Uncle Edgar 1935

When I was in Texas, my parents took me to the Huntsville Prison Rodeo, which was a yearly event held in Huntsville, not far from their home. They had told me the story of Uncle Edgar, but I don't think they knew that Huntsville Prison was where the man accused of his 1935 murder was executed.

I knew that the murder had something to do with someone stealing a hog, and mom once mentioned that there was some question about if the black man who was accused of the murder was guilty.  I was curious about this sad event and here is what I have found.

Here is Uncle Edgar's Death Certificate

 Although this murder eventually made nation-wide news, it was carried in the local newspaper, the Corsicana Sun, as well as  other Texas papers.

December 13, 1935

Here are links to the original newspaper articles so you can follow the incident as it was reported.

December 13- Possemen Hunt Negro Who Slew White Farmer 

December 20- Fugitive Negro Killer Captured in River Bottom p1


Dec 20- Fugitive Negro Killer Captured in River Bottom p2


 Dec 24- another story on the murder

This case became well known as the defendant, Harry Lacy, was the first murderer to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Feb 1937- To Appeal Negro's Death Sentence- Big Spring Texas 

 Dec 1937- Lacy Trial Reversed and Remanded

March 1939- Death Sentence of Harry Lacy was Affirmed 

Aug 1939- Execution of Negro Delayed 

Dec 19 1939- Harry Lacy Pays for Womack Death 

The Rope, The Chair, and The Needle; Capital Punishment in Texas 1923-1990

by Marquart, Ekland-Olson, and Sorenson says this about the case:

“Harry Lacy was the first murderer to appeal to the Supreme Court. Justice Hugo Black granted Lacy a stay of execution on August 4, 1939. According to a newspaper account of the case: The negro, Harry Lacy, was sentenced to die in the electric chair on August 17 for the slaying (argument over a stolen hog) of Edgar Womack, Trinity county rancher. J.S. Bracewell, Houston attorney, who represented the negro, applied to the supreme court for the stay of execution, contending racial prejudice entered the trial.

The negro was tried originally in Grimes county and given the death penalty. The case was reversed and he was tried again, with the same result. Again there was an appeal and again a new trial ordered.

The third trial was held in Conroe, and the death penalty this time upheld by the court of criminal appeals. Mr. Bracewell applied to the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari (in 1939.) The Supreme Court is not in session, but Justice Black granted the stay until it meets in October (1939.) Lacy was executed on December 19, 1939.

Of all the murder defendants on death row, only 6 percent were granted new trials- 4 % Anglos and 2 % African-American or Hispanic defendants. Ultimately the decision whether to appeal made little difference. Trials and related procedures were upheld in just over 90% of the appeal cases.

During the 1920’s through the 1970’s the majority of death-sentenced murderers were minority males in their middle twenties with little or no formal education and a sporadic employment history.  The majority were not married at the time of the offense. During the early years of this five decade period they came primarily from rural or small town Texas.”

If you are interested in law, you can read more about this famous case online- this explains what evidence the court and jury heard on the matter. In the court hearings, more information comes out; Harry Lacy claimed that a known criminal, who had admittedly shot people in the past, named Bosie Beasley, had been with him when they were caught, and Beasley said they had to get rid of Edgar to get away with stealing the hog. He then threatened to kill Harry unless he shot Edgar; so he did so in fear for his own life. Another article explained that Beasley, who had previously stolen hogs, offered Harry a hog in exchange for a bottle of liquor- Harry brought him the liquor and Beasley traded him the hog for it...then Edgar came upon him dressing the hog.

 Harry Lacy v. The State Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Harry Lacy v The State Dec 15 1937

Harry Lacy v. The State. March 1939

Labeled by Grandma- "The Two Matties" - Mattie Womack Garrison and Mattie Gibson Womack, widow of Edgar Womack, by his headstone in the Bennett Cemetery, Apple Springs, Texas

1923- Enid Oklahoma

Garrison homes and Phillips University

In 1923 my grandparents moved from their house on the farm near Cleo Springs to a home in Enid, Oklahoma.  According to the 1920 census, in 1923 Jim Garrison was 50, and Mattie was 42. Their children were young teens-Aleitha was 16, Elgin was 13, and Bob was 11 years old. The city of Enid may have been only thirty or forty miles from Cleo Springs, but it might as well have been a world apart for these youngsters raised on the farm.

Downtown on West Randolph Street, Enid about 1920

Downtown on East Randolph Street  Enid about 1920

Main campus of Phillips Unitversity

In 1930 Jim and Mattie owned a home at 2111 East Randolph Avenue valued at $4000. However Elgin's ad below shows his residence as 2029 East Elm Ave., so they may have rented a home before buying one. Both houses were just a block or two from the campus of Phillips University which spread over 260 acres and had 1200 students in 1921. Their home was large enough that Mattie could take in college girls as boarders to bring in extra cash.   

Mattie Garrison

Jim got a job working for the college as the campus engineer/janitorial warden.  His picture made the yearbook too! During the tough years of drought and depression, the family had a reliable paycheck coming in.

 

1931 Phillips University Yearbook- showing staff  members including  J.W. Garrison as the Campus Engineer and Janitorial Warden

Masonic Temple in Enid

Jim Garrison was a Mason, and Mattie was a member of the Eastern Star.
 

Several neighbors were professors and ministers who worked at the college and the nearby Christian Church. The Garrisons were members of the Disciples of Christ, and Mattie attended the Central Christian Church even in her later years in Enid.

Another neighbor of the Garrisons was  the Babcock family, who owned and operated a local grocery store. In years to come, young Bob would  have a job at a local grocery store; this may have well been his connection. Bob was always known for his sense of humor, and from this picture it looks like even in his early teens, he was quite a "cut-up!"

 

Bob Garrison (on the right) with some friends

 

Elgin soon got a newspaper route to help bring in money, and saved up to buy a motorcycle which he used to deliver “The Wichita Eagle” along his route. The full page add says:

" Hello Folks! I am your carrier- Elgin Garrison -District No. 2- Enid. Let me deliver the Wichita Eagle to you every day! I'll give you prompt and faithful service- Phone me today- Elgin Garrison 2029 East Elm St.- Phone 821-J - Enid Oklahoma"

 

Elgin Garrison delivering the Wichita Eagle

So now we know that the Garrisons had a fairly new appliance in those days- they owned a telephone! In those days, rural telephones were scarce, and even in town a phone line was shared - a "party line." One of my mother's favorite stories about my grandmother was that one day Mattie picked up the phone in her house and listened in to some neighbors talking- she heard someone say something she didn't like and broke right in and told them what she thought!

girls enjoying an early telephone

A big new attraction in the mid 1920's was the radio.

1920's radio songs

But perhaps the greatest new innoventions for this farm family was the likelihood, that in town, they now had both electricity and indoor plumbing!