Lonnie Dixon, 1927 June 24

noticed a smell emanating from the belfrey and when he went to inves-
tigate, he discovered the decomposed body, Both he and Lonnie were
taken into custody for investigation, The child who he had accosted
earlier inthe afternoon was taken to the police station and she iden-
tified Lonnie, After a twenty-hour interrogation, he made a complete
confession and took the officers to the garage where they recovered
Floella's hat and book, He was then taken from Little Rock to Texar-
kana for safekeeping, That night a large mob formed and stormed the
jail searching for him, They then went to the State Penitentiary

and forced their entrance, searching each eell, The frustrated mob
then went to both Benton and Malvern and searched the jails before

it finally dispersed, Brought to trial on May 19, his sto attorneys
were chosen by lots drawn among the members of the Little Rock bar,
Dixon repudiated his confession and sought to XHHXXXAKE blame a 16-
year-old friend who he said had taken the girl to the belfrey while
Dixon stood guard. During the trial, the court house and the block
on which it stood was patrolled by policemen, deputy sheriffs and
National Guardsmen and he was convicted by a jury which deliberated
for only seven minutes, There was no appeal and on dune 2h, 1927,

he was electrocuted at the Arkansas State Prison, He made no last.
statement and his only request for food was some watermelon in addi-

tion to the oem? Bese anuee He was given 4 of a 35 lb, dace
ARKANSAS GAZET -1-1926(photo of victim, page 1; his poto, pg :
se bag (279. 229g ¢ eo Ly 9 3 9 .

% 7p BE” RE
pn Pd te he

noticed a smell emanating from the belfrey and when he went to inves-
tigate, he discovered the decomposed body, Both he and Lonnie were
taken into custody for investigation, The child who he had accosted
earlier inthe 4fternoon was taken to the police station and she iden-
tified Lonnie. After a twenty-hour interrogation, he made a complete
confession and took the officers to the garage where they recovered
Floella's hat and book, He was then taken from Little Rock to Texar-
kana for safekeeping, That night a large mob formed and stormed the
jail searching for him, They then went to the State Penitentiary
and forced their entrance, searching each sell, The frustrated mob
then went to both Benton and Malvern and searched the jails before
it finally dispersed. Brought to trial on May 19, his awo attorneys
were chosen by lots drawn among the members of the Little Rock bar,
Dixon repudiated his confession and sought to XMHXXHAKE blame a 16-
year-old friend who he said had taken the girl to the belfrey while
Dixon stood guard. During the trial, the court house and the block
on wiich it stood was patrolled by policemen, deputy sheriffs and
National Guardsmen and he was convicted by a jury which deliberated
for only seven minutes, There was no appeal and on June 2h, 1927,
he was electrocuted at the Arkansas State Prison, He mage ng lagi.
statement and his only request for food was some watermelon in addi-
tion to the regular Pe fare, He was given 4 se : 35 ve Sete
ARKANSAS GAZET “1-192 oto of victim, page 1; his Oy Phe 3
5. BANS AS CAIUS 9g pee pacts ui ee oe is

noticed a smell emanating from the beltrey and when he went to inves=
tigate, he discovered the decomposed body, Both he and Lonnie were
taken into custody for investigation, The child who he had accosted
earlier inthe afternoon was taken to the police station and she iden-
tified Lonnie, After a twenty-hour interrogation, he made a complete
conféssion and took the officers to the garage where they recovered
Floella's hat and book, He was then taken from Little Rock to Texar-
kana for safekeeping, That night a large mob formed and stormed the
jail searching for him, They then went to the State Penitentiary
and forced their entrance, searching each eell, The frustrated mob
then went to both Benton and Malvern and searched the jails before
it finally dispersed, Brought to trial on May 19, his sto attorneys
were chosen by lots drawn among the manbers of the Little Rock bar.
Dixon repudiated his confession and sought to XWNXXaxKE blame a 16-
year-old friend who he said had taken the girl to the belfrey while
Dixon stood guard, During the trial, the court, house and the block
on which it stood was patrolled by policenen, deputy sheriffs and
National and he was by a jury wi

for only seven minutes, There was no appeal and on ‘June 2liy 1927,
he rasa areas Sesto Sante Drea eee
oie the regular prison fares He was given 4 of a 35 1b, melon,
GATEUTE, Eke eres of victim, page 1; his poto, pge 173
IGF f= 7' rd

‘pce iy Mapes, ee is
DIKON , Lonnie Yi. / Roe Creclia hel A Vv, / 926, fee for Ceey
a ‘no ¥ ttowe Caseotirtrs ptediug AY the heay! Oe
Dixon, a youth born on June 6, 1909, fas a ligh€-skinned mulatto Ce
through whose veins coursed the blood of white, black and Indian an-
cestors, He lived at 513 East Seventkenth St., Little Rock, Ark., and
assisted his father who was the janitor of the First Presbyterian
Church located at Eighth and Scott Streets, On the afternoon of April
12, 1927, the father attended a ball game and Lormie was at the church
alone, Early that afternoon he met an 8-fear-old white girl on the
street in front of the church and told her that if she would return
later in the afternoon, he would give her a present. She did not ree
turn and reported the incident to her parents who, at the time, thought
nothing of it as they assumed that the church was sponsoring a party.
EAXKEK Around 1:30 that afternoon, 12-year-old Floella McDonald, return-
ing home from the public library, stopped in the vestibule of the churcl
to get out of the rain, Dixon lured her into the belfrey and there he
forcibly raped her, After he had finished, the girl began crying and
said that she was going to tell her father and brother, He then grabbec
a brick and bludgeoned her to death, leaving the body in the belfrey.

When he went back inte the vestibule, he found her hat and a book that
she had obtained at WRX the ibrary’and he threw these into a vacant
garage several blocks away, For over two weeks, the city searched for

the missing child, but no trace was found, On April 30, Dixon's father

DION » tomie 4/1 foe tis gates) we pogo
Lh nsng Stowe Cases lirtrs dhiug LI fhe Hay SC, /:
Dixon, a yo aa on June ee 1909, AG Tigi-seinned mulatto 2H

through whose veins coursed the blood of white, black and Indian an-
cestors. He lived at 513 East Seventkenth St., Little Rock, Arke, and
assisted his father who was the janitor of the First Presbyterian
Church located at Eighth and Scott Streets. On the afternoon of April
12, 1927, the father attendkd a ball game and Lonnie was at the church
alone, Early that afternoon he met an 8-fear-old white girl on the
street in front of the.church and told her that if she would return
later in the afternoon, he would give her a present. She did not ree
turn and reported the incident to her parents who, at the time, thought
nothing of it as they assumed that the church was sponsoring a party.
KAKEE Around );30 that afternoon, 12-year-old Floella McDonald, return-
ing home from the public library, stopped in the vestibule of the churcl}
to get out of the rain, Dixon lured her into the belfrey and there he
forcibly raped her, After he had finished, the girl began crying and
said that she was going to tell her father and brother, He then grabbed
a brick and bludgeoned her to death, leaving the body in the belfrey.

When he went back into the vestibule, he found her had and a book that
she had obtained at HM&X the dibrary’ and he threw these into a vacant

garage several blocks aways *or over two weeks, the city searched for
the missing child, but no trace was found, On April 30, Dixon's father

/DIRON , Lonnie Y/../ Loe ee. Ke fexgeeg
WA Nets CAseo As fer he ny A Ore;
Ra a Sie poe: “ike 6; 5909; Tree Vigtt-ceinned matec¢é Cedi

through whose veins coursed the blood of white, black and Indian an-
cestors, He lived at 513 East Seventkenth st., Little Rock, Arke, and
assisted his father who was the janitor of the First Presbyverian
Church located at Bighth and Scott Streets. On the afternoon of April
12, 1927, the father attendkd a ball game and Lonnie was at the church
alone, Early that afternoon he met an 8-fear-old white girl on the
street in front of the.church and told her that if she would return
later in the afternoon, he would give her a present, She did not re-
turn and reported the incident to her parents who, at the time, thought
nothing of it as they assumed that the church was sponsoring a partys
EXKKE Around 1:30 that afternoon, 12-year-old Floella McDonald, return-
ing hone from the public library, stopped in the vestibule of the churc!
to get out of the rain, Dixon lured her into the belfrey and there he
forcibly raped her, After he had finished, the girl began crying and
said that she was going to tell her father and brother, He then grabbe
a brick and bludgeoned her to death, leaving the body in the belfrey.
fihen he ‘

ghe had obtained at Hak the ficrare’ ofa fot her, ha end a book that
garage several blocks away. For over two weeks, the city searched for
the missing child, but no trace was found, On April 30,-Dixon's fateor

rade FOROe:

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