James was crippled at the age of 19 when thrown from a horse. One leg was shorter than the other and he walked with a cane. His brother-in-law, James Duty, lived with him and his wife Rose Duty. James Duty had such poor eyesight such that he could not learn to read and write. These two men seemed to help each other. They and the family traveled to the opening of the Cherokee Strip for the land run, but decided it was too dangerous when someone was shot because his horse took off into the territory before it was open. They returned to the Leavenworth, KS area.
James died officially from being kicked in the head by a horse. The family seemed to suspect he may have been murdered, as no one was there to witness it. He was found lying in the barn. As far a reason someone would want to kill him, relatives thought possibly family or friends of a local man who was executed by the hand of a mob were responsible. James was an unwilling participant in that his wagon (he was a teamster) was commandeered by the crowd and taken to the jail, where the prisoner was taken to another location and brutally burned at the stake.
This infamous 1907 event is well known in local history and considered to be a racial hate crime by some historians, as the victim was black and known to associate with white women. A young white woman was murdered, and the victim was arrested, but tried before he was killed. The family suspicions may have been reflection of the fear in the community at the time.
James died officially from being kicked in the head by a horse. The family seemed to suspect he may have been murdered, as no one was there to witness it. He was found lying in the barn. As far a reason someone would want to kill him, relatives thought possibly family or friends of a local man who was executed by the hand of a mob were responsible. James was an unwilling participant in that his wagon (he was a teamster) was commandeered by the crowd and taken to the jail, where the prisoner was taken to another location and brutally burned at the stake.
This infamous 1907 event is well known in local history and considered to be a racial hate crime by some historians, as the victim was black and known to associate with white women. A young white woman was murdered, and the victim was arrested, but tried before he was killed. The family suspicions may have been reflection of the fear in the community at the time.
James was crippled at the age of 19 when thrown from a horse. One leg was shorter than the other and he walked with a cane. His brother-in-law, James Duty, lived with him and his wife Rose Duty. James Duty had such poor eyesight such that he could not learn to read and write. These two men seemed to help each other. They and the family traveled to the opening of the Cherokee Strip for the land run, but decided it was too dangerous when someone was shot because his horse took off into the territory before it was open. They returned to the Leavenworth, KS area.
James died officially from being kicked in the head by a horse. The family seemed to suspect he may have been murdered, as no one was there to witness it. He was found lying in the barn. As far a reason someone would want to kill him, relatives thought possibly family or friends of a local man who was executed by the hand of a mob were responsible. James was an unwilling participant in that his wagon (he was a teamster) was commandeered by the crowd and taken to the jail, where the prisoner was taken to another location and brutally burned at the stake.
This infamous 1907 event is well known in local history and considered to be a racial hate crime by some historians, as the victim was black and known to associate with white women. A young white woman was murdered, and the victim was arrested, but tried before he was killed. The family suspicions may have been reflection of the fear in the community at the time.
James died officially from being kicked in the head by a horse. The family seemed to suspect he may have been murdered, as no one was there to witness it. He was found lying in the barn. As far a reason someone would want to kill him, relatives thought possibly family or friends of a local man who was executed by the hand of a mob were responsible. James was an unwilling participant in that his wagon (he was a teamster) was commandeered by the crowd and taken to the jail, where the prisoner was taken to another location and brutally burned at the stake.
This infamous 1907 event is well known in local history and considered to be a racial hate crime by some historians, as the victim was black and known to associate with white women. A young white woman was murdered, and the victim was arrested, but tried before he was killed. The family suspicions may have been reflection of the fear in the community at the time.
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