Marion Lynching
The Marion Lynching is a dark part of Grant County history that is often swept under the rug to be forgotten about. It occurred on the night of August 7, 1930 when three black men were accused of raping a white woman, and killing a white man. The story created complete pandemonium within the community of Marion.
Contents
The Shooting
The Death of Claude Deeter
Claude Deeter was rushed to Marion General Hospital in critical condition. After observation, the doctors confirmed that there was little chance of survival. Claude's family was present, and his mom urged him to forgive his attackers. After finally deciding to forgive, Claude Deeter died at 1:30 on Thursday, August 7, 1930. His bloody shirt was hung in the window by the sheriff.
Gathering at the Jail
The Lynching
The Death of Tom Shipp
When the mob broke into the jail, Shipp made a futile attempt to hide within his cell. He was dragged form his cell, members of the mob repeatedly beating him with shoes and other objects. He was then lynched from the window of the jail. It has been reported by some observers that Shipp was dead before being hung.
The Death of Abe Smith
The Days Following
The Trials
The Marion Lynching Trials that followed remain a heated topic of debate. When Tom Shipp and Abe Smith were lynched, the African American community and its supporters demanded justice.
The entire judicial system was manipulated by members of the mob and government officials who wanted to get reelected next term and could not afford to lose the votes of white citizens in Grant County. Flossie Bailey worked hard with the NAACP in order to obtain a fair trial for both James Cameron and the alleged members of the mob.
