs whe came
coriucterd then in the erurtresm, Shel-
FRONT ae of the tr about, saw
tterer of 1) es te n cule nf t
canine neyrs, seeming Some 1 und exclaim, “There he is.”
ty one or two sears utd. he 4s Machey told Sheliv he had
ehert vont five feet eight inches shot at the officer, but didn’t Anew
in hesght amt owerch abet 7k whether he had hit hinter not.
pounds His neck as) thick and T i man * of bee
short, and at will take more than an ing off Parchman™ quoted
ordinary drop on the seaffeld oto Mackey in explanation of the slay-
carry out his execution in the man- Ag.
nero in vegue Misatssipm | Two pistols offered in evidence by
Mackey 1s yellow ax ta skin, hie the state as being those the negra:
hair has sometime been through one Aad in hiy {lucht, were identified by
ef the stranhtening processes, pres J. P. Winte and deputy saernff, H,
valent. now among members of his: V. Clark.
race, reed se cropped ino the ial. Mitchell Jacksen, the negro, who
state eut, stands up an bristles above brought the wounded officer to the
tet omoson like face. ‘hospital; was an unusually clear wit-
Of tow arder of intelligenes, the | ness Mitchell lives near Roebuck,
reyre’s mental are is manifested in and was on his way to Money the af-,
the shape of his head Broad in terno.n of the killing. He was:
front, rounded as a billiard ball, it; seme distance down the road in his
dlopes ina perfeet senu-cirele inlown car, when he saw a puff of
eentour with the nose to the top of smoke near the car ahead, he saw
neck at the back. ‘two men near the car and saw Mr,
The most striking thine shout; Smith ga the edge of the mad, and
Mackey’, appearance, seen for the: down into the ditch. Mitchell said:
heer time is the Cecrsordynary that he thought the car was on fire!
width between the cyes, almest twice
wide asin the ordinary face, and!
the Patent unbelievable thickness of;
the fips,
“There is no expression in the face,
tt is net the ordinary crimival face
but rather one of brotish vacuity.
indicative of the animalistic type of;
intelligence.
ays
Ali day yesterday, the negre sat
there in the court reom, scarcely!
ever changing his position, without!
the semblance of thought
tion manifesting itself in the almond
tyes, y across hig bread face,
received the verdict in that fashion.;
Probably he will go to his death on
the seaffeld witheut changing that!
vacant, furward-looking sture.
The jury that condemned Mackey
was composed of thcbest types of the
county's citizenship. Thoxe who
served word: E.-R. King, W. 8.
or emo-;
He}
when he saw the smoke, and thougat
‘that Mr. Smith was going after
lonse dirt to smother the bhrte. The
iwitness hastened to the scene to aid
hin putting out the supposed fire,
:Mackey ran away as Mitchell's car
| approached, and Mr. Smith called*to
the witness. told him what had hap-
| pened and Mitchell turned hjs car
around and breught the wounded
man to the hospital.
| A portion of the tragedy was also
seen by Mr. J. J. Whittington, neph-
oe of Conyressman Whittington,
and who was abbut 900 yards away.
He saw Frank Smith try to cet away
from Mackey, saw the negro shoot
twice and run, and saw Mitchell
Jackson bring the officer toward
Greenwood. Mr. Whittington was
en one of the plantation roads and
Mackey had disappeared before the
witnesa could get his own car near
the scenc.
Marye, J.T. Mitrhell, VU. C. Neill.) pra. L, B. Otken and G. Y, Gilles.
W. UL. Truitt, Ryan Fergeson, Jr. pip, attending pMyscians testified
Grantham, L. HW. Goff, i. tel tier the officers death was the re-
»M. Hunt, If H. Holland, C.j ault of peritonitis, caused from pis- |
and *A. G. Dunaway, tol wounds in the shdomen. two bul-:
rder pot calculated, but one,
Futhtess in its hearticssness, a delib-
erate shooting of a wounded, helpless
man was detailed hy the negro wit-
of whent saw some part
af the tragedy enacted near them,
Pieced texether,cunder the skitlful
questioning «District Attorney
4.
lets, one entering from either side
of the body, penetrating the abdo--
men
A pnroxtinncaly eight’ hundred per-
sons, crowded inte the ceurt reom;
yeatarday afternoon to hear the evi-/
dence, but perfect order prevailed.
Maclicy was moved through “the
crowd when necessary without any
molestation or demonstration, and }
'oniy the regular force cf deputees i
'axaisted Ly memhers of the city po- >
[ lire force and marshal Coppage of |
Rena were preseat io preserve
itta
ae
MEMORIAL FUND
AND I GROWING
Fifty
B22588888:
_
Seay Sn et ee RS eet
a
she
Cer
1
50.09 |
10.00»;
5.00;
50.00
1.00"
1.90;
2.00!
50,00
5.u0
16.00
5.08
eee
ER GILLESPIE, Publisher,
UME 10—NUMBER 261.
len ra
Koes PUBLISHED
; GREENWOOD, LEFLORE COUNTY,
i
Fars vss
Of Officer}
: sailantt
\
’ - ; a i. . AW ; 44
Judge Davis Will Convene Cireust | RECOVERY, , |
Court Te Hasten Trial of Negro | ene! aaeee
Who Shot Deputy ‘WOUNDE * wesc
‘WOUNDED OFFICER Ig WEAKER {
Fraak Smith | TODAY BUT foLbs own: , j
—— _ IN BATTERY ©" * of
The negro wh, yesterday shot and. ¢ ‘ bs rf
deneerousty wounded Deoary chertty } -
Meacath will be ven a trial iG 3S FE 5
immediately Upon definite. ascertain. NEGRO IS SA
; ment of the wounded man's condition
Cireuit wige 3. avi 1° Sherite ¢ larks. |
Distrete Attorney J M Hairston . : aes Sones. te “ :
eani from G ile ° wigre they éate To Guard Against Aay |
are coart. to arrange th, % ~ ier
Preiuminanes for the convening weeds |
the Leflore county grand Lyvehing
the cireurt court ta
Ted.
be no delay in:
of Justice te ¢
Passed = at
S@S510N of the ig.siature,
CUUrt may te reconteneg
S@cessary and Jadge Davis
1 gr as Serry
CUEIM@¢tances .
fa - F
omen Me PCC Wood and Leflore county te
Hor, Way anxiogs)y awe ed news from the
—~ wade of Deputy Preok
me,
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> mar aeath at barca
; was arn received powder DUFse
negte, The negto d
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rongh <elds &
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and jveke i
| agro signaled }
ee ring two Fs }
vif ne them passin
born of & stone was |
face, aod ee. White's }
. that : er. i }
a py the Pe eed with a shet \
White w “at tee segre, 22
oi ance nce at ee ned we |
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; fees i]
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SUMTER GILLESPIE, Publisher. ; PUBLISHED EVERY AFTERNOON EXCEPT SUNDAY : ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS SERVICE”
VOLUME 10—NUMRER 270: GREENWOOD, LEFLORE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPL MONDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 19, 1926. met FIVE CENTS
a ———— ae
NEGRO SLAYER
| IS IN JAIL HERE
Sylvester Mackey, negro s'ayer of
\ Frank Smith, deputy shenff of
| Leflore County, ie in jail in Green-
wood and has been «ince the night
‘he ena removed from Clarksdale,
Sheriff Fo oH. Crtppen — annottneed
this morning. *
i , “Leflore county a nermal,” Mr
: i , Crippen stated, “imeluding the sher
et a ‘aft, and the eitratns of the county
fa pee ‘ ire a ounit in intending t. see that
Be an pall the law take its cnurse im the hemmed,
ina por "rag | |
i -” cjredeas so | |
paged om i ;
feaey |
a
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‘
VOLUME 10 NUMBER RD en SOREN Ease eee
UMBER 260. GREENWOOD, LEFLOUE COUNTY, MISSI
ee ee ee
ee Sa oe eo ae ee
i
UBLISHED EVERY AFTERN
bioee tasncpres—iee tat ap ater pesos p tre
OON EXCEPT SUNDAY
Ss tee Je Sa sentra: ecmvamny
* 7
ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS BERY.
o
3
set ied
%
fied
AVE CEng *
Ltugel
Two Bullet Wounds In
shot and dangerously waunde
two thirty this aharason nah wa:
identified negro ou the Money road
oY two, miles north of Green-
{ing and
| :
aa woods between
(place and traigaide, in ire
pers 3 Gégta was lant tesa Ke vee
“BUMTER GLLLESPIB, Publisher. .
n
- “VOLUME 1o-NUMBER 268,
- ‘GREENWOOD, LEFLORE COUNTY, MISS
wm
Paying tribute to the asemory of
Deputy “Sheriff Frank. Smith, slain
ago, friends of the lato off
a.simple but impressive mem
service at the Court House last
nigel
ho meeting was attended by
friends of Mr, Smith's from all parts
oft Leflore county who joined in the
ceremonics, ;
» Presided over We Dr. FE. J. Cas-
well, who summ up ing E the
purpose of the meeting and himself’
pald high re eae to the life
and works of Mr. Smith, brief ad-
dresses were made by a number of
friends.
Former sheriff W. 8. Vardaman,
dipfing whose .. adiniiMstration Mr.
Smith has ecrved 4s sep spoke
of “Frunk Smith es a Fellow Offic-
ee ame e aren ail ems
MEMORIAL SERVIGEISHELD.
A MEMDRY OF RANK HT
by Sylvester Mackey, negro, a week}:
- ec fcer held| u 3
orial| bor,” agg gs apeaking
¥
er," praising hie qualities of feur-
lessness, devotion to ang and abil-
ity in his official capacity
ton Upshur spoke on 'Frank Smith
as wo Citizen,” paying tribute to the
. Lattle-| #
Baek) :
slain man’s fidelity to duty in the} Clarksda!
having cdmpleted
everyday things, of life
‘ pics’ OLS
Sheriff Crippen, returned from
about raidnight Jest night,
bis mission there
Dr. of Sidon paid bigh trib-)of moving Bylv Mackey, negro
te to “Prank Smith as a Refgt siayer ¢ De uty} Sheriff Frank
ha Salth, to another place. The remov-
. of
closeness of personal Sratlonship
with him, end the purity: of his life.) the Clark:
Hon. Frank Gar spoke of his| over a
with the
> personal friends!
slain officer, and his feeling.of ad-
miration, born from lo continued
and close’ association | him.
5 Means Johnston -cloved the Clarksdale,
Be ass sheriff, today 4
ly in regard to] statements, cradited ty Sher’ r
tribute to him| pen which he construed as cviticium &
Coahoma Coun-
troops on guard,
im, kpeaking of Frank Smith's
sanbitions, py eager
hia children, and 9a
from intimate knowledge rene
from seven years association’ with
him in the county attorney's office.
Frank Smith's attitude to relig-jed that the g'
fon was spoken of i B. Schlater.| a, precautionary:
oH
At the close of
Caswell appointed a committee com-
nosed of L, 5. Rogers, Littleton Up-
shyr, Means Juhneton and BR. J. Pet
tey fo prepare suilable resolutions, |
sap ars: itu rmersatersiemenecmnccemeasne ima aomecas tw A
puprrenry
al of the negro
s done to relieve
ble ‘Iynching and relieve
the state-fronit +ysaless ses ir of
keeping troops: abput the Clarkedale
i
S edltih to a statement from
here.
necting Dr.| possible mob vote
Lee Mathews, © acting
ers from anxiety
fook exception, to&
Ire Crip- &
Mathows nf that he deliev-)
pn aw aor
was warranted as
measure to avoid,
cO. oe
oe
stated that the ne
it. .
shit st th:
id of the deputy sherif Des
A struggle took pic: Stee ‘s
The negro escaped after the shcot-
a large posse ix. searching
Whittington’s ,
z seen. a
ir. Smith was shot twice in the ab-:
{domen H ; King’
| e was tsken t f
Daughtrre Hospital . by = i
Jackson and his wife. two ,.
who were passing albug shortly af-
ter the shooting.
Ardirds to ¢
Mitchell Ape ag ct Mea by
ooearred
negro why hy oye Ger pieyed
stranger, and one whom re Srsith >
bad picked up « few hundred feet,
down the rvad from where ife negro |
shot hira. The negro was seen walk-\:
ing along the :
north, ben money toed
tying a scit case. -
,
ore he wad Picked piped 2
According to Mitchei Mr.’ Smith.”
tioning him, the a5
Smith's own gun nal doc ten i
the
isa bullet bhe fn
itvare pisible Pree
front af where tua ieDetiey coe toon 2
%
Sues tT
deputy after the shooting. end wis «°
\ last seen by a negro Ota rte
« hoase he nig some 3;
hundred yards from *
e scece of the
ekuaee ¢ negro then disappeared ~-
in the woods a hal : J 2
wahoo
Mr. Smith though shot twice callod xf
to the Jackson negroes wh,
and told them to take him to the”.
are for gttention. ‘ .
(Mr
, that he’ Was on the operating table. >.‘
A large’ force has gathered pot ‘
fare s¢arching the woeds.: The perty:"‘
is heavy armed, and the negro, is
located, witl likely be killed, 7
hegro. is armed with tw,
feats Descriptions of the gots eof og
i€ro are meagre, but it wes said that ~<
j he was wearing a jumper and a
ap.
Gant’s tlagdbounds have seen sent
tthe hospital it was stated ‘that
Smith's wounds were es and t
Deputy sheriff Prank Sih wut
“
* >
Slave MARTHA, hanged Yalobusha County, MS, June 18, 1852 7
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MARSHALL, Charles, white, hanged
at Tupelo, Mississippi, &
~20=192¢
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Case of Charles Marshall, 1940. (e
OFFICERS EVADING MOB: =
WITH SLAYER OF FOUR
A Bail came in and I jumped: be
-door-and looked tirough= a
it that the dynamite had made,
a _“E.saw Charles . Marshall
a bart a-hole in, the wall where
A
Amory, Miss., Jan. 1 7.—While Char-
les) Marshall, accused of the murder }-
or Robert Miller, farmer. his son. aad
daughter and the latter’s baby boy, | kek
was being moved irem place to place f
today in order to prevent mob violence
officers investigating the case gonfer-! it ta been blown out. He stopped aoe
ved late this afternoon and. Promised. Iptked=at my father’s bedy and:then
more arrests. he ead grag: baby and ‘started plies
' That at least one other man shared i*. don't, ow “whether he used
in thé crime was the statement af’:
Proxeenting Attorney Talmadge B.
Tubb after be had come hére from ’ .
Aherdecn, Mis>., to take charge of ataasied «room with - coal: oil, AB-
the case. ; nited.it and then fied. ie
i The center of tho case was Pedr | “She limped a. mils away ta Pe
Mor, the Lotyear-old ciN, who is the ‘boring farny and secured help.» ,
only survivor of the murdereg family. | “The: four ‘Gecies of the~ murdsieea
© Cato and detormined on revenge, victim were: ‘buried late yesterday,
the little baels woods cirl discussed the. while ‘the whole-town of An
case witha U nited iPress representa- ; stiied : “by: the- sar of the grave
tive today ot the home of the chief of) -Shorilyeafterwards “groups |
police of Amorr, Where sie is being started cobting inte -. Aberde
gnaried against the ssibility or at, 16-miiles” away and
violence. , Lewis héard rumors of 2 lynching He
“sty fother ard heathor went ta the (adeoneteae gétiing “Marshall. out ad
font déor when the deys started.,” town in an antomebile at € o'clock and
‘ohn osnid) 6“ Thape war an terrible: exe! said: ha. Inter learned that’ the ie
plosion that_toere awav vart of ‘the had <M,
house and Knocked cown the chimney, [ ar
cand they came rinning in. The ere
had been knocked to Dien os gent
eornined mv les. on T
bet to pub it,
and my fother fell. de ‘end. 1 and Tess than | ae
a a second later there wes cnother shat, |
‘fred throreh a window on the anne! beg
tsite side of ihe house and my brgther oe
“Oftentimes in tears, the girl told
how sh» ran into the next roam, "Tehere (f
her sister, Fannie Green Miller :
ihalding her hahv, A third. shin: phe |:
{Said killed her sister end ax. “sheet
“te the. flonx. the bat Oy
Southern Sent ue
CRipley, oa a
paaniha ane » 120
p: | ) mam oe UY
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