Haggard, Lexington Leader, July 25, 1895
A FINE TIME To Find Out That a Lynching Was Unwarranted. A Strong Sentiment That the Recent Winchester EVent Was Unjustifiable–The Grand Jury May Actually Investigate It. WINCHESTER, Ky., July 25. – A strong sentiment prevails here that the lynching on July 15 of Bob Haggard, a negro on suspicion of having assaulted Miss Elkin, was unjustifiable. There are many assertions afloat going to prove that the Negro was innocent of the crime alleged, and that the members of the mob are beginning to realize that they have made a dreadful mistake. The rumors have reached the dimensions of a report that the Grand Jury will be asked to investigate the lynching. Many of the lynchers are known. ADDITIONAL DETAILS (Special to Louisville Commercial) WINCHESTER, Ky., July 25. Last Monday night Winchester, Ky., added to her record one of those blood-thirsty crimes that have so long disgraced the chivalry and dignity of the South, by taking from the county jail without judges, jury, or justice, “Bob” Haggard, charged with committing criminal assault upon Miss Myrtle Elkin, about ten miles South of this city. The magnitude of this crime, for which a Winchester and Clark county mob is responsible, is just now being realized, since it is believed, after a week’s investigation and reflection, that Haggard was not guilty, and the deed for which he lost his life had never been committed. An investigation by The Commercial correspondent, made by interviews with reliable people from the neighborhood of the supposed crime, warrants a several and complete denunciation of the mob’s vengeance, and the wide publication of the act as a lesson to the reckless. There is an old and true saying that murder will out, and it is just as true whether committed by a mob or an individual. In this case the true facts are known in less than a week, and many hot-headed citizens who were drawn into the mob because a “Negro had assaulted a white girl,” now regret their action. In the neighborhood of the RIchards’ residence, where the deed was supposed to have been committed, the denunciation is strongest, and good people of the community may force the attention of the next grand jury and indict the principals in the mob, who were well known. It was sent out in all the dispatches from here, giving account of the assault, that the crime was committed about sunset on Saturday evening, while the young lady’s grandmother, Mrs. Betsy Richards, was in the garden gathering vegetables, and that the burly fellow made threats and promises and kept guard over the premises until noon on Sunday. But, instead, it is now known to be a fact that on Saturday night and Sunday the Richards’ home had many visitors, among them being Mr. and Mrs. George White, of Richmond–Mrs. White being an aunt of the girl–and that Mrs. Betsey Richards and Miss Elkin both attended church at the near-by village of Ford on Sunday morning. The protection given Haggard by the officials when the mob appeared was a farce and is a disgrace to the dignity of a civilized community. It may be said to the credit of the Sheriff, however, that he sought permission from the County Judge, after had had been informed of the mob’s approach, to allow him to remove the prisoner to Paris for safe keeping, but this was refused and the Sheriff commanded to guard the jail. The Sheriff, however, could not summon a posse that was not in sympathy with the mob, and it is said one of these, after arriving at the fatal bridge, even furnished his spur straps to buckled the unfortunate Negro’s feet together - Less than a year ago Winchester was saved from the disgrace of mob violence, not by the protection of the county officials, but by the courage of the prisoner himself. Henry Scott, a Negro had been accused of a similar offense upon a little 3-year-old coloreed girl of this city. He was jailed, and that night a mob of Negroes and white boys about town went to the jail to take him out and hang him. He had been placed in a convenient cell and the keys were turned over to the mob. The Negro secured a bed slat and successfully defended himself until the jailer, vexed by the slothfulness of the motley crows, went out and took the keys from the hands of the header, locked the door again, and went to bed, leaving the mob to disperse. Next morning two physicians were sent to examine the child, and no attempt to commit the crime had been made, and the prisoner was promptly released. - The mob that hung Haggard was just as thoughtless, and instead of being the friends of the wronged girl, it was largely made up of hot heads from this city, who simply wanted to hang a Negro. A thorough investigation of the hanging of Haggard, it is predicted, will demonstrate that there was no good ground for holding him accountable for the crime for which he was lynched, and if an honest investigation is made it wil be shown that no such crime was ever committed. The facts as here reported are public property now, and the civilized people of Kentucky will want to know why Haggard was charged with such a crime, and why he was permitted to be murdered in such a manner.
Allen, Earlington Bee, November 17, 1914
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress
Allen, Hartford Republican, January 15, 1914
Chronicling America, Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress
Allen, Hickman Courier, January 21, 1915
Allen, Hopkinsville Kentuckian, November 19, 1914
Ardell, Lexington Herald-Leader, June 27, 1889.
Associated Press to The Leader. LOUISVILLE, June 27. – A mob went to the jail at Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, at 1 o’clock Wednesday morning. They demanded of Jailer Bowman the surrender of Thomas Mitchell and Charles Ardell, who were confined there charged with murder of a peddler named Joseph Levin. Mr. Bowman refused to surrender the men and took his stand in front of the food with a shotgun, declaring he would kill the first man who tried to pass. Mrs. Bowman, hearing the threats, and fearing that her husband would be killed, ran forward and gave them the keys, begging Mr. Bowman not to provoke them. The leader then unlocked the doors and went to the cell where the prisoners were confined. The jailer followed, begging them at least to spare Mitchell who he believed was innocent. They yielded to his entreaties, telling Mitchell he might thank Mr. Bowman for his life, and, binding Ardell, took him to the woods where they hung him to a tree. The men all wore masks and were on horseback. The crime with which the men was charged was a most flagrant one. Levin had stopped at a house near Shepherdsville last Thursday, and was showing his goods, when two tramps came up and asked for something to eat. They remained several minutes, and when they left, secreted themselves by the side of the road, a short distance away. When Levin came by they demanded his money, and, upon his refusal to give it up, shot him down and robbed him, broad daylight as it was. The shots were heard, and the men were seen running away. Levin, who was a Pole, was brought to his home in this city, and died last Sunday. On Friday Mitchell and Ardell were arrested and identified as the tramps. Ardell admitted the killing and said Mitchell had not taken a hand in the deed. Ardell’s right name is thought to be Harry Forrest. His father lives twelve miles from Pittsburgh, and is a well-to-do respectable man. He long ago disowned his son, who seems to have been thoroughly depraved almost from infancy. Mitchell lives in Jeffersonville, Ind., and has a wife and several children. He claims to be an engineer, and until recently was employed in the car works. He left Jeffersonville the Monday before the shooting and went to New Haven, Ky., in search of work. He failed to get a job, and was on his way home, “tramping,” when he fell in with Ardell, whom he claims to never to have seen before. Ardell persistently refused to talk about the shooting, but Mitchell did not deny it. He fixes all the blame on his companion, however, and says he begged Ardell not to shoot when Levin refused to give up the money. Mitchell had no weapon of any kind, and the pistol used was stolen by Ardell from a house several miles down the road two days previous.
Swift and Speedy Revenge. At Normandy, Spencer county, Ky., Chester Crawford, a young farmer, shot and instantly killed Lon Beard, a negro, who the night before attempted to assault Mrs. Crawford. Beard was being taken from Taylorsville to Shelbyville for safe-keeping and when the train stopped at Normandy Crawford stepped aboard and fired seven bullets into the negro’s body. He at once surrendered to the Sheriff, and after the Coroner’s verdict was rendered he was released on a bond of $1,000, signed by fifteen of the leading citizens of his neighborhood.
Newspapers.com
SHOT TO DEATH BY MOB Lon Beard, a Negro, Charged With Assault, Riddled With Bullets at Normandy, Ky. Louisville, Ky., July 8. – A special to the Times from Shelbyville, Ky., says: Lon Beard, a negro who had been arrested on a charge of assaulting Mrs. Chester Crawford, of Normandy, was lynched at that place Friday afternoon. He was being taken from Taylorsville to Shelbyville for safekeeping, but when the train arrived at Normandy a mob of about 25 men entered the day coach and riddled Beard with bullets as he sat in his seat.
QUICK VENGEANCE FOR NEGRO BRUTE Was Being Taken to Shelbyville to Escape Mob. While in the Smoking Car, a Fusillade Left Him Riddled With Bullets. ATTEMPTED ASSAULT CHARGED Taylorsville, Ky., July. 8. – Lon Beard, a young negro, charged with an attempt to criminally assault Mrs. Chester Crawford, of the Normandy neighborhood, was shot to death yesterday afternoon while being taken to Shelbyville on a train for safekeeping. He had been in the jail here and fearful of a mob it was decided to take him away. When the train made its regular stop at Normandy station, about 25 men got aboard. The negro with the officer, was in the smoking car and before the trainmen or the officer knew what was happening, there was a thunder of firearms and the negro was dead, riddled with bullets and buckshot. It is generally accepted that he was killed by Chester Crawdord, husband of the negro’s intended victim. The negro went to Mrs. Crawford’s home at 11 o’clock Thursday night and forced an entrance through a window. She was alone in her home with the exception of several children and was awakened by the negro springing upon her in bed. She resisted as best she could, and called the oldest child, aged eight, to summon help. The child ran to go out the front door when the negro left his victim and attempted to stop the child. Mrs Crawford then escaped by a back door and cried for help. Neighbors soon arrived, but not before the negro made his escape. Mrs. Crawford was bruised, but escaped serious injury. The negro was captured on his farm and held until the arrival of officers. When questioned the negro would neither affirm nor deny his guilt. Crawford is said to have stepped aboard and fired seven bullets into the negro’s body. He at once surrendered to the sheriff and after the coroner’s verdict was rendered, was released on a bond of $1,000, signed (incomplete)