On the evening of July 4, 1918, about 7:30 p.m., Charles Hiram Knott struck and killed a young African-American woman who walking with her disabled daughter in the town of Bethany, Missouri. The woman, Mary "Mollie" Hart Duson, was walking with her daughter, Bernice, to view the Fourth of July parade. When Charles Knott struck Mrs. Duson with his Ford sedan roadster, he did not stop. In fact, he kept driving, dragging Mrs. Duson's body for several feet, terribly crushing her head and breast. The little girl was knocked unconscious. Mrs. Duson suffered for seven and a half long hours before she finally died at 3 a.m. the next morning. Charles Hiram Knott continued to drive on. He was arrested for driving under the influence of liquor. On May 28th, 1919, Charles Knott was sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary for the murder of Mary "Mollie" (Hart) Duson. In 1920, before he could complete his sentence, Missouri Governor Frederick D. Gardner pardoned Charles Knott for the murder. In February 1921, Charles Knott's full citizenship rights were restored by order of Missouri Governor Arthur Mastick Hyde.
On the evening of July 4, 1918, about 7:30 p.m., Charles Hiram Knott struck and killed a young African-American woman who walking with her disabled daughter in the town of Bethany, Missouri. The woman, Mary "Mollie" Hart Duson, was walking with her daughter, Bernice, to view the Fourth of July parade. When Charles Knott struck Mrs. Duson with his Ford sedan roadster, he did not stop. In fact, he kept driving, dragging Mrs. Duson's body for several feet, terribly crushing her head and breast. The little girl was knocked unconscious. Mrs. Duson suffered for seven and a half long hours before she finally died at 3 a.m. the next morning. Charles Hiram Knott continued to drive on. He was arrested for driving under the influence of liquor. On May 28th, 1919, Charles Knott was sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary for the murder of Mary "Mollie" (Hart) Duson. In 1920, before he could complete his sentence, Missouri Governor Frederick D. Gardner pardoned Charles Knott for the murder. In February 1921, Charles Knott's full citizenship rights were restored by order of Missouri Governor Arthur Mastick Hyde.
Gravesite Details
Same stone with Laura Knott
Family Members
Siblings
