Jasper County, Missouri - Chapter 44: The Negro Lynching and the Riot, 1912

Murder of Pouceman Leslie - Capture of the Murderer - ^The Jail Battered in - ^Awful Lynchinq of Gilyard - CLEARmo Out the Negro Quarters - ^Law and Order in Contrch. - Pinal Result.

Prom April 14 to 16, 1903, Joplin witnessed a scene of wildest excitement and great disorder, which was brought on by the murder of Policeman Theo Leslie while attempting to arrest Thomas Gilyard and a band of lawless negro tramps. Officer Leslie was the third member of the Joplin police force to be killed while in the discharge of his duty during the administration that was just drawing to a close.

A short time before the incident a negro ravisher at Pierce City had been lynched - and the irate citizens of both Pierce City and Mcmnett had driven the colored people of those two places out of the city and the recollection of this unfortunate incident was still treah in the minds of the people of Joplin and no doubt influenced some of the i>eople and helped bring about the incidents that followed.

On the night of April 13 the hardware store of Bullock & Pierce had been burglarized and a number of revolvers and a quantity of ammunition stolen. This was one !'>f a number of small depredations that had been committed during the spring and indicated the operation of a gang of petty thieves whom the police were determined to suppress.

On the afternoon of the 14th in searching through the Kansas City Southern Railway yards Policeman Leslie discovered a gang of negro tramps occupying a box car in .an out-of-the-way place in the norUi end of the yards in the Kansas City Bottoms. As he approached the car one of the inmates of the box-car house came out and Policeman Leslie, ordering him to halt, began to search him. At this a negro named Thomas Gilyard opened fire on Leslie from the rear and the officer, turning on this assailant, returned the fire. Several shots were exchanged, one of which killed the (^cer, and he fell dead, a victim of the bullet of the negro leader of the gang.

A number of citizens witnessed the shooting and ran to the assistance of the unfortunate policeman, and Clarence Shortless, like Clark and others took after the negro, who had been wounded in the leg by a shot from the oflScer's gun. Examination of the box-ear showed that it had been the shelter of the gang, as it contained bed clothing, a few cooking utensils and a quantity of plunder which had been taken on the numerous pilfering trips during the month previous.

The news of the officer's murder spread like wildfire and the greatest excitement existed. From all over the city people flocked to the police station and thence to the morgue of the Joplin Undertaking Company, where the body of the oflBcer lay cold in death. City Marshal Marquiss, of Webb City, was telephoned for and came over with his bloodhounds. The dogs were placed on the scent, which they followed north on the railroad for some three miles, when the chase was given up. The men in charge of the dogs stated that they were exhausted and had no means of following the dogs except on foot. Armed posses of citizens from Joplin, Galena, Carl Junction, Asbury and all the other towns in the district scoured the country in search of the murderer.

Never, perhaps, in the history of Joplin, were such scenes witnessed as those which accompanied the capture and hanging of the negro Gilyard. All that day excitement ran high and groups of men stood on every comer talking about the murder of Policeman Leslie. In every hamlet and village in the surrounding country the news was flashed from Joplin to watch for the murderer. In every locality for a radius of twenty-five miles men were scouring hill and dale with set faces and stem purpose. The wildest rumors came thick and fast stating that the murderer had been caught in this place or that and with each new report still another band of armed citizens would start on double quick to investigate the story. It would seem that he whom the public sought could not possibly escape and as the day lengthened into the evening the tense nerves of the people never relaxed. *'He will, he must be found" seemed t e universal verdict.

Lee Fullerton, an employee of the Bauer Brothers' butcher shop and M. R. Bullock, living near Castle Rock, captured the murderer. Fullerton first discovered the man on the afternoon of April 15th at 3 o'clock. He had gone to the company's slaughter pen on Turkey Creek between Castle Rock and the Frisco block and was just entering the yards when he saw a negro limping up the hill. The man carried a large gun and Fullerton thought at once that the man before him was probably the one who killed officer Leslie.

** Where are you going?" he asked. The negro at first made no answer but finally after sitting down and leaning against the fence he replied, **Come here a minute, I want to tell you something."

At this stage of the proceeding Bullock api>eared and the two men retreated into the slaughter house near by. When they returned Pullerton carried a large butcher knife. To the negro he said, '*I guess it will be all right for you to stay here;" and Pullerton busied himself cutting tallow within a couple of feet of the negro.

Suddenly he leaped in front of the negro and placing the knife in front of the fellow's throat, he said **Make one movement and 111 cut your throat."

Just at 4:15 o'clock the same day a shout went up from somewhere nobody perhaps knew where. But that shout echoed far and wide. **They have the murderer" was the cry and from every street and alley, from every point and suburb, men and women and children came flocking to the jail.

On all sides, in front and even on top of the old structure, a sea of surging humanity fought and struggled to get nearer the cell in which the shivering cowed black man lay. Every moment swelled the crowd, until thousands surrounded the prison and cries of **kill him!" ** Lynch the nigger!" and **bring a rope!" rose on every side.

''Break the jail down!" shouted frenzied men, and from somewhere came willing hands bringing a heavy timber. Only a moment did the crowd hesitate. Strong hands seized the battering ram, there was a crash and the side door of the old jail was in splinters. Into the corridor poured the raging, tossing mob, carrying down the cordon of police who vainly sought to stem the terrible tide.

Down to the cell where Gilyard lay in an agony of fear surged the mob. Someone raised a heavy sledge hammer aloft. Crash after crash came the hammer on the lock and louder yelled and stormed the wild crowd behind. As the blows fell the fastenings gave way, the door opened and into the cell like devouring wolves the avengers surged.

Thomas Gilyard, from the floor where he lay, looked at those who came after him with a face from which hope had fled. Big and powerful as an ox, he was tossed about like a feather in the sea of humanity of which he was now the center. Out into the open air and bright sunlight, Thomas Gilyard was dragged to his doom. Westward on Second street to Wall pushed the multitude and louder and still louder roared the awful concourse which demanded the prisoner's life. The crowd was by this time swelled to thousands. Like a terrible vortex of raging billows the mob swayed and struggled and fought to reach the object of its wrath. A handful of bold determined men fought manfully to save the negro in the interest of law and order. Back and forth with the strength of desperation, these men struggled to hold the avengers back. Ravening hands seized the negro only to have their fingers torn loose from his quivering flesh. Long and faithfully those who wished the law to take its course battled with the mob and each moment the frenzy of the mob grew stronger. Attorney

Perl Decker was hoisted to the shoulders of the crowd and made a powerful plea in behalf of the law. Time and again he was pulled to the earth and each time he clambered back above the howling multitude ; but his efforts were in vain.

Dr. P. E. Rohan struggled with might and main to hold the crowd in check and Mayor-elect Cunninghan was hurriedly driven to the scene in a buggy. Urging his horse as far as possible into the densely packed crowd he stood up and commanded the attention of the crowd. But no human voice could make itself heard above that awful roar.

Louder and fiercer grew the cries for the negro's death. It now became a struggle for mastery. Men fought like demons to reach the black man, who looked about him with staring, horror-stricken eyes. Slowly but surely the negro and his would-be rescuers were borne across the street toward a telephone pole. Prom somewhere a rope was whirled across the heads of the crowd. As its serpentine length flew through the air one end fell on the negro's shoulder.

Clinging to the pole in mid-air were two determined men. Silently they watched the scene below. Each man was holding forth his hand. Up came the loose end of the rope and the outstretched hands seized it.

'*Up with him," shrieked the crowd now beside itself. t Slowly the rope was torn from the hands of those who sought to prevent the lynching.

There was a convulsive movement of the negro's arm, as if he would seize the rope which closed about his throat. High above the spectators the body hung; the features sullen, the eyes closed, the heavy jaws set.

After the body of Gilyard had been cut down and removed to the morgue, great crowds congregated about town and discussed the affair. There was considerable excitement and the streets were crowded with rapidly increasing throngs.

About eight o'clock that evening an uproar was heard on North Main street and as the crowds rushed to the middle of the street to ascertain the cause a huge body of men were seen approaching. On they came until it looked as if thousands must be in the multitude. **Out with the niggers'* was the battle cry. South on Main until Seventh street was reached marched the throng, their numbers increasing every moment.

As the mob went east on Seventh street, yelling and hooting, the negroes ran out of the alleys like rats in their fright and determination to get away.

When the mob had concluded its work on Seventh street the march was begun toward the north end. When the army reached this locality, not a colored person was to be found. The evacuation was complete.

Then the work of destruction began. Windows were smashed in and doors torn from their hinges. Finally the torch was applied and three houses were soon in flames. The fire department responded and when they had laid two lines of hose it was discovered that both strings had been punctured in many places almost rendering the apparatus

It was estimated that over one hundred negro families had moved out of the city. Next morning a News-Herald reporter visited the localities and found scores of colored families packing their belongings preparatory to taking the first train out of the city. Express wagons were driving hither and thither hauling away furniture, box^ and all manner of household goods.

All the next day there was a marked migratory movement on the part of the colored population of the city. It was said that the second-hand stores had done more purchasing of household articles that day than they had during all the rest of that month. The negroes were thoroughly frightened. They firmly believed that something desperate was to be done that night. Later in the day there were wild rumors on the street, to the effect that at night the mob would reassemble and finish the work of the night before. It was also reported that sympathizers from neighboring towns would come and help drive out the negroes who still remained in the city.

Law and Order in Control Mayor Trigg issued a call for a mass meeting at the courthouse for the purpose of organizing a law and order posse to prevent further depredations and to preserve the peace. One thousand citizens responded to the call, among them T. A. Cunningham, mayor-elect, Jno. A. McManany, city marshal-elect, and many business and professional men.

On calling the meeting to order Mayor Trigg said that he greatly regretted not only the lynching of Gilyard, but the destruction of the property of the colored people, many of whom had been good citizens and long residents of Joplin. After the passing of resolutions pledging the support of the citizens in maintaining law and order, a citizens' committee of five hundred was organized. Post Commander Jones, of the G. A. R., tendered the services of 0. P. Morton Post, No. 14; Robt. Robyn, for the Knight of Pythias, tendered the services of Joplin County, No. 40, U. R. K. P. ; Canton Lincoln, of the I. 0. 0. P. ; Washington Camp, Uniform Rank Red Men, and other semi-military societies enlisted; and, in addition to these, three companies of citizen volunteers, were quickly organized and were commanded by Jno. A. McManany, city marshal-elect, Lee Shepherd, former lieutenant of Company O and John Malang. The entire posse, numbering eight companies were pteced in command of Col. Joel T. Livingston, of the governor's military staff, and after marching from the courthouse down Main street to the mayor's oflSce (as an object lesson), the companies were dismissed and retired to the several places which had been selected as company headquarters to wait developments.

That night the streets were packed and, as a precautionary matter, the Mayor ordered the saloons closed. It should be stated here, however, that the vast throng which filled the streets was for the most part made up of good citizens who had come to town, not for the purpose of encouraging or participating in any lawless acts, but simply to see the excitement and, as one spectator happily put it, **to be Johnnie on the spot and see anything of an exciting nature that was pulled off." Mayor Trigg made a speech to the crowd at Fourth and Main streets, then packed so thickly that travel was impossible, and requested the people to go to their homes. Some few people complied with his request, but the great majority stayed to see if anything else would happen. Mayor Trigg then ordered the police force and posse to clear the streets and the volunteer force, five hundred strong, moved down Fourth street and into Main, marching in solid column sixteen abreast. There was at first some resistance, however, but in half an hour the streets were cleared, most of the people realizing that for them to remain on the streets would place them in the attitude of encouraging acts of lawlessness. By nine o'clock all excitement had subsided and the volnteers were dismissed to reassemble at the sound of the brewery whistle, which was agreed upon as a riot alarm.

After quiet was restored, the colored people began to return, and in a few weeks the event was treated as a closed incident. While most of the colored families returned, some of them never came back to the city and some others, feeling that the event had been a great humiliation to their race, moved away.

The rowdy element among the colored population who had previously lived in the Kansas City Bottom either gave Joplin a wide bertii or, on returning, became *'like little Willie the week before Christmas," just as good as could be. As an aftermath to the mob scenes, the colored people of Jasper county met at Carthage, April 28, organized a law and order league and pledged their cooperation with the officers to drive from the state all bad characters.