Lynching Newspapers

In this project the goal was to show how the lynching was covered in local and surrounding newspapers. Also to show the different aspects and opinions between people,races,towns and states on such a sensitive and major event from Marion's history.

Marion Newspapers

This article from the Marion paper was focused more on the murder of Claude Deeter and the attack of Mary Ball rather than the lynchings of Tom Shipp and Abe Smith.

"Marion resumed its normal quiet today after a night which reached a climax with the hanging of two colored youths.." This reflects the mentality of the mob and other persons who deem this act just.

Nearby City Newspapers

This article portrays the fact that the Sheriff and other officers tried to hold back the mob, though failing, which in actuality all they did to prevent this was throwing a can of tear gas into the crowd. The headline alone gives off the impression that every measure was taken to protect the accused.

This article like others printed from Marion and surrounding cities focus on the attacks and how the Sheriff did all he could to defend the imprisoned. The crowd took justice into their own hands and murdered two of the accused.

Indianapolis and Chicago Black Newspapers

“In conclusion it suffices to say that lynchers are dangerous outlaws. They are undesirable creatures. No community in which they are allowed to operate is fit for law abiding people to live in.” This quote from the article above shows the varied feelings about the actions that took place. This racially diverse newspaper focuses mainly on the lynchings rather than the original crimes that took place.

"Those young men, not out of their teens, had to suffer and pay the penalty without a trial. I heard the remark that it served them right because they would have been electrocuted anyway. To this remark I quickly retorted that electrocution would have been more decent than suspension from a window by a rope."This shows the opposing thoughts of the events that one, the lynchers felt that they were achieving justice and two, others feeling it was completely unjust.

This drawing is a representation of The Crucifixion and how there was no justice for the accused. Neither this drawing nor these articles would have been printed in Marion newspapers, this goes to show the differentiation of view points from person to person.