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 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
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.
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
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| 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 |
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