A Hanging in Nacogdoches: Murder, Race, Politics, and Polemics in Texas's Oldest Town, 1870–1916, Volume 9This historical study examines a “legal lynching” in 1902 Texas, shedding light on race relations, political culture, and economic conditions of the time. On October 17, 1902, in Nacogdoches, Texas, a black man named James Buchanan was tried without representation, condemned, and executed for the murder of a white family—all within three hours. Two white men played pivotal roles in these events: the editor of the Nacogdoches Sentinel, Bill Haltom, a prominent Democrat who condemned lynching but defended lynch mobs; and A. J. Spradley, a Populist sheriff who managed to keep the mob from burning Buchanan alive, only to escort him to the gallows. Each man’s story illuminates part of the path toward the terrible parody of justice at the heart of A Hanging in Nacogdoches. The turn of the twentieth century was a time of dramatic change for the people of East Texas. Frightened by the Populist Party's attempts to unite poor blacks and whites in a struggle for economic justice, white Democrats defended their power base by exploiting racial tensions in a battle that ultimately resulted in complete disenfranchisement for the black population. In telling the story of a single lynching, Gary Borders dramatically illustrates the way politics and race combined to bring horrific violence to small southern towns like Nacogdoches. |
Contents
| 3 | |
| 6 | |
A Texas Sheriff | 26 |
A Suspect and a Possible Motive | 31 |
Nacogdoches in 1902 | 39 |
A Suspect Is Caught | 51 |
Lynchings A Grim Fact of Life | 55 |
Populism and Race An Incendiary Mix | 64 |
Buchanan Returns for Trial | 112 |
A Hanging in Nacogdoches | 118 |
Photo section follows page 126 | 127 |
Aftermath | 129 |
Quick Hanging Sparks Criticism and Praise | 129 |
Wettermark Whitecapping and a Whipping | 141 |
Conclusion | 154 |
Epilogue | 175 |
The Spradley Haltom Feud | 77 |
Buchanan Confesses in Shreveport | 88 |
A Desperate Journey across East Texas | 97 |
Preparations Made for Buchanans Trial | 108 |
Notes | 179 |
Bibliography | 199 |
Index | 203 |
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Common terms and phrases
A. J. Spradley arrested Austin State University began Bill Haltom Black Jack brother candidates chanan citizens claimed colored cotton court courthouse crime crowd Curg Border Daily Sentinel Dallas Morning Davis death decades Deep East Texas downtown East Texas Research editor election execution farmers fire former slave freedmen Fuller governor Grimes County Haltom wrote hanging Henderson Hicks family Houston Daily Post Ibid jail Jim Buchanan Joe Bug judge June jury killed later lawmen Linn Flat Lufkin Matthews miles militia murder Nacog Nacogdoches County nearly negro newspaper October 18 October 20 once People's Party Photo courtesy pistol Plaindealer political Populists primary prisoner race railroad Raymer reported Republican Rusk saloon San Augustine County Sheriff Spradley shooting shot Shreveport Skillern soldiers South Southern Spradley's Stephen F Tenaha Texas Research Center Texas Sheriff tion town train trial troops violence vote voters weekly Wettermark Whitecapping
Popular passages
Page 65 - The railroads have never been so prosperous, and yet agriculture languishes. The banks have never done a better or more profitable business, and yet agriculture languishes. Manufacturing enterprises never made more money or were in a more flourishing condition, and yet agriculture languishes. Towns and cities flourish and " boom " and grow and " boom," and yet agriculture languishes.
Page 83 - State; and I do further solemnly swear [or affirm] that, since the adoption of the present constitution, I, being a citizen of this State, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this State, nor out of it, with a citizen of this State, nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons with a citizen of this State, nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge, or aided, advised, or assisted any person thus offending: So help me God.
Page 58 - Before the torch was applied to the pyre, the Negro was deprived of his ears, fingers and other portions of his body with surprising fortitude. Before the body was cool, it was cut to pieces, the bones were crushed into small bits and even the tree upon which the wretch met his fate was torn up and disposed of as souvenirs. The Negro's heart was cut in several pieces, as was also his liver.
Page 58 - Negro was deprived of his ears, fingers and other portions of his body with surprising fortitude. Before the body was cool, it was cut to pieces, the bones were crushed into small bits and even the tree upon which the wretch met his fate was torn up and disposed of as souvenirs. "The Negro's heart was cut in several pieces, as was also his liver. Those unable to obtain the ghastly relics directly, paid more fortunate possessors extravagant sums for them. Small pieces of bone went for 25 cents and...
Page 58 - In the presence of nearly 2,000 people, who sent aloft yells of defiance and shouts of joy, Sam Hose (a Negro who committed two of the basest acts known to crime) was burned at the stake in a public road, one and a half miles from here. Before the torch was applied to the pyre, the Negro was deprived of his ears, fingers and other portions of his body with surprising fortitude. Before the body was cool, it was cut to pieces, the bones were crushed into small bits and even...
Page 187 - W. Fitzhugh Brundage, Lynching in the New South: Georgia and Virginia, 1880-1930 (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1993); and Stewart E.
Page 188 - C. Vann Woodward, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, 3rd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974).
Page 59 - Hilliard s power of endurance seems to be the most wonderful thing on record. His lower limbs burned off a while before he became unconscious; and his body looked to be burned to the hollow. Was it decreed (oh coyly coyly) by an avenging God as well as an avenging people that he suffer so? We have 16 large views under magnifying glass.
Page 116 - We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree, and assess his punishment at confinement in the state penitentiary for life. JH White, Foreman.'" The following is the sentence: "April 15th, 1905. "This day this cause being again called, the state appeared by her district attorney, and the defendant, William McCorquodale, was brought into open court in person, in charge...
Page 187 - George C. Wright. Racial Violence in Kentucky 1865-1940 (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1990), and W.