Ladonia, A t his trial, he pleaded self-defense, claiming that-he
had obtained the pistol only for self-protection and had fired-it.
only when Noah Forrest drew his. own pistol after he had questioned
the boy as to the reason for his being attacked, However, witnesses
testified that they had seen Croppwaiting by the fence for some time
before Forrest arrived and made no mention of having seen Forrest
draw his weapon, Cropp was convicted and sentenced to hang and he
was executed on a scaffold erected in a bottom about 400 yards from
Keytesville before several thousand witnesses on June 11, 1880, He
met his death with dignity, still claiming that he had killed only
in defense of his own life, His last words, spoken as the Sheriff
adjusted the noose, were: "Squeeze it tight.'" His neck was not
broken by the fall and he died of strangulation over a 16 minute
period.
A HISTORY Oi HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES, Published, 1683, by The
St. “ouis National Historical Coe, St. Louis, Mo., Pages 620-625,
Ladonia, At his tiwial, he pleaded self-defense, claiming that-he
had obtained the pistol only for self-protection and had. fired-it
only when Noah Forrest drew his.own pistol after he had questioned
the boy as to the reason for his being attacked, However, witnesses
testified that they had seen Croppwaiting by the fence for some time
before Forrest arrived and made no mention of having seen Forrest
draw his weapon, Cropp was convicted and sentenced to hang and he
was executed on a scaffold erected in a bottom about 00 yards from
Xeytesville before several thousand witnesses on June 11, 1880. He
met his death with dignity, still claiming that he had killed only
in defense of his own life, His last words, spoken as the Sheriff
adjusted the noose, were: "Squeeze it tight.'" His neck was not
broken by the fall and he died of strangulation over a 16 minute
period.
A HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES, Published, 1683, by The
St. Youis National Historical Coe, St. Louis, Mo., Pages 620-625,
is tial, he pleaded self-defense, eee ng that.
» he pi %
nd had fired. it
Ladonia, At
bt pistol only for self-protectio
tioned
d ined the
non Nosh Forrest. drey his,own pistol after he had ques
the boy as to the reason for his being attacked, However, witnesses|
seen Croppwaiting by the fence for soma tine
testified that they had
d and made no ment
entenced to hang
before Forrest
Cropp was convicted and s
@ a scaffold erected in a bottom about 1,00 yar
@ before several thousand witnesses on June 11, 1860,
ds from
met his death with dignity, stil) claiming that he had
in defense of his om life, His last words, spoken as the
ose, Were! "Squeeze it tights!” His neck was not
and he died of strangulation over a 16 minute
N COUNTIES, Published, 1883, by The
St. Louis, Ho., Pages 620-625,
touis National 1 Historical Co.,
CROPP, John
Cropp, born a slave in Chariton Co., Moe, in 1855 under the name of
John Hays, changed his name to Cropp after the Civil war when he
worked for a man by that name. In 1680, he was married and a father
a resident of Forrest Green, Chariton Co, On Dec. 25, he went in to
the town to do some shopping. As he was leaving he encountered thre
white youths including Noah Forrest who had Spent the entire morn-
ing firing their pistols at, beating and otherwise terrorizing local
black persons, They stopped Cropp and beat him with pistols, clubs
and their fists and threatened to shoot him before Cropp broke loose
and fled through the fields to his father's home where he borrowed 2
pistol, He then returned to town and picked up his Christmas pack-
ages which he had dropped when he was attacked. The boys had left
and he asked several people,wy including the father of Noah Forrest,
why he had been attacked but none could give him an answer, Late
that afternoon, as,Noah approached: his father's house on the out=
skirts of the town, Cropp, who was Standing by a fence, shot and
killed him in the presence of several witnesses, He fled and eluded
capture for several days when he was finally taken into custody in
CROPP, John
Cropp, born a slave in Chariton Coe, Moe, in 1855 under the name of
John Hays, changed his name to Cropp after the Civil war when he
worked for a man by hhat name. In 1880, he was married and a father
a resident of Forrest Green, Chariton Co. On Dec. 25, he went in to
the town to do some Shopping. As he was leaving he encountered thre
white youths including Noah Forrest who had Spent the entire morn-
ing firing their pistols at, beating and otherwise terrorizing local
black persons, They stopped Cropp and beat him with pistols, clubs
and their fists and threatened to shoot him before Cropp broke loose
and fled through the fields to his father's home where he borrowed 23
pistol, He then returned to town and picked up his Christmas pack-
ages which he had dropped when he was attacked. The boys had left
and he asked several people,xmy including the father of Noah Forrest J
why he had been attacked but none could give him an answer, Late
that afternoon, as,Noah approached: his father's house on the out=
skirts of the town, Cropp, who was Standing by a fence, shot and
killed him in the presence of several witnesses, He flea and eluded
capture for several days when he was finally taken into custody in
CROPP, John
Cropp, born a slave in Chariton Co. in 1853 under the name of
fiays, changed his name to Cropp after the Civil var ynen he
worked for a man by that name, In 1680, he was married and a father
a resident of Forrest Green, Chariton Co. On Dec. 25, he went in to
the town to do some shopping. As he was leaving he encountered three
white youths including Noah Forrest who had spent the entire morn-
ing firing their pistols at, beating and otherwise terrorizing local
black persons. They stopped Cropp and beat hin with pistols, clubs
and their fists and threatened to shoot ‘him before Cropp broke loose
and fled through the fields to his father's hone where he borrowed 2
pistol. io {hea returned to town and
ages which he had dropped when he was
and he asked several peopl
why he had been attach
that afternoon,
skirts of the town, Cropp, who was stan a fence. and
Killed hin in the Bresenes of soveral winsesber “Hest: and siuded
capture for several days when he was finally taken into custody i
HD eT cae
