The Marion Lynching Trials

Overview

When Tom Shipp and Abe Smith were murdered, the African American community and its supporters demanded justice. Unfortunately, no one was ever held accountable for these gruesome murders and no conviction was ever made regarding the Marion lynching. 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. A web of lies and deceit was uncovered as those who demanded justice could not find any support nor could they find anyone courageous enough to stand up against the massive corruption that had Marion and all of Indiana by the throat.

Flossie Bailey and the NAACP's Fight for Justice

Katherine Bailey, or Flossie as she was more commonly known as, was a local African American woman who expertly developed and led the Marion branch of the NAACP. After the immediate threat of more racial violence ensuing passed, Bailey turned her focus towards bringing the leaders of the lynching mob to justice. She called for the assistance of the head of the NAACP. The organization responded by sending one of its leaders and hiring a private investigator. The investigators concluded that the Marion police officers did not do an adequate job in preserving the peace and stopping the mob. The NAACP called for the removal of Jake Campbell as the town’s sheriff. It was also believed that the town would be cursed of being associated with this event until the murderers were brought to justice. Obviously this was not going to be possible because all of the local government officials claimed that if they did anything to bring these people to justice it would revive the mob leading to more violence, an excuse that offered much too often by government officials.