back of a Negro fleeing from the home and that it appeared to him that the Negro was without his pants and was in his shorts He said an arm was lowered as if he might be carrying something, but he did not see anything in his arms. Cox said that the fleeing man was a Negro, but that he did not see his face and could not identify him. Charlie Gray, son of Mrs. and father of Charlene said that he entered the front door of the house and as he entered he heard a crash at the rear of the house. He ran through the house and saw a Negro Fleeing across the yard and into the garden. (Peppers) When asked if he could identify the Negro, he said “I only saw his back and side of his head, but I was sure it was Thomas Lee. end of notes on page 4 When questioned by the jury as to whether or not any conversation pass- ed between his daughter Charlene and Thomas Lee Latham during the time she was fighting off her assailant, Mr. Gray said that his daughter told him and his wife, that the intruder first told her to get off her clothes. She she refused to do this he began to beat her, “if I can’t do it this way, Ill kill you and do it”

a hill south of town where the houses belonging to colored people are relocated. The Sheriff, his deputy, Robert Hook and state’s attorney Michell instructed the posse as to each group’s position All were to converge at an appointed time. All of the deputies took their position and at the time designated. Sheriff David E. George approached the hill from the north. He had been given information that Latham was in a mass of honeysuckle vines and weeds near on of the houses. Going to the spot, he began searching through the weeds and vines. Sheriff George stated, “While searching the weeds, I thought I heard a rock over turned. I listened and advanced in the direction of the sound and as I did, I saw Latham flee through the weeds.” Sheriff George fired two shots at Latham and alerted the posse who had circled the hill. Latham fled east toward IL State Route 45. Due to the lack of enough men on the east side of the hill Latham escaped. Latham was next reported to be in a corn- field near the Big Four Railroad in the east part of Vienna. V.P . Trovillion and Bobby Roberts went to the railroad and walked south of the highway to near the trestle Page of 5 26

A new shopping center was under construction. Hotels and restaurants with brand names started popping up. Subdivisions were being developed. New Banks and savings and loans were changing with new offices and buildings. Trucking and lumber yards were being established. A new hospital was planned and a new winery was started along the highway. A community college was established as was a new minimum security prison. The airport expanded and a new golf course was built. Mt. Vernon’s population grew to more than 17,000 before 2000. It was expected to reach 25,000 in 10 more years and optimistically, reach 30,000 by 2025. Today, (2022) Mt. Vernon is struggling and the population is approximately 14,000, with Blacks about 14% (2,000) of the population. Most Blacks lived in the Southeast part of Mt. Vernon on the south side of the railroad tracks. Mt. Vernon remains almost segregated. Germania S&L was closed by the US government a few years after I left it’s employment. It became a bank and not a savings and loan. Cause? Failure to meet government guidelines and illegal operation. Some of the executive staff served prison terms. Illinois is losing population at a fast – rate almost 250,000 since the last census. Southern Illinois lost 20% of it’s population. Only Williamson County has shown growth of approximately 2,000 since 2010. Carbondale is the only town that has more than 20,000 population (now, 21,857) It is home to Southern Illinois University.

Another report that Latham had been taken out of town by a colored friend was investigated. Frank Murriel was questioned by Hook and Trout and he told of taking Latham to Levens, leaving him at the home of Buddy Levens (Levins)is a mystery Worlds. Murriel told the officers that Latham’s brother, Herbert hired him to take Thomas Lee Levens. Murriel was taken into custody and jailed. Officers Hook, Trout and Jeffery went to Levings and after inquiring about the second man they learned that Worlds had taken him to Mound City to catch a bus to Cairo. Worlds told the officers that Latham told him he had been in a fight with a white man. He wanted to get to the home of a relative in Cairo. The Johnson County offers telephoned ahead to Sheriff John Barnett of Pulaski County to check the bus station. The Pulaski County Sheriff complied with the request. But Latham had gone out on a bus. He questioned the bus driver and was told he took a negro to Cairo. Buddy Worlds went with the officers in search for Latham. When they reached Cairo, the two Johnson County officers secured the help of Cairo city police and were directed to the home of a relative of Buddy Worlds. They surrounded the house and then went to a second story apartment in the building and found Latham lying on a cot. He did not resist arrest. For security reasons Sheriff Dave George directed that the prisoner be taken to the Metropolis Jail. When questioned by the officers, Latham said he did not remember anything and answered other questions with “I don’t Know.” He was searched and only about $10 was found on his person. His underwear was bloody and stains of writing ink was found on his arm.

After Latham entered his plea of guilty before being sentenced the defendant’s counsel requested to mitigation of the offense and this was granted by the court. State’s Attorney Donald R. Mitchell then asked permission to offer evidence against the defendant and this too was granted.

Latham was called to the witness stand by his attorney, Elmer Medlin. He gave his age as 31, told he attended high school two years, when he entered the service of his country. He served about 2 1/2 Years serving in the army three “hitches” being honorably discharged twice and receiving an undesirable discharge the third time. Attorney Medlin asked Latham what time he got up on Sunday morning (THE DAY BFORE THE CRIME). Latham told the court that he got up about 6:30 and began drinking wine, whiskey, and beer about 7:30. Latham testified that he drank throughout the day and in the evening went to the Flamingo Club in Alexander County with Buddy Worlds and Ottis Chavis. There he continued to drink and became intoxicated.

Medlin asked Latham when he last saw Spike Johnson Sunday night and Latham said, “About Page of 21 26

The original page will appear here.

At high school | saw prejudice for my first time. Bullying , | knew about, but not about racism. | had not been exposed to it. Four Blacks* (then called another name or names); Albert Shavis was a year ahead of me. He was a excellent basketball player. He was not on our team, but clearly was skilled enough to play. Three Black” girls; Virginia Shaves, Martha Kelly, and Olivia Worlds, were bright and and cheerful. | enjoyed being their class mate and friend.

An incident happened in Vienna that was racist and the Black* students left school. They just disappeared. A Black* man murdered a white woman in 1954. | have written a lengthly account of the saga of the murder.A group of men and boys burned every home on Nigger Hill and my classmates had no home to go home to. | believe they moved to the homes of relatives who lived in Northern Illinois.

| asked Dad what he though abut Blacks” receiving treatment like that and he replied that “That’s the way it is.” | came back; “WHY?” | gave him names of the Blacks: Albert, Olivia, Virginia, and Martha. | never before heard dad say a single negative word about people of color. He said, “They might be Black’, but they are not like us.” WHY, | asked. “It just is.” was his reply and the conversation ended. | never spoke to him about my Black* classmates again, but | never forgot them either. | have searched for them and asked questions, hoping to find them safe and

happy.

* Blacks were not how they were addressed. The words were an assortment of names. I'll not use them here, except one common rfeference: THOSE PEOPLE.

| talked to my dad often and our conversations were pleasant. He taught me tons and | don’t recall a single spanking for one of my deeds or talking back, or not minding. | do recall being assigned to extra chores. | went with him as often as | could. He and | went everywhere and at any time he chose. We were partners in pinochle games and had signals and methods that helped us win more times that we lost. | followed his advice and paid attention.

At a pick-up baseball game at a field near a peach orchard our team ran out of players. Our manager called out to the sparse crown gathered

At high school I saw prejudice for my first time. Bullying , I knew about, but not about racism. I had not been exposed to it. Four Blacks* (then called another name or names); Albert Shavis was a year ahead of me. He was a excellent basketball player. He was not on our team, but clearly was skilled enough to play. Three Black* girls; Virginia Shaves, Martha Kelly, and Olivia Worlds, were bright and and cheerful. I enjoyed being their class mate and friend. An incident happened in Vienna that was racist and the Black* students left school. They just disappeared. A Black* man murdered a white woman in 1954. I have written a lengthly account of the saga of the murder.A group of men and boys burned every home on Nigger Hill and my classmates had no home to go home to. I believe they moved to the homes of relatives who lived in Northern Illinois. I asked Dad what he though abut Blacks* receiving treatment like that and he replied that “That’s the way it is.” I came back; “WHY?” I gave him names of the Blacks: Albert, Olivia, Virginia, and Martha. I never before heard dad say a single negative word about people of color. He said, “They might be Black*, but they are not like us.” WHY, I asked. “It just is.” was his reply and the conversation ended. I never spoke to him about my Black* classmates again, but I never forgot them either. I have searched for them and asked questions, hoping to find them safe and happy. * Blacks were not how they were addressed. The words were an assortment of names. I’ll not use them here, except one common rfeference: THOSE PEOPLE. I talked to my dad often and our conversations were pleasant. He taught me tons and I don’t recall a single spanking for one of my deeds or talking back, or not minding. I do recall being assigned to extra chores. I went with him as often as I could. He and I went everywhere and at any time he chose. We were partners in pinochle games and had signals and methods that helped us win more times that we lost. I followed his advice and paid attention. At a pick-up baseball game at a field near a peach orchard our team ran out of players. Our manager called out to the sparse crown gathered

State’s attorney, Donald R. Mitch-\ ell has filed charges against Frank Murriel and Herbert Latham, the latter a brother of Thomas Lee Lath- am, and they are still being held in the Johnson County jail. They both waived a preliminary hearing on the charges against them and have been placed under $10,000 bond each to await action by the grand jury Ardell (Spike) Johnson was arrest ed the later part of last week and charges had been placed against him. These charges will also be heard by the grand jury. He too is under bond and is being held in the William- son county jail at Marion. Thomas Lee Latham is being held on charges of assault with intent to kill. By his own confessions to State’s attorney Donald R. Mitchell. Sheriff David E. George and Deputy Sheriff Robert Hook, and by statements made by his victims, he is one of the parties who entered the home of Mrs. Maggie Gray, 82, at Vienna at 4:30 a.m. Monday morning of last week and brutally beat the aged woman and also unmercifully beat and attempted to rape Charlene Gray, 18, granddaughter of Mrs. Gray and daughter of Charles Gray of Vienna. The Gray home was entered by cutting a hole in a screen door to un- latch a hook on the inside of it. The door led to the back porch. Latham entered the room in which Charlene Gray was sleeping and made demands of her that was refused. He then began to beat and choke the girl

Gray also said that Charlene told him that she saw her grandmother stagger to the door at her room, while she was fighting off the attack of the Negro She said that the Negro struck the the aged lady three times, knocking her to the floor and then kicking her. When asked by a member of the jury if he thought it was possible that some other Negro was in his mother’s room beating her, while Thomas Lee was beating his daughter. Gray said, “I absolutely do.” Charlene told her parents, that she heard mumering and shuffling of feet in another room of the house, or a rear porch, while she was beaten by Latham. end of notes on page 5 page 6 The fact that the aged lady could not readily identify her assailant as Thomas Lee Latham, led authorities and the Gray family to believe that Latham had an accomplice. Some of them theorized that the other party might have been searching for her (Spike) money, while Latham was in Charlene’s room

and citizens of Vienna made a survey of the situation after the fire are more of the opinion that houses were set by bonfire.

Tuesday afternoon a joint meeting of the city council of Vienna and the board of county commissioners was held at the court house. Setting in on the meeting was States’s Attorney Mitchell who addressed the meeting, telling them of the loss sustained by the colored people. The destruction of the homes was discussed at length and both governing bodies passed a resolution, condemning the acts of vandalism and offering restitution to those losing their property as a result of the fires. Both the city council and county board promised to bear equally the expense of restoring or satisfying the parties suffering loss. The vote of the aldermen and county commissioners was unanimous.

A committee consisting of Vern L. Williams, Joe Watson, and Royce Bridges was appointed to contact the Negros, to ascertain their losses and make recommendations to the two boards. The extent of the help to be given by the city and county to the parties suffering the loss of their properties will be determined by the boards. A number of the parties have already been contacted by the committee. The property occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Compton, belonging to Robert Pickens was the late Dollie Bly. Frank Murriel owned the other home destroyed and it contained household effects. No one was living in the Muriel home at the time of the fire.

(Note; Frank Murriel received a sentence one day less than two years for being an accomplice in the crime against Mrs. Gray and her granddaughter,)

The number of Southern Illinois Coal miners shrunk from 50,000 to 3,000. Small villages became almost ghost towns – including Tunnel Hill. Cairo, once a thriving community that numbered close to 20,000 people does not now have a grocery store or brand restaurants, or a community center, or a hospital. The Story Paul Webb* became the branch supervisor of Germania Federal Savings and Loan in 1984. His background was the marketing manager of Seven Up Bottling Company in St. Louis. He graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in music. A three day home show was planned for Mt. Vernon in the spring of 1984 at a new Ramada Inn having just been completed. A part owner was Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals. Friday was set up day for vendors and participants of the show and a dinner for the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce members and guests. Stan would be there. I remained at the office until it closed and joined the group for the evening event. Paul Webb came and stayed at the Ramada. On Saturday morning two staff members and I were at the booth and prepared to meet visitors and tell them about our services and welcomed them to ask questions about any financial matter. Since I was born and raised in Tunnel Hill I knew all of the towns and villages in the area. ‘I was one of them.’ I had great expectations of a successful show. I had also met Mr. Musial before and had a good session discussing baseball with him on Friday. He promised me several autographed photos that he personally signed to give to my friends.

When they arrived at the naval base in San Diego. Crowds had gathered on the docks and when the ship landed men disembarked into the crowd and celebrated. The celebrations did not include Blacks. Restaurants did not admit them into their building; they were not permitted to use a white man’s bathroom. Black men who had fought as hard as any American and suffered a larger percentage of causalities were not permitted to enjoy a victory as did the Americans.

When Mr. Kendricks told me this story | was humbled.

Mr. Kendricks and | had clashed a few times before and neither of us had backed away. He was the only Black businessman member of the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce. He lived in the same area as his Black friends lived.

Later, He and | were a team in the Chambers drive for membership. | signed up KING BARBARACOA BBQ to be a member. The owner said, when | asked him why had he not been a member before and he answered, “Nobody asked me.” It was my favorite to eat BBQ ever. | wish | had a BBQ right now from his joint.

*Paul Webb was not my bosses real name.

John Casey 435 1/2 Bluff St. Alton, IL 62002

jrcasey134@gmail.com 618-670-5646

April 1, 2022

At some time during the skirmish another intruder, Spike Johnson, went to a clothes closet adjoining the room of the aged woman and took a purse underneath a pile of quilts containing $100. Apparently the man knew the hiding place of the purse.

Screams were heard by neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Cox. They telephoned Charlie Gray and told him that something terribly wrong was happening at the home of his mother. Mr. Gray, who lives a short distance from his mother’s home, quickly dressed and with his sons, Buster and Jim Bob ran to his mother’s house.

The intruder probably saw them approaching and in his haste to escape he ran through another screen door that was latched, breaking it open as he plunged through it. Jim Bob, the youngest son of Charlie Gray, pursued him throwing rocks as he chased the intruder across a vacant lot. Charles Gray and his older son rushed into the house to investigate.

When questioned about the fight for her life, Charlene said that while she was protecting herself her assailant shouted, “If I can’t have you this way, I’ll kill you and have you my way.” At about this time her father arrived and frightened the would-be rapist away. The girl had been successful in warding off her assailants attacks. She later told her father that had he not arrived when he did, she could not have withstood the punishment any longer. Charlene also told her father another Negro walked back and forth across the back porch of the home all the time the intruders were in the home.

Charlene was taken to the office of Dr. W.J. Wakefield for treatment and she was later taken to the Anna City Hospital on the doctor’s recommendations. Charlene suffered a badly bruised and lacerated face and head, and both eyes were injured. She was also suffering other injuries. She remained at the hospital until Sunday morning when she was released and returned to her home. She is recovering from her extensive injuries.

Mrs. Gray was treated in the office of Dr. E. A. Veach and then taken to the home of her son, Ted Gray. Mrs. Gray is suffering from head injuries, and her face was beaten almost to a pulp. She was also kicked and stomped by the intruder, whose foot print was visible on her stomach. She is in critical condition and has had a number of convulsions and it is doubtful that she will live.

Charlene and her grandma both identified the intruder as Thomas Lee Latham. He was also identified by Charles Gray and his son Jim Bob. Latham was sentenced to the Chester Penitentiary a few years ago. He was a parolee and had his liberty for almost two years.

Authorities were quickly notified and Deputy Sheriff Bob Hook, State Patrolman, Marion Trout and Bill Jeffery quickly picked up the trail of the intruder. They went to the south hill where a number of colored people reside and searched Latham’s home. Marie Pickens, who lives in the same home told the officers that Thomas Lee had returned home and hurriedly departed after changing a shirt.

Another report that Latham had been taken out of town by a colored friend was investigated. Frank Murriel was questioned by Hook and Trout and he told of taking Latham to Levins a little community on Route 37 near Grand Chain, IL, leaving him at the home of Buddy Worlds. Murriel told the officers that Latham’s brother, Herbert, hired him to take Thomas Lee to Levins. Murriel was taken into custody and jailed. Officers Hook, Trout and Jeffery went to Levins and after inquiring about a second man they learned that Worlds had taken Latham to Mound City to catch a bus for Cairo. Worlds told the officers that Latham told him that the had been in a fight with a white man and that he wanted to get to the home of a relative in Cairo.

The Johnson County officers telephoned ahead to Sheriff John Barnett of Pulaski County to check the bus station. The Pulaski County Sheriff complied with the request. But Latham had gone out on a bus. The sheriff questioned the bus driver and was told he took a Negro to Cairo.

Buddy Worlds went with the officers in search for Latham. when they reached Cairo, the two Johnson County officers secured the help of Cairo city police and were directed to the home of a relative of Buddy Worlds. They surrounded the house and then went to a second story apartment in the building and found Latham lying on a cot. He did not resist arrest. For security reasons Sheriff Dave George directed that the prisoner be taken to the Metropolis Jail.

When questioned by the officers, Latham said he did not remember anything and answered other questions with “I don’t know.” He was searched and only about $10 was found on his person. His underwear was bloody and stains of writing ink was found on his arm.

When the news got around in Vienna about the heinous crime, feelings against Negros ran high and officers, seeing this, will keep the accused man confined at the Metropolis jail. The State’s Attorney ordered that no one be permitted to contact him. Herbert Latham was alleged to have arranged transportation for his brother to leave town, was picked up late Monday morning and jailed for questioning.

Thomas Lee Latham was arraigned before Justice of the Peace, J. E. Arnold Tuesday morning and waived preliminary hearing. His bond was set at $10,000 and upon failure to fill same was returned to the Massac County jail to await action of a special grand jury which will be called on August 18. States Attorney Nary Mitchell will also present charges of assault with intent to rape, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon to the grand jury. The following day, Latham waived preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace, J. E. Arnold and placed under $10,000 bond to await action the grand jury.

At the request of Sheriff George and State’s Attorney, Mitchell, the Illinois State Division of Criminal Identification was contacted and two men were sent with a lie detector which was taken to the Massac County Jail where Latham submitted to a test. Frank Murriel, Herbert Latham and Spike Johnson also were examined by the lie detector in Vienna. Local authorities have not disclosed the results of these tests, but a report will be made to a grand jury. A regular grand jury will convene in Vienna on August 19, when they will present numerous charges against all of the parties being held.

Ted Gray was questioned and he told of going to his mother’s home and finding the home in disarray, and blood all over the floor, bed and walls of the house. He told of caring for his mother after taking her to his home and said a few hours after the attack on her, her mind was clear and she related different phases of the attack to him. He said that later she could not recall why she was suffering and why she could not go back to her home.

Mrs. Rita Height was questioned and she stated that she saw Frank Murriel driving east on West Main Street toward the court house about 5:30 on the morning the crime was committed. Mrs. Height was on her was to her work at the Smith Cafe. She said that there was colored man with Frank but she could not identify him.

Orin Cox, a neighbor, heard the cry for help and he quickly dressed and headed to the home of Maggie Gray. He said that when he reached the window, he saw Mrs. Gray in the doorway of her bedroom and she cried – “Oh lourdy, Oh lourdy, please help us, somebody is trying to kill us.” Mr. Cox stated that about that time Charlie Gray and his wife arrived and he followed Charlie into the house. He said that Charlene was sitting on a divan with a sheet wrapped around her, bleeding at the face and Mrs. Gray was standing in the room with her hands clasped over her crying. Her face was badly beaten.

Mr. Cox stated that when questioned about the crime that had been committed, Mrs. Gray said that a big black Negro had attacked them. Charlene told them that it was Thomas Lee Latham who had attacked them and then Mrs. Gray said, “yes it was Thomas Lee.”

Mrs. Gertrude Parker, who lives in the second home from the Gray’s residence was questioned. She too was awakened by the cries of the victims and went to investigate. She told of seeing both women in the Gray home, bleeding and when she asked as to who had inflicted their wounds, she said Charlene named Thomas Lee Latham, and she was sure of the identification for she had pleaded with him and he had talked back to her.

Charlie Gray, son of Mrs. and Gray and father of Charlene said that he entered the front door of the house and as he entered he heard a crash at the rear of the house. He ran through the house and saw a Negro fleeing across the yard and into the garden. When asked if he could identify the Negro, he said, “I only saw his back and side of his head, but I was sure it was Thomas Lee.”

When questioned by the jury as to whether or not any conversation had passed between his daughter Charlene and Thomas Lee Latham during the time she was fighting her assailant, Mr. Gray said that his daughter told him and his wife, that the intruder first told her to get off her clothes. She refused to this and he began to beat her. He said, If I can’t do it this way, I’ll kill you and do it.”

of the lung. This proved to be an overload for the acletonic and contracted kidneys of the subject, who in consequence developed uremia. The later condition was evident from the presence of an acute, gastroenteritis with hemorrhage into the gastro in the testinon tract.

The coroner’s jury returned the following verdict: Maggie Gray came to her death by injuries received causing internal hemorrhaging

and complications caused by an attack and blows. Said attack was made at her home in Vienna on August 2, 1954. We further find that said

attack was made by a muscular colored person and from the evidence offered and statements made by State’s Attorney Donald R. Mitchell to the effect that Thomas Lee Latham colored person had confessed to said crime, it is our opinion that Thomas Lee Latham inflected the injuries by blows that caused her death and we recommend that Thomas Lee Latham be held for murder without bond for the death of Mrs. Maggie Gray.

THE VIENNA TIMES, THURSDAY AUGUST 26, 1954

Frank Murriel, who was under indictment here last week on a charge of being an accessary after the fact entered a plea of guilty before Judge C. Ross Reynolds in Circuit Court Tuesday and was sentenced to one year, eleven months and twenty nine days in the State Penitentiary at Menard, Ill, and also give a fine of $500. The minimum sentence for the crime is one year and the maximum sentence for the crime is 2 years.

Murriel was represented by his attorney, Charles Winters of Marion. Winters was appointed by the court last week to represent the defendant. Murriel was charged with assisting Thomas Lee Latham in escaping from the property, following the crime that resulted in the brutal beating of Mrs. Gray and their granddaughter, Charle Gray at the home of the former and which beating resulted in the death of the aged lady ten days later.

Murriel confessed to the States Attorney Donald A. Mitchell, Sheriff Dave E. George, and Deputy Sheriff Bob Hook who was hired by Thomas Lee Latham to take him in his automobile to Levins, a small community near Grand Chain, shortly after Latham fled from the Gray home. Murriel said he picked Latham up on Route 45 south of Vienna near the city limits by appointment and that he took him to the home of Buddy Worlds at Levings, where he left him.

There has been no new developments returned by grand jury this week, against Thomas Lee Latham, Herbert Latham, and Ardell (Spike) Johnson. Attorneys for the defense are reviewing the indictments and evidence and it is possible that some of them will not be brought into court until the November term of the Circuit Court.

VIENNA TIMES, JOHNSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1954 – NUMBER 50

LATHAM ESCAPES FROM JAIL

Colored man under indictment

for murder is still at large

Blood hounds, State Police,

airplanes and local officers in search Thomas Lee Latham, 31, colored of Vienna, under indictment with six counts, escaped from the county jail in Vienna Tuesday (August 31) shortly after noon.

Latham who had been held in the Williamson jCounty jail at Marion had been returned to Vienna about two hours earlier. He was taken to jail

by Deputy Sheriff Robert Hook who locked him in the women’s cell on the second floor of the jail.

At the time of his escape, Mrs. Ruth Darnell, wife of Jailer, Everett Darnell and Mrs. Bill Morris and son Don were in the kitchen of the living quarters of the jail property preparing the noon meal. Young Morris said that the heard the front screen door of the jail slam shut and he glanced out the kitchen window and saw a colored man walking from the jail through the yard. He called the attention of Mrs. Darnell to the man and asked if it wasn’t Thomas Lee Latham. Mrs. Darnell recognized Thomas Lee Latham and immediately called Sheriff Dave E. George.

Latham continued to walk out of the yard and east on the street running east and west in front of the jail. As he passed the home of Carl Sanders diagonally across the street rom the jail, he waived at Sanders who was sitting in his yard. Sanders recognized him and spoke to him calling him by his name. Sanders said he saw Latham leave the jail through the front door and thought for awhile some officer would be following him but when none appeared, he knew Negro was escaping.

Earl Hilburn, local cleaner, who lives south of the Sanders home said that he looked up and through the window of his cleaning establishment just in time to see Latham come over the hill. He said he was running when he first saw him and that when he reached the top of the hill he slowed to a walk. From there he went between the two vacant houses at the end of the street and disappeared in some tall weeds to the south.

Sheriff George quickly rounded up a posse of about fifty boys and men, most of them armed and began to search for Latham. They combed the fields and weeded sections south of Vienna until about 4:30 P.M. A plan was made to go to a hill south of town where the houses belonging to colored people were located. The Sheriff, his deputy, Robert Hook and State’s Attorney, Mitchell instructed the posse as to each groups position all were to converge at an appointed time.

All of the deputies took their position and at the time designated, Sheriff David E. George approached the hill from the north. He had been given information that Latham was in a mass of honeysuckle vines and weeds near one of the houses. Going to the spot, he began searching through the weeds and vines. Sheriff George stated, “While searching the weeds, I thought I heard a rock over turned. I listened and advanced in the direction of the sound and as I did, I saw Latham flee through the weeds.” Sheriff George fired two shots at Latham and alerted the posse who had circled the hill. Latham fled east toward IL. State Route 45. Due to the lack of enough men on the east side of the hill Latham escaped.

Latham was next reported to be in cornfield near the Big Four Railroad in the east part of Vienna. V. P. Trovillion and Bobby Roberts went to the railroad and walked south of the highway to near the trestle just north of Highway Route 145. They were on the east side of the right- of-way. A freight train was traveling north passed them and when the last of the cars passed, Latham was seen standing near the tracks on the west side of an embankment.

Trovillion, calling him by name, ordered Latham to halt as he fled back into the cornfield. He ran west and Trovillion fired ten shots as fast as he could pull the trigger of his small calibre pistol at the fleeing Negro. Roberts fired at the Negro twice. They were about 160 yards from him and out of their range.

It is presumed that Latham had in mind to catch the freight train and escape by it, but the train was traveling too fast for him to board. Latham was next reported as crossing the highway at the Charlie Hook Quarry about mile south of Vienna.

The posse which at that time had risen to about 150 men and boys, combed the wooded areas and fields in he vicinity of the quarry but failed to find him. The group then formed at the quarry to spread out and comb the entire stretch of timber and brush to a gravel road to the west of the highway known as Ballaue Road. Men were stationed from the top of

Sanders Hill south of the bridge in the bottoms to prevent Latham from crossing the road.

As the posse, traveling west, on the gravel road, Kindred Hunter, a member of the group, saw Latham up in a thicket and start to run west Hunter fired at him three times with rifle. States Attorney Mitchell, who was a short distance behind Hunter did not have an opportunity to shoot because Hunter was in front of him.

Again Latham disappeared at the time he was flushed from the thicket. It was getting dark. Members of the posse continued to search during the greater part of the night, but no further trace of Latham was found.

Five state police accompanied by Deputy Sheriff, Robert Hook and constable Bill Barnett returned to the search Tuesday morning. They were aided by a group of investigators of the Department of Conservation in this area, on a report that Latham was seen getting out of a pickup truck on Route 37 near Grand Chain. This clue was checked by the state police, but like many other reports, it was found 0 be false.

Meanwhile Latham is still at large.1 Those who actually saw Latham Monday say that he now wearing a navy shirt and blue jeans. The Sheriffs office and state are leaving no stone unturned to check all reasonable reports in an effort to capture Latham.

Everett Smoot, a farmer living on the Holly Brown farm near Lick Creek, ILL west of Vienna, is positive that he saw Thomas Lee Latham Friday afternoon of last week hiding in an old abandoned house near his home. Mr. Smoot went to the house in which oats were stored. As he stepped inside the house he told Johnson County authorities the Negro surprised him and said, “If you want me, come and get me.” Mr. Smoot left quickly and when he came back later the Negro was gone.

States Attorney Donald R. Mitchell and Sheriff George quickly got in touch with the state police headquarters in Duquoin and several state police were sent to aid in the search. Two airplanes from the Metropolis airport were brought into the search, and flew at low altitude until about 4:00 P.M. Three blood hounds were brought from the state penal farm at Vandalia and they arrived at about 6:00 p.m.

The blood hounds were given a scent of bed clothing in the cell occupied by Latham and then taken to spot where Latham waded across the Vienna drainage ditch south Vienna. Their handler said that they picked up a scent once but later lost it. The handler said there had been too many who had apparently crossed the escapee’s path had made it difficult for the dogs to keep the trail. The dogs searched the area south of the area until 8:00 o’clock p.m. when they returned to the jail.

State police threw up a road block at the intersection of Route 146 and 45 in Vienna: The intersection of Routes 146 and37 at West Vienna, Brookport Ohio river bridge, the Cairo, Ohio and Mississippi river bridges. State and city police from East St. Luis south were alerted and given a description of Latham.

THE VIENNA TIMES, SEPTEMBER 9, 1954 Three Negros Homes burned here Monday County and city to reimburse Colored people for loss

The three remaining buildings on the south hill in the south city limits of Vienna were destroyed by fire September 6th 1954 about 4:30 o’clock Monday afternoon. One of the homes had been the home of Thomas Lee Latham and occupied by Marie Pickens and her children, one was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Compton, a former minister, and the third was the home of Frank Murriel, who was sentenced recently for “accessary after the fact.” in connection with the fatal beating of her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray. At 2:00 o’clock on the same date a posse of deputized men and officers,

and citizens of Vienna made a survey of the situation after the fire are more of the opinion that houses were set by bonfire.

Tuesday afternoon a joint meeting of the city council of Vienna and the board of county commissioners was held at the court house. Setting in on the meeting was States’s Attorney Mitchell who addressed the meeting, telling them of the loss sustained by the colored people. The destruction of the homes was discussed at length and both governing bodies passed a resolution, condemning the acts of vandalism and offering restitution to those losing their property as a result of the fires. Both the city council and county board promised to bear equally the expense of restoring or satisfying the parties suffering loss. The vote of the aldermen and county commissioners was unanimous.

A committee consisting of Vern L. Williams, Joe Watson, and Royce Bridges was appointed to contact the Negros, to ascertain their losses and make recommendations to the two boards. The extent of the help to be given by the city and county to the parties suffering the loss of their properties will be determined by the boards. A number of the parties have already been contacted by the committee. The property occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Compton, belonging to Robert Pickens was the late Dollie Bly. Frank Murriel owned the other home destroyed and it contained household effects. No one was living in the Muriel home at the time of the fire.

(Note; Frank Murriel received a sentence one day less than two years for being an accomplice in the crime against Mrs. Gray and her granddaughter,)

Mathis continued to plead with Latham telling him that he was going to get rewrapped in the cloth Latham had found it in, placed under the bed and each shell that had been taken from the four boxes were replaced in an orderly manner.

Latham was then taken immediately to the Williamson County Jail in Marion. On Thursday morning his attorney, Elmer Medlin of Carbondale, conferred with him and he was returned to Vienna at 1:30 O’clock Thursday afternoon and was taken by state police directly to the court house where he was sentences later.

Upon arraignment before Judge Reynolds after conferring with his attorney, Latham told the court that he desired to enter a plea of guilty to the charges in the indictment. The court thereupon explained to him his rights of trial by jury and admonished him of possible consequences of such a plea, but the defendant persisted therein. Latham’s plea of guilty was accepted by the court.

After Latham entered his plea of guilty before being sentenced the defendant’s counsel requested to mitigation of the offense and this was granted by the court. State’s Attorney Donald R. Mitchell then asked permission to offer evidence against the defendant that this too was granted.

Latham was called to the witness stand by his attorney, Elmer Medlin. He gave his age as 31, and told he attended high school two years, then entered the service of his country. He served about 2 1/2 years in the army. He served three “hitches” being honorably discharged twice and receiving an undesirable discharge the third time.

Attorney Medlin asked Latham what time he got up on Sunday morning (the day before the crime). Latham told the court that he got up about 7:30. Latham testified that he drank throughout the day and in the evening went to the Flamingo Club in Alexander County with Buddy Worlds and Ottis Shavis. There he continued to drink and became intoxicated.

Latham said that several times during his liberty people came very close to him and he came upon others during the hunt. On Monday night before his surrender, Latham said he saw the lights of the searchers down the hill from where he was hiding and heard them conversing back and forth. He said that one of them threw down a cigarette as they passed him.

When questioned about the crime he confessed to committing, Latham told the reporter that he went to the Gray home after Johnson (Spike) entered the house. He said that the had been drinking throughout Sunday and Sunday night. The reporter asked Latham whether or not he had ever used “dope” of any kind. He admitted that he had. When asked if on the morning of the time he had smoked any marijuana cigarettes, he finally replied, “Yes I did.” He would not disclose the number cigarettes he had used on the night before and morning of the crime. Upon questioning, Latham said that the price of the marijuana cigarettes was 50 cents each. “How many of the cigarettes can you smoke before you get the effect of them?” Latham replied, “Different numbers, sometimes you get weak ones which are like smoking a cigarette, and then you can buy it by the leaf. That’s the best way to buy it, then you roll your own cigarette. Latham would not disclose where he had purchased it.

VIENNA TIMES – SEPTEMBER 16, 1954 THOMAS LATHAM INTERVIEWED BY TIMES REORTER

In an exclusive interview, Thomas Latham told a Times reporters story of spending over a week hiding and evading apprehension, bringing his story up to a point when he surrendered to the Johnson County officers and state police. Latham was interviewed the Williamson County jail on Wednesday night following his surrender about noon of that day.

Latham begin his story by telling of leaving the jail. He said that he walked past the home of Carl Sanders down to the end of third street and went into some high weeds.

Latham Then crossed the Vienna drainage ditch, turned right and followed a strip of woods leading to the hill on which he lived. He went To the hill, keeping in the wooded area and came to the colored cemetery. From there he crossed through the Hood orchard and after leaving the orchard he said he saw cars on the road that he presumed were looking for him.

He went on south, staying in the weeds, and walking toward “Hell’s Neck,” known as the Oak Grove community. He followed the creek when it was convenient.

Latham said that as night began to come upon him he worked his way back toward the Big Four Railroad. He crossed the gravel highway near the Hollenbeck home and west into the cornfield on the north side of the road and made his way to the Vienna drainage ditch, keeping west of Route 45, recrossed the Vienna drainage ditch to the east of Route 45 and walked across on a drift.

Latham said he made his way to the left of the Vienna Hatchery. It is believed he meant a left of a large barn in the rear of the new part of the hatchery. He said he went up in the loft and lay down. He told the Times reporter and state’s attorney, Donald Mitchell, that he remained at the hatchery, Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday and Friday night.

Latham had worked at the hatchery for a number of months prior to the date of the crime. He had been discharged a number of weeks before the date of the brutal beating of Mrs. Maggie Gray and her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray.

When asked how he had remained hidden all the time, he said, “They never go up in that loft and I knew if I didn’t remain quiet, they would turn me into the law or shoot me.” (Later, upon reviewing the loft, it was discovered Latham had made a bed of sorts in the floor of the barn with a cover to keep him out of sight.)

The matter of food entered the questioning and Latham said that after dark and whenever everyone had gone from the hatchery, he would come down out of loft, get water, and eat raw eggs from the hatchery. There is a window glass out of the rear of the hatchery that would have permitted him to enter the building and having been employed there, he knew where the eggs were kept. He lived entirely on eggs during his stay at the hatchery. (It seems logical that an employee would have noticed eggs missing leading to a theory – “let things alone, and don’t go into the loft” .)

When Latham left the hatchery, he retraced his steps toward the hill south of Vienna, still keeping concealed by the wooded area when it was possible. He went back over the hill and followed the woods to “Little Fork.”

Latham remained in the woods during Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday night he made his way back to the hill and went by his home on the hill which he shared with Marie Pickens. He entered the home and stayed there all night. His common low wife was staying with Fred Compton and his wife just over the hill.

Asked if he got food during his stay in the woods after he left the hatchery, Latham said, “NO, I only found a slice of bread and a few crackers in Marie’s home and I ate them.”

When Latham got to Marie Pickens house, he found that she had packed most of her belongings. Monday morning Latham again took to the woods near the ruins of Bob Worlds house. He said while he was hiding there he saw Marie coming to her home. He appeared from out of the woods and he said that he and Marie talked for about an hour. Latham quoted Marie as saying, “Why don’t you give yourself up?” He replied; he said, ‘I told her, I was afraid I would get shot.”

After Sheriff Dave E. George received word that Latham was hiding on the hill he formed a posse and surrounded the hill. The sheriff approached the hiding place from the north wood slope.. He was

searching in the woods and honeysuckle vines from which Latham raised up and ran. The sheriff fired two shots at his as he fled.

Latham said he fled south from the hill, through the Hood orchard and crossed the dirt road that passes the home of Bill Worlds and turned west. He entered the Funk peach orchard and went through it and then disappeared in the woods south of it and north of the Charles Skelton home near Ballows Bridge.

He then crossed the gravel road to his east on Sanders Hill, going into the weeds to the east of the the road and making his way to the Hook quarry. Here he was spotted by searchers and then fled west through the woods toward Sanders Hill. The posse divided into two parts at this time, one starting at Route 45 and combing the woods that a member of the posse, Kindred Hunter who shot at Latham with a 22 calibre rifle three times. When asked about the incident, Latham said, “I heard the shots, but I was some distance from where they came from.”

Latham eluded the posse as darkness descended. He then told that he went back to the top of the hill and hid there. He stayed in these weeds until dawn Thursday morning, when he went into the woods near the home of Steve Mathis two and a half miles south of Vienna.

He stayed in that area until Wednesday morning. Between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 o’clock he slipped into the Mathis house while Mr. Mathis was taking his wife to their store. When Mathis returned he found Latham standing in his bed room door with Mathis’s 410 shotgun in is hands. When asked why he went to the Mathis house, he said, “I thought that I might get him to give me something to eat.”

VIENNA TIMES – SEPTEMBER 23, 1954 HIDING PLACE OF THOMAS LEE LATHAM

he hiding place of Thomas Lee Latham, who told a Times reporter that he spent a few days and nights in the attic or loft of the Vienna Hatchery, was discovered by Glenn Taylor, Thursday afternoon of last week (sept 16) after he had read Latham’s statement that he had spent the days and nights in the loft of a barn at the rear of the building was in error. Taylor visited all of the places that Latham could've been hiding and finally he went to the attic over the chill room at his poultry dressing plant and produce building. Here he found Latham’s hiding place. He had placed boxes and crates in front of his bed to hide it from the floor view. He placed “Dixie” feed sacks between the ceiling joists and made a bed.

A picture in the Times shows Victor Hall, a representative of Sugar Creek Produce Co. Harrisburg pointing to the spot where Latham hid. There is a quantity of egg shells and in the foreground is a bucket of water. Latham existed on fresh eggs that he took from the hatchery after the hatchery closed and there was no one around.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1954 OF Mathis persuades Latham to Surrender

Just how any man could be as calm and composed with the business end of a loaded shotgun pointing in his direction in the hands of a hunted criminal, who was awaiting trial for an evil murder, cannot be easily understood, but such was the case on Wednesday morning of last week, when Steve Mathis of Vienna found himself facing such a situation.

Mathis, who lives two and a half miles south of Vienna on Route 145 arose early Wednesday morning. He and his wife, Grace, breakfasts at their home as usual. They own a grocery store in Vienna. After finishing breakfast, Mr. Mathis took his wife to the store and then returned to the farm after he told his wife he had about a days work that he had to do there.

When Mathis returned to his home, he went into the living room and was seated in a chair changing his shoes. He looked up and standing in the door way of his bedroom was Thomas Lee Latham, who had escaped from the county jail and had been the object of a intensive man hunt for over a week.

Latham had Mr. Mathis’s 410 shotgun in his hands and it was lying across his arm. His pockets were heavy with Mr. Mathis’ ammunition. Mathis spoke, “Howdy Thomas.” Latham replied, “Howdy Mr. Mathis.” After a short conversation between the two, Latham said, “Well, Mr. Mathis, I think I will have to tie you up.” Mathis argued the point stating, “Now Thomas, I have known you all of your life. I knew your father and mother. In fact I lived close to you a number of years, and I never thought that you would do what you did. I think you were just drinking and that gets a lot of people in trouble. Why don’t you give yourself up?”

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1954 Ardell Johnson Trial set for October 13

Ardell (Spike) Johnson, indicted for murder of Mrs. Maggie Gray, plead not guilty when arraigned before Judge C. Ross Reynolds in circuit court here Wednesday afternoon of last week.

Johnson was charged with murder in an indictment along with Thomas Lee Latham. The indictment was made due to the death of Mrs. Maggie Gray of Vienna, who was brutally beaten in her home on August 2, by two assailants.

Jackson was named by Thomas Lee Latham as his accomplice in the crime. Latham entered a plea of guilty to murder in circuit court here recently and was sentenced to 180 years in the state penitentiary.

After being informed of his rights and privileges Johnson requested that his trial be delayed and that he be tried at large. He was represented by Charles Winters of Marion.

Johnson had been held under bond of $10,000 in the Williamson County jail at Marion the greater part of the time since his arrest and indictment. He denied having a part in the brutal beating of the aged woman. Judge Reynolds set the date of trial for Wednesday, Oct. 13. A jury list was drawn this week and the petit jury will be called for that date.

Johnson is also under indictment for burglary with intent to murder and with intent to rape and assault to commit rape.Thomas Lee Latham and Frank Murriel will be called as witnesses against Johnson. Johnson has consistently denied having any part of the murder or being guilty of the other charges.

THE VIENNA TIMES – AUGUST 12, 1954

YOUR HOME TOWN PAPER GIVES YOU THE NEWS Latham confesses to Assault on two women here last week.

Thomas Lee Latham, 31 of Vienna has confessed to assault on two Vienna Women. For security reasons, Latham is being held in the Massac County jail.

State’s Attorney, Donald R. Mitchell has filed charges against Frank Murriel and Herbert Latham, the later brother of Thomas Lee Latham, and they are still being held in the Johnson County jail. They both waived a preliminary hearing on charges against them and have been placed under $10,000 bond each to await action by the grand jury.

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1954 MAGGIE GRAY DIES FOLLOWING BRUTAL BEATING.

Mrs. Maggie Gray died at the home of her son, Ted Gray about 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 11. Mrs. Gray was one of the victims who was brutally beaten when one or more Negros entered her home in Vienna on morning of August 2 and took $100 in cash and also unmercifully beat her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray, 18.

Following Mrs. Gray’s death, D. E. A. Veach empaneled a jury at Robertson Funeral Home, which visited the body. the inquest was continued until Saturday morning to await the outcome of the autopsy ordered by the coroner.

The body was taken to the Frick Funeral Home in Marion, where Dr. Vess, a pathologist, performed an autopsy. Following the autopsy, the body was returned to the Robertson Funeral Home, where it remained until Sunday afternoon when funeral services were held and internment made in the Bridges Cemetery, west of Vienna.

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1954

VIENNA NEGRO HELD ON CHARGE OF ASSAULT WITH ATTEMPT TO MURDER

Thomas Lee Latham, 31, of Vienna has been arrested and is being held by Johnson County authorities on a charge of assault to intent to murder, on charges filed by States Attorney, Donald R. Mitchell.

Two other Negros, Frank Murriel and Herbert Latham, both of Vienna, the latter a brother of the accused man are being held in the county jail for questioning and further investigation of the crime.

At 4:30 O’clock Monday morning August 2, 1954 the home of Mrs. Maggie Gray, 82, who lives a few blocks from the public square, was broken into by an intruder. The intruder who entered the Gray home cut a hole in the screen wire on a rear door, unfastened a screen hook and entered the home.

Mrs. Gray’s granddaughter, Charlene Gray, daughter of Charlie Gray, janitor at the court house, stayed with her grandmother at night. The intruder entered her room and ordered her to remove her night clothing. When she failed to comply with his demands he begin to beat her. The eighteen-year old girl fought back. The man picked up a bottle of rubbing alcohol and continued to beat her. She threw a bottle of writing ink that struck him, breaking the bottle. When she screamed for help he threw her on the bed and attempted to smother her with a pillow. The girl continued to fight and as she did her clothing was torn from her body.

The grandmother, who was asleep in another room heard the scream of her granddaughter and she went to investigate. The intruder knocked her down and beat her, then going from one woman to the other, in an effort to quiet their screaming, he choked both women and beat them unmercifully.

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY OCTOBER 14, 1954 (The final article printed by the Times on the crimes committed on August 2, 1954 in Vienna, IL.)

Spike Johnson Pleads Guilty to Murder and Gets Life Sentence Colored man was indicted for the murder of aged vienna woman

Ardell (Spike) Johnson (40?) was arraigned before circuit Judge C. Ross Reynolds and on Tuesday, October 12, 1954 entered a plea of guilty for the murder of Mrs. Maggie Gray and was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crimes.

Johnson was arraigned before Judge Reynolds a number of weeks ago and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges and indictment of murder. His decision to change his plea came as a surprise.

Johnson was returned to the Marion jail Tuesday afternoon and on Wednesday was taken to the state prison at Menard to began his tenure.

From August 2, 1954 to October 12, 1954 – 2 months and 10 days -Vienna Illinois the crimes against Maggie and Charlene Gray were headline news in the

Vienna Times. The crimes were committed more than 66 years ago.

The inquest was held at 9:00 o’clock Saturday morning at the Times office. Mrs. Charlie Gray, mother of Charlene Gray was the first witness questioned by coroner Veach. She told the coroner’s jury that when her husband received the call from Mrs. Grace Cox to come to the home of her his mother, that “Something was badly wrong”, she, her husband, Charlie, Buster and Jim Bob started for the Gray home and she heard screams from her daughter as they approached the house. Mrs. Gray stated upon entering the front door of the home with her husband, she heard a noise in the rear and ran back out and around the side to investigate. She said that she saw Thomas Lee Latham fleeing from the house.

Mr. and Mrs. Orin Cox, neighbors of Mrs. Gray were also questioned. Mrs. Cox told of being awakened about 4:30 a.m. by a noise and then she heard a scream. She went to the front porch an heard noises in the gray house and returned to awaken her husband then she called the Grays. She later went to the Gray’s home.

Mr. Cox said that he hurriedly dressed when he heard the women screaming. He said he started for the house and thinking that the front door would be locked, went to rear of the home. Orin Cox said that he saw the back of a Negro fleeing from the home and that it appeared to him that the Negro was without his pants and was in his shorts. He said an arm was lowered as if he might be carrying something, but he did not see anything in his arms. Cox said that the fleeing man was a Negro, but that he did not see his face and could not identify him.

Dr. E.A. Veach read a report from Dr. A. Voss, Pathologist, who performed an autopsy on the body of Mrs. Gray. The pathologist stated that in his opinion the death of Mrs. Gray was due to the injuries caused by force: Wound over and under the right eyebrow, concussions and subcutaneous hemorrhages of the skin of the neck. and incomplete fracture of the right 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and left 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs in or near the anterior axillary lines. Evidently as the consequences of these injuries, Mrs. Gray developed confluent bronchopneumonia, principally in the right middle and lower lobes and on the left lower lobe

Publications of the stories in the Times regarding the crimes were retrieved and obtained from the Abraham Lincoln Historical Library in Springfield, IL. The quality of the printing of articles after being archived and being digitally entered in the library’s records were difficult to read and convert, first in handwritten words, then in type.

I made an attempt to be exact and present information exactly as written, but know that sometimes errors may have been made. I Apologize for any of them.

John Casey

435 1/2 Bluff St.

Alton, IL 62002

618-670-5646

jrcasey 134@gmail.com

Jordan / Lonnie,

The 1954 crime in Vienna was headline news from August 5 to October 14.

My first interest was to knowing more about and to try and find three Black classmates. Albert and Virginia Shavis, and Olivia Worlds. Another Black was Martha Kelly who was not yet in High school. None of these four graduated from high school.

The horrendous crime excited everyone in Vienna and a all-out effort was made to capture and punish the men who were involved.

I attempted to write the exact printed words in the articles in the Vienna Times. I did not add any comments of my own.

Originally, I planned to interview people, research records, review locations and write about my findings. I’ve decided not to.

I will save what I found, also my notes and information. The library may want a copy of what I wrote. There may be others.

John Casey

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September 16, 1954 LATHAM GETS 180 YEARS

COLORED MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGE AND INDICTMENT OF MURDER. LATHAM SAID SPIKE JOHNSON ACCOMPANIED HIM ON NIGHT OF CRIME.

Thomas Lee Latham, 31, colored, was sentenced by Judge C. Ross Reynolds in circuit court here Thursday afternoon to serve in the Illinois State Penitentiary for term of 180 years and on the anniversary of his crime (AUGUST 2) that he be placed in solitary confinement for the day.

Latham eluded the posse as darkness descended. He then told that he went back to the top of the hill and hid there. He stayed in these weeds until before dawn Thursday morning, when he went into the woods near the home of Steve Mathis two and a half miles south of Vienna. He stayed in that area until Wednesday morning. Between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 o’clock he slipped into the Mathis House while Mr. Mathis was taking his wife to their store, when Mathis returned he found Latham standing in his bed room door with Mathis’s 410 shotgun in his hand. When asked why he went to Mathis’s house, he said, “I thought that I might get him to give me somethi ng to eat.”

Latham said that several rimes during his liberty people came very close to him and he came upon others during the hunt. On Monday night before his surrender, Latham said he saw the lights of the searchers down the hill from where he was hiding and heard them conversing back and forth. He said that one of then threw down a cigarette as they passed him. When questioned about the crime he confessed to committing, Latham told the reporter that he went into the Gray home after Johnson (Spike) entered the house. He said that he had been drinking throughout Sunday, and Sunday night. The reporter asked Latham whether or not he had ever used ”dope” of any kind. He admitted that Page of 14 26

End of the story on Latham August 12, 1954 – Vienna Times issue An ad appeared in this edition: Oil Heater – Walkers Hardware, Vienna $2.50 weekly. Low down payment Easy month terms phone 11 The Price reflects the time in early fifties The phone number was three numbers all 111 That indicates a party line It also was indicates how fast someone could call someone. This allowed witnesses and others to summon help quickly for the two women. The 111 might have been three rings or turns of the key on the phone in 1954 the first telephone booth was installed at the corner of 146 and 45. Rotary dial phone.

When the news got around in Vienna about the heinous crime, feeling against the negro ran pretty high and officers, seeing this, will keep the accused man confined at Metropolis jail and State’s Attorney Mitchell has ordered that no one be permitted to contact him. Herbert Latham, was alleged to have arranged transportation for his brother to leave town, was picked up late Monday morning and Jailed for questioning. Thomas Lee Latham was arraigned before Justice of the Peace, J. E. Arnold Tuesday morning and waived preliminary hearing. His bond was set at $10,000 and upon failure to fill same was returned to the Massac county Jail to await action of a special grand jury which will be called on August 16. States Attorney Nary Mitchell will also present charges of assault with intent to rape, robbery and assault with deadly weapon to the grand jury End of the Vienna Times article on the break-in and Assault. Time frame unknown, but it would appear that from Monday 4:30 Am (Aug 2) to the capture took a long day. Vienna is on CST and 4:30 AM is just breaking day. Temp in August is typically hot – morning temps in the middle 70’s and going up to high eighties and sometimes higher. The arraignment was rapid too, Tuesday morning in Metropolis (Massac Copunty)

A small article was in the 8/5 issue Fire Truck Called To Buncombe The Vienna fire truck was called to Buncombe about 11:30 Tuesday morning Fire threatened the home of Mr.and Mrs. Glen Montgomery Fire originated in a box underneath a rear porch near two bottle gas tanks Local fire fighters had the fire out by the time the Vienna Truck arrived at the scene For some reasons I found that small article amusing. Can you imagine why? The end of the article in the Times on the Break-in 8/2/54

He followed the creek when it was convenient. Latham said that as night began to come upon him he worked his way back toward the Big Four Railroad. He crossed the gravel highway near the Hollenbeck home and west into the cornfield on the north side of the road and made his way to the Vienna drainage ditch, keeping west of Route 45. He crossed the Vienna drainage ditch to the east of Route 45 and walked across it on a drift. Latham said he he made his way to the left of the Vienna Hatchery. It is believed that he meant a left of a large barn in the rear of the new part of the hatchery. He said he went up in the loft and lay down. He told the Times reporter and state’s attorney, Donald Mitchell, that he remained at the hatchery, Wednesday night, Thursday and Thursday night, Friday and Friday night. Latham had worked at the hatchery for a number of months prior to the date of his crime. He had been discharged a number of weeks before the date of the brutal beating of Mrs. Maggie Gray and her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray. When asked how he had remained hidden all he time, he said, “They never go up in that loft and I knew if I remained quiet, they would not discover me.” Asked if he at any time he had attempted to contact anybody, he said, “No, I was afraid that they would turn me in into the law or shoot me.” Page of 11 26

found him lying on a cot in a second story apartment. Upon the advice of Sheriff David E. George, Latham was not returned to the vienna jail. but was taken to the Metropolis Jail for safe keeping. The following day, Latham waived preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace, J.E. Arnold and was placed under $10,000 bond to await action by the grand jury.

Mrs. Maggie Gray who was taken to the home of her son, Ted Gray, in Vienna after the assault is still in a critical condition and is rational part of the time. Charlene Gray was taken to the Anna City Hospital where she remained until Sunday morning when she was released and re- turned to her home. She is recovering from her extensive injuries. 6 8/12/1954 At the request of Sheriff George and State’s Attorney, Mitchell, the Illinois State Division of Criminal Identification and Investigation sent two men here with a lie detector and it was taken to the Massac County Jail Where Latham submitted to a test. Frank Murriel, Herbert Latham and Spike Johnson also were examined by the local authorities and the lie detector Local authorities have not disclosed the results of these tests., but a report will be made to the grand jury A regular grand jury will convene in vienna on Monday, August 19 when states Attorney will present numerous charges against all of the parties being involved.

George Floyd Obituary By Jberkner! 1 @gmail.com GEORGE FLOYD

(1974-2020)

George Floyd, 46,

died while being arrested for passing a counterfeit twenty dollar bill in Minneapolis, Mn., on May 25, 2020. George was a lifelong drug addict and career criminal whose interests including selling cocaine and fentanyl robbing defenseless women during home invasions, and spending time in prison among others like him. The cause of death is undetermined but George, unsurprisingly, tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl, two of his favorite recreational drugs. George recently moved to Minneapolis to get a fresh start and to leave Huston, where he had accumulated at least three convictions for drug offenses and aggravated robbery while armed with a firearm, the fact that his most recent arrest was for a non-violent offense shows that George had finally found his way.

George is survived by several children from several different baby mommas, none of whom had seen him for years because he was only recently released from Texas State Prison after serving a five year sentence for his robbery conviction.

Funeral services will b e held on various dates all over the country to honor this pillar of society. Mourners are invited to join violent demonstrations to honor George’s memory. Molotov cocktails are requested in lieu of flowers. Murdering an innocent police officer with a wife and young children would also be an acceptable way of demonstrating our respect for George.

George Floyd Obituary – discussion

Recently I received a forwarded message from my brother who lives in ‘Texas. He is not the author of the Obituary. It was forwarded to six or more people my brother knows.

My reaction was shock and dismay. I sent it to my son. He too, was disappointed in the message. I replied to the writer asking if he was promoting more killing. I have not heard from him. I sent an email to ‘THE brother and two sisters that I was not doing well; wanted to be well and that I am concerned. I asked that any hate mail not be forwarded to me.

I read and discussed the email with an editor of a newspaper some 165 miles from where I live. I did not give him a copy of the obituary. He expressed his disappointment of the hate and racism along with the mockery of a black man by a

white man. Also mocking blacks to revolt and do harm to a white policeman. I did

not suggest that he consider printing the obituary. Jbergkner’s obituary of George Floyd is a hate message. It reeks of racism. [t promotes violence. It mocks blacks.

The writer may be from Texas. He is intelligent and educated. He talks in complete sentences. He writes well and has a good vocabulary. He is religious. He has a big ego. He likely was employed in a service related business or operation. He May be a retired Military man of rank. He owns only the best stocks. | believe he is a senior person, married and lives in a BEST neighborhood in a pretentious home that is professionally maintained. He is rich. He is admired by his circle of friends like him. He donates to the Republican Party and expects favors because of his influences of others. He knows the Mayor and Police Chief very well. He also knows school officials and the Republican County Campaign Chairman. The waiter at his favorite restaurant knows exactly how he likes his steak cooked and his favorite cocktail. He is a good tipper. He likes fine whiskey and doesn’t smoke.

He is a zealot. He isa racist. He believes most blacks are freeloaders, lazy, no-good, and potential rioters. He won't invite one to join his church or attend home parties, unless he owns them. Jail for violators is too good for them. Kill them as they don’t amount to much.

I believe he belongs to THE BEST CHURCH, perhaps Catholic or Episcopalian. He doesn’t sing well but he knows the verses. He rarely goes to the movies.

He is a conservative dresser and wears tailored clothes and expensive shoes. His short hair is lightly tinted and he does not have a beard or whiskers. No tattoos either. He likes to get photographed with important people.

What is his purpose for writing a hate filled mockery obituary of a man he doesn’t know for a crime of passing a counterfeit twenty dollar bill and being killed for it by a racist police officer who squeezed the air out of him by placing his knee on Floyds neck for 8 minutes and 40 +- seconds?

I believe his email name is a cover it’s not his real name. He would risk too much if his hate mail was provided to a DA or a Democrat with rank, or to the NAACP.

If he has used his real name (email) he risks voters using the obituary to sway voters to vote against his candidate.

It was seriously written and I am seriously considering getting it in the news or hands of those who oppose his stand on instigating hate and mayhem.

Noah June 27, 2020

621 words

GOING HOME Wild strawberries are ripe Sweet and tasty on the vine As Alice wanders along Picking them one by one She is eating the field berries so fast That pink juice bubbles down her chin She freezes, something is moving In the tall grass Although her heart is thumping wildly, Alice stays very still As something is gliding smoothly and soundlessly Making the grass ripple and rattle In a zigzag serpentine motion The thing is coming towards Alice Then a head rises up revealing An old woman’s face Alice’s face breaks into sunshine And with laughter mingled with hissing She set her fists in front of her chin And jabs at the face like the fangs of a snake Alice brims with questions She wants to know how her aunt Harriet Learned to creep like a snake And able to vanish and reappear Harriet Tubman could will her body to act In the ancestral ways of the dream hunters Of West Africa As she guided escaping slaves to freedom Harriet spoke to Alice, “To be a snake in the long grass, A leopard in the forest, a bird in the sky, Means you are going home, child.” Characters in the poem: Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) Alice Lucas Bricker, her great niece

GOING HOME

Wild strawberries are ripe Sweet and tasty on the vine As Alice wanders along Picking them one by one

She is eating the field berries so fast That pink juice bubbles down her chin She freezes, something is moving

In the tall grass

Although her heart is thumping wildly,

Alice stays very still

As something is gliding smoothly and soundlessly Making the grass ripple and rattle

In a zigzag serpentine motion

The thing is coming towards Alice Then a head rises up revealing

An old woman’s face

Alice’s face breaks into sunshine

And with laughter mingled with hissing

She set her fists in front of her chin

And jabs at the face like the fangs of a snake

Alice brims with questions

She wants to know how her aunt Harriet Learned to creep like a snake

And able to vanish and reappear

Harriet Tubman could will her body to act In the ancestral ways of the dream hunters Of West Africa

As she guided escaping slaves to freedom Harriet spoke to Alice,

“To be a snake in the long grass, A leopard in the forest, a bird in the sky, Means you are going home, child.”

Characters in the poem: Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) Alice Lucas Bricker, her great niece

Alice’s face breaks into sunshine And with laughter mingled with hissing She set her fists in front of her chin And jabs at the face like the fangs of a snake Alice brims with questions She wants to know how her aunt Harriet Learned to creep like a snake And able to vanish and reappear Harriet Tubman could will her body to act In the ancestral ways of the dream hunters Of West Africa As she guided escaping slaves to freedom Harriet spoke to Alice, “To be a snake in the long grass, A leopard in the forest, a bird in the sky, Means you are going home, child.” Characters in the poem: Harriet Tubman (1822-191Alice Lucas Bricker, her great niece

Alice’s face breaks into sunshine

And with laughter mingled with hissing She set her fists in front of her chin

And jabs at the face like the fangs of a snake Alice brims with questions

She wants to know how her aunt Harriet Learned to creep like a snake

And able to vanish and reappear

Harriet Tubman could will her body to act In the ancestral ways of the dream hunters Of West Africa

As she guided escaping slaves to freedom Harriet spoke to Alice,

“To be a snake in the long grass,

A leopard in the forest, a bird in the sky, Means you are going home, child.”

Characters in the poem: Harriet Tubman (1822-191 Alice Lucas Bricker, her great niece

GOING HOME Wild strawberries are ripe Sweet and tasty on the vine As Alice wanders along

Picking them one by one

She is eating the field berries so fast That pink juice bubbles down her chin She freezes, something is moving

In the tall grass

Although her heart is thumping wildly, Alice stays very still As something is gliding smoothly and soundlessly

Making the grass ripple and rattle

In a zigzag serpentine motion The thing is coming towards Alice Then a head rises up revealing

An old woman’s face

GOING HOME Wild strawberries are ripe Sweet and tasty on the vine As Alice wanders along Picking them one by one

She is eating the field berries so fast That pink juice bubbles down her chin She freezes, something is moving In the tall grass Although her heart is thumping wildly, Alice stays very still As something is gliding smoothly and soundlessly Making the grass ripple and rattle In a zigzag serpentine motion The thing is coming towards Alice Then a head rises up revealing An old woman’s face

2 a ee

Alice is brimming with questions.

She wants to know how her Aunt Harriet Learned to creep like a snake

Near the roads where others walked.

Haarriet Tubman could still will her body To act in unusual ways,

Shifting beyond expected forms, Vanishing and reappearing.

The scene evokes the ancestral ways

Of the dream hunters of West Africa

Nelping this gifted dreamer as she guided scores, possibly hundreds, of escaping slaves to freedom.

“To be a snake in the long grass, A leopard in the forest,

A bird in the sky,

Means you are going home, child.”

for Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) Alice Lucas Bricker, raised as Harriet’s great niece.

It is said that Harriet was a dreamer and a seer. In her dreams and visions,

She could fly like a bird over landscapes she had never seen with her physical eyes. She was able to find the right roads and the rivers and fords and the safe houses to get escaping slaves out. Her gift surely owed something to her African heritage.

2 ae eee ee

Going Home

Wild strawberries are out, Sweet and tasting of the sun. As Alice wanders away, Picking them one by one.

Alice is reading from a book

By a man who was carried across the ocean In the belly of a great ship,

As a slave.

Alice is eating the field berries

So fast that pink juice bubbles down her chin. She freezes, because something is moving

In the high grass.

Gliding smoothly and soundlessly, It makes the grass ripple.

Alice stays very still,

Though her heart is thumping.

The thing in the grass is coming toward her

In zigzag, serpentine motions.

Maybe she had better run.

Then the head rises up revealing an old woman’s face.

Alice’s face breaks into sunshine.

With a wild riff of laughter mingled with hissing, She sets her fists in front of her chin

And jabs at the face, suggesting the fangs of a snake.

GOING HOME Wild strawberries are ripe Sweet and tasty on the vine As Alice wanders along Picking them one by one

She is eating field berries so fast That pink juice bubbles down her chin She freezes, something is moving In the tall grass

Although her heart is thumping wildly, Alice stays very still As something is gliding smoothly Making the grass ripple and rattle

In a zigzag serpentine motion The thing is coming towards Alice Then a head rises up revealing An old woman’s face

Alice’s face breaks into sunshine And with laughter mingled with hissing She set her fists in front of her chin And jabs at the face like the fangs of a snake

Alice brims with questions She wants to know how her aunt Harriet Learned to creep like a snake And be able to vanish and reappear

Harriet spoke to Alice, “To be a snake in the long grass, A leopard in the forest, a bird in the sky, Means you are going home, child.” Characters in the poem: Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) Alice Lucas Bricker, her great niece Harriet Tubman was said she could will her body to act in the ancestral ways of the dream hunters of West Africa as she guided slaves to freedom

John Casey –

a, D

A capsule of the marvelous life of Harriet Tubman – Harriet Tubman

Harriet was born in 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland. The exact date of her birth was never determined. Her parents: Harriet “Rit” Green and Benjamin Ross named her Araminta and called her “Minty”. Minty was taught to be a baby sitter; weave cloth, and trap muskrats. She also worked as a nanny, cook, domestic, laundress, nurse and even a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War.

She was a “Conductor of the Underground Railroad” and led many slaves to freedom. Her first biographer, Sarah Bradford, wrote that Harrict made a total of 19 trips south and led as many as 300 slaves to freedom; likely an exaggeration. She was a courageous, selfless woman devoted to helping others.

When Harriet was a youngster she accompanied a friend to a store and an incident occurred which made the owner angry at her friend. He threw a lead weight at her. It missed its target, but it hit Minty whose hair was like a bushel basket cushioning the lead weight. However, it put a dent in her head. Afterwards, Minty suffered narcolepsy, a medical condition that made her fall suddenly asleep, which plagued her the rest of her life. After the injury Minty began having visions of flying over fields and rivers “like a bird” and heard voices and saw bright colorful lights that no one could see. She had visions of horsemen and heard screams of frightened women and children about to be sold.

Minty married John Tubman in 1844 and soon after that she took her mother’s first name of Harriet. In 1847 she arranged to pay her slave owner $50-$60 a year. Then she hired herself out to others with an unrealized goal to buy her freedom. When she heard a rumor that she and her brother would be sold and sent to the Deep South where slaves were said to be treated harshly. Tubman prayed for her owner to die. One week later on March 7", he did. He was 47. The God fearing Harriet regretted saying the prayer.

In June 1847 Harriet felt it was time for her and her family to run. They did, but soon came back. The next time Harriet decided to run away on her own after vowing to return for others. On September 17, 1849 she fled into Pennsylvania and was helped by a Quaker woman who gave Harriet instructions to another “Station” father north on the “Underground Railroad”. It was Harriet’s ticket to freedom. In 1857 she helped her family escape to Canada.

In 1863 she worked for the Union Army in Beaufort, S.C. probably as a cook and laundress. She befriended and helped recruit former slaves become Union soldiers. ‘Tubman was not paid for her services. After the war ended in 1865 she was granted a pension of $8.00 a month for her services in the army. Harriet’s husband, John died in 1867. She married Nelson Davis in 1869. They adopted a daughter, Gertie, in 1874. Davis, an African American and Union soldier died in 1888 and after his death Harriet’s pension was increased $12.00 a month. In 1997 Harriet was awarded an appreciation medal by Queen Victoria of England.

In her lifetime Harriet met Frederick Douglas, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Brown and William Steward, Secretary of State for Lincoln. She bought a farm in Auburn, New York from Mr. Steward.

On March 10, 1913 Harriet Tubman died in Auburn, New York. Her funeral included military honors. In June 1914 a plaque of Harriet Tubman was unveiled at the Auburn New York Auditorium,

Publications of the stories in the Times regarding the crimes were retrieved and obtained from the Abraham Lincoln Historical Library in Springfield, IL. The quality of the printing of articles after being archived and being digitally entered in the library’s records were difficult to read and convert, first in handwritten words, then in type.

I made an attempt to be exact and present information exactly as written, but know that sometimes errors may have been made. I Apologize for any of them.

John Casey

435 1/2 Bluff St.

Alton, IL 62002

618-670-5646

jrcasey 134@gmail.com

Humans have always been both competitive and cooperative with both violent and bene ficial tendencies. Like the two strands of the double helix of our DNA. We are primed for con flict and hatred but also for love, friendship, and cooperation. The good things we see around us are part of what makes us human in the first place. How can people be so different from, even going to war with – one another and yet be so similar? We feel great when we help others. Our good deeds are not just the product of enlightenment values, they have a deeper origin. When we look around the world, we see endless and timeless fear, ignorance, hatred, and violence. This pessimistic gaze that separates humans from one another by highlighting evil and emphasizing difference misses an important underlying unity and overlooks our common humanity.

have you this way, I’ll kill you and have you my way.” At about this time her father arrived and frightened the would-be rapist away The girl had been successful in warding off her assailant’s attacks. She later told her father that had he not arrived when he did, she could not have withstood the punishment any longer. Charlene also told her father that another Negro walked back and forth across the back porch of the home all the time the intruder was in the home Charlene was taken to the office of Dr. W . J. Wakefield for treatment and she was later taken to the Anna City Hospital on the Doctor’s recommendations. Mrs. Gray was treated in the office of Dr. E. A. Veach and then taken to the home of her son, Ted Gray. Charlene suffered a badly bruised and lacerated face and head. both eyes were injured. She was also suffering from other injuries. Mrs. Gray is suffering from head injuries, her head and face being beaten almost into a pulp. She was also kicked and stomped by the intruder, whose foot print was visible on her stomach. she is in critical condition and has had a number of convulsions and it is doubtful that she will live. Charlene and her grandma both identified the intruder as Thomas Lee Latham. He was also identified by Charles Gray and his son, Jim Bob. Lather was sentenced to the Chester penitentiary a few year ago. He was a parolee and had his liberty for almost two years. Authorities were quickly notified and Deputy Sheriff Bob Hook, State patrolman, Marion Trout and Bill Jeffery quickly picked up the trail of the intruder. They went to the south hill where a number of colored people reside and searched Latham’s home. Marie Pickens, who lives in the same home told the officers that Thomas Lee had returned home and hurriedly departed after changing a shirt.

Jim Bob Gray was questioned and said that he saw his face plainly and that he was pretty sure it was Thomas Lee Latham When pictures of four different colored men were shown to him, the boy identified the picture of Thomas Lee Latham as the party he saw fleeing from the house Jim Bob ran after him as he fled Ted Gray was questioned and he told of going to his mother’s home and finding the house in disarray, and blood over the floor, bed, and walls of house He told of caring for his mother after taking her to his home and said a few hours after the attack on her, her mind was clear and she related different phases of the attack to him. He said that later she could not recall why she was suffering and why she could not go back to her home. Mrs, Rilla Height was questioned and she stated that she saw Frank Murriel driving east on West Main Street toward the court house about 5:30 on the morning the crime was committed Mrs. Height was enroute end of notes on page 7 To her work at the Smith Cafe, she said that there was another colored man with him but she could not identify him. D. E. A. Veach read a report from Dr. A. Voss, pathologist, who preformed an

road, Kindred Hunter, a member of the group, saw Latham up in a thicket and start to run west. Hunter fired at him three times with a rifle. States attorney Mitchell, who was a short distance behind Hunter, saw Latham as Hunter fired, but did not have an opportunity to shoot because Hunter was in front of him. Again Latham disappeared at the time he was flushed in the thicket. It was getting dark. Members of the posse continued to search during the greater part of the night, but no further trace of Latham was found. Five state police accompanied by Deputy sheriff, Robert Hook and constable Bill Barnett returned to the search Tuesday morning. They were aided by a group of investigators of check the following to see if it is in the right place in the story The Department of Conservation in this area, on a report that Latham was seen getting out of a pickup truck on Route 37 near Grand Chain. This clue was checked by the state police, but like many other reports, it was found to be false. Meanwhile Latham is still at large. Those who actually Page of 7 26

received a tip that Thomas Lee Latham was hiding there. Latham had been flushed by Sheriff Dave George and managed to slip through a ring of deputized men and the search for him had con- tinued in another section about a mile from the homes of the Negros. While the posse was searching south of the hill at about 4:30 o’’clock smoke was seem rising from the direction of the Negro homes. All three were destroyed together with their contents It was a theory of some that carelessness in smoking or some member of the posse caused the fire that destroyed the Negro homes.However, as investigation by county officials and state police pointed more to arson. Two of the homes could not have possibly been destroyed by a grass and brush fire that developed on the hill after the posse left the scene. There was some evidence that any burning weeds, grasses or grass was near the two houses. except that caused by the burning buildings. One of the homes might have been fired by a grass fire that crept down the hill from a mass of honeysuckle vines that were burned over, however it is possible that the grass and honeysuckle fire could have been started by light burning house. Page of 2 26

Latham begin his story by telling of leaving the jail. He said that he walked past the home of Carl Sanders down to the end of third street and went into some high weeds.

Latham Then crossed the Vienna drainage ditch, turned right and followed a strip of woods leading to the hill on which he lived. He went To the hill, keeping in the wooded area and came to the colored cemetery. From there he crossed through the Hood orchard and after leaving the orchard he said he saw cars on the road that he presumed were looking for him.

He went on south, staying in the weeds, and walking toward “Hell’s Neck,” known as the Oak Grove community. He followed the creek when it was convenient.

Latham said that as night began to come upon him he worked his way back toward the Big Four Railroad. He crossed the gravel highway near the Hollenbeck home and west into the cornfield on the north side of the road and made his way to the Vienna drainage ditch, keeping west of Route 45, recrossed the Vienna drainage ditch to the east of Route 45 and walked across on a drift.

Latham said he made his way to the left of the Vienna Hatchery. It is believed he meant a left of a large barn in the rear of the new part of the hatchery. He said he went up in the loft and lay down. He told the Times reporter and state’s attorney, Donald Mitchell, that he remained at the hatchery, Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday and Friday night.

Latham had worked at the hatchery for a number of months prior to the date of the crime. He had been discharged a number of weeks before the date of the brutal beating of Mrs. Maggie Gray and her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray.

When asked how he had remained hidden all the time, he said, “They never go up in that loft and I knew if I didn’t remain quiet, they would turn me into the law or shoot me.” (Later, upon reviewing the loft, it was discovered Latham had made a bed of sorts in the floor of the barn with a cover to keep him out of sight.)

saw Laham Monday stay that he is now wearing a navy shirt and blue jeans. The sheriff’s office and state police are leaving no stone unturned to check all reasonable reports in an effort to capture Latham. Check the following for proper location Latham Reported Hiding near Lick Creek Everett Smoot, a farmer living on the Holly Brown farm near Lick Creek ILL, is positive that the saw Thomas Lee Latham Friday afternoon of last week hiding in an old abandoned house near his home. Mr. Smoot went to the old house in which oats were stored. As he stepped inside the rear door, he told Johnson County authorities that a large Negro appeared. Smoot who had gone into the house to get some oats, being completely surprised by the presence of the Negro, stepped back and went into the yard.

When Smoot surprised the Negro in Page of 8 26

Latham said that several times during his liberty people came very close to him and he came upon others during the hunt. On Monday night before his surrender, Latham said he saw the lights of the searchers down the hill from where he was hiding and heard them conversing back and forth. He said that one of them threw down a cigarette as they passed him.

When questioned about the crime he confessed to committing, Latham told the reporter that he went to the Gray home after Johnson (Spike) entered the house. He said that the had been drinking throughout Sunday and Sunday night. The reporter asked Latham whether or not he had ever used “dope” of any kind. He admitted that he had. When asked if on the morning of the time he had smoked any marijuana cigarettes, he finally replied, “Yes I did.” He would not disclose the number cigarettes he had used on the night before and morning of the crime. Upon questioning, Latham said that the price of the marijuana cigarettes was 50 cents each. “How many of the cigarettes can you smoke before you get the effect of them?” Latham replied, “Different numbers, sometimes you get weak ones which are like smoking a cigarette, and then you can buy it by the leaf. That’s the best way to buy it, then you roll your own cigarette. Latham would not disclose where he had purchased it.

VIENNA TIMES – SEPTEMBER 16, 1954 THOMAS LATHAM INTERVIEWED BY TIMES REORTER

In an exclusive interview, Thomas Latham told a Times reporters story of spending over a week hiding and evading apprehension, bringing his story up to a point when he surrendered to the Johnson County officers and state police. Latham was interviewed the Williamson County jail on Wednesday night following his surrender about noon of that day.

Latham entered a plea of guilty to the charge and indictment of Mrs. Maggie Gray, a 82 year old widow in Vienna, who died from injuries ten days, after a brutal attack was made on her in her home in Vienna. Latham who escaped from he county jail on August 31, and who had been at liberty in the weeds south of Vienna for over a week surrendered to county officials and state police two and a half miles south of Vienna at the farm home of Steve Mathis Wednesday morning of last week. Latham was then immediately taken to the Williamson County Jail in Marion. On Thursday morning his attorney, Elmer Medlin of Carbondale, conferred with him and he was returned to Vienna at 1:30 o’clock Thursday afternoon and was taken by state police car directly to the court house where he was sentenced later. 2 notes Sept 16, 1954 Upon arraignment before judge Reynolds after conferring with his attorney, Latham told the court that he desired to enter a plea of guilty to the charges in the indictment. The court thereupon explained to him his rights of trial by jury and admonished him of possible consequences of such a plea, but the defendant persisted therein. Latham’s plea of guilty was accepted by the court, Page of 20 26

June 27, 2020

Mr. Lonnie J. Hinton, Publisher VIENNA TIMES, 305 FE. Main Street Vienna, I] 62995

Dear Mr. Hinton,

Meeting you and discussing THE TIMES we are in was enjoyable. “Thank you very much for your time and information. It was more than expected and filled me in on a number of things I was seeking.

I went south on Locust and saw the neighborhood of the Hill I recalled in my years in the area. I have an image of the homes there in 1956. [also stopped at the high school and a pleasant lady helped me with questions I had about my black classmates.

Albert Shaviss was a year ahead of me and was to graduate in 1957. Olivia Worlds was a year behind and would have graduated in 1959. Virginia Shaviss was in my class along with Martha Kelley and would have graduated in 1958. Because of the murder and uprising and dangerous rioting and hate of blacks they didn’t finish their high school education. I never saw them after the murder and have not heard any word of them since. "That is my reasons to search for records and perhaps write about the times in Vienna.

The murder happened in the fall of 1956 or spring of 1957. T’ll get the date right when I do more research.

As a mention, Brady Radcliff is a great granddaughter of Don Brady. I asked that she be told that I wished her a good day and my friendship with her name sake GGG Father.

I have included stories and a suggested order of publishing them. Of course that is up to you and I have confidence of what works for Vienna readers.

Wr,

Lonnie, I'm sending you information of the murder of Mrs, Maggie Gray _-

as reported in the ViennaTimes. My visit to springfield and research at the Abe Lincoln Library was the source of the information. I tried to stay loyal to the original writing in the Times but as you can see when reviewing them the print is dim and difficult to read. I copied them in my handwriting before trying to write the Times article.

I searched in the Marion paper and Carbondale paper but did not find a link. to the Murder. I was not successful in finding any information at Menard or Vandalia prisons, but I may pursue more when I can. Latham served time at both prisons. Latham is a name of two men who served at Menard. The dates don't match with Thomas Latham.

I plan to write a story of the 1954 murder. It really is an interesting chapter of Vienna. It's been 66 years since it occurred. I

. ; ‘ Men Raw 7 R42 enema 5 was just starting in high school and knew only one Gray atthe time of © \ the murder; Jim Bob Gray, %& «ax 4 Cob 0a Te

Four Black students were in high school when I started and they left school sémetime after the murder. I wanted to track them down, but doubt there is Het much information oiwhat became of them.

T've talked to a young lady staff member at the Times and she explained that she is involved in editing my writings and I like that.

T suggest that using a title to the Reflections stories may catch a readers attention. To keep track and find my writings I have titled them and they seem to catch the attention of my friends who read them.

I've had calls from citizens of Johnson County and nearby towns and one from Indiana on my stuff. I's ben fun to talk to and hear from them.

THANKS.

Loum ser 4 a

Dred b

by Deputy Sheriff Robert Hook who locked him in the women’s cell on the second floor of the jail.

At the time of his escape, Mrs. Ruth Darnell, wife of Jailer, Everett Darnell and Mrs. Bill Morris and son Don were in the kitchen of the living quarters of the jail property preparing the noon meal. Young Morris said that the heard the front screen door of the jail slam shut and he glanced out the kitchen window and saw a colored man walking from the jail through the yard. He called the attention of Mrs. Darnell to the man and asked if it wasn’t Thomas Lee Latham. Mrs. Darnell recognized Thomas Lee Latham and immediately called Sheriff Dave E. George.

Latham continued to walk out of the yard and east on the street running east and west in front of the jail. As he passed the home of Carl Sanders diagonally across the street rom the jail, he waived at Sanders who was sitting in his yard. Sanders recognized him and spoke to him calling him by his name. Sanders said he saw Latham leave the jail through the front door and thought for awhile some officer would be following him but when none appeared, he knew Negro was escaping.

Earl Hilburn, local cleaner, who lives south of the Sanders home said that he looked up and through the window of his cleaning establishment just in time to see Latham come over the hill. He said he was running when he first saw him and that when he reached the top of the hill he slowed to a walk. From there he went between the two vacant houses at the end of the street and disappeared in some tall weeds to the south.

Sheriff George quickly rounded up a posse of about fifty boys and men, most of them armed and began to search for Latham. They combed the fields and weeded sections south of Vienna until about 4:30 P.M. A plan was made to go to a hill south of town where the houses belonging to colored people were located. The Sheriff, his deputy, Robert Hook and State’s Attorney, Mitchell instructed the posse as to each groups position all were to converge at an appointed time.

Lonnie, I’m sending you information of the murder of Mrs. Maggie Gray as reported in the ViennaTimes. My visit to Springfield and research at the Abe Lincoln Library was the source of the information. I tried to stay loyal to the original writing in the Times but as you can see when reviewing them the print is dim and difficult to read. I copied them in my handwriting before trying to write the Times article. I searched in the Marion paper and Carbondale paper but did not find a link. to the Murder. I was not successful in finding any information at Menard or Vandalia prisons, but I may pursue more when I can. Latham served time at both prisons. Latham is a name of two men who served at Menard. The dates don't match with Thomas Latham. I plan to write a story of the 1954 murder. It really is an interesting chapter of Vienna. It’s been 66 years since it occurred. I was just starting in high school and knew only one Gray at the time of the murder; Jim Bob Gray. Four Black students were in high school when I started and they left school sometime after the murder. I wanted to track them down, but doubt there is not much information on what became of them. I’ve talked to a young lady staff member at the Times and she explained that she is involved in editing my writings and I like that. I suggest that using a title to the Reflections stories may catch a readers attention. To keep track and find my writings I have titled them and they seem to catch the attention of my friends who read them. I’ve had calls from citizens of Johnson County and nearby towns and one from Indiana on my stuff. I’s ben fun to talk to and hear from them. THANKS.

talked for about an hour. Latham quoted Marie as saying, “Why don’t you give yourself up?” When asked he replied, he said, “I told her, I was afraid I would get shot.” After Sheriff Dave E. George received word that Latham was hiding on the hill he formed a posse and surrounded the hill. The Sheriff approached the hiding place from the north slope. He was searching in the woods and honeysuckle vines from which Latham raised up and ran. The Sheriff fired two shots at him as he fled. 5 Latham said he fled south from the hill, through the Hood orchard and crossed the dirt road that passes the home of Bill Worlds and turned west. He entered the Funk peach orchard, went through it and then disappeared in the woods south of it and north of he Charles Skelton home, near Ballows Bridge. He then crossed the gravel road to his east on Sanders Hill, going into the weeds to the east of the road and making his way to the Hook quarry. Here he was spotted by searchers and then he fled west through he woods toward road and Sanders hill. The posse divided into two parts at that time, one starting at Route 45 and combing the woods and traveling west and the other portion of the posse awaiting along the Sanders hill road. It was while traveling through this woods that a member of the posse shot at Latham with a 22 calibre rifle (Kindred Hunter- three shots). When asked about the incident, Latham said, “I heard the shots, but I was some distance from where they came from.” Page of 13 26

Martin Luther King Day is a special day for me to remember his greatness. It is a Monday holiday for most, but on this particular day some years ago I had to work.

Ali, my wife, had an errand she wanted to do. Tyler, our son, who was only a few days old, needed a sitter. With the assumption that the errand would only take a few minutes Ali asked our neighbor, Lorraine Hardy, to sit our son until Ali returned. Ms. Hardy quickly consented and came to our house to sit Tyler.

Lorraine is an older lady; she had been a nurse in France during World War II and had many stories to tell about her tour there. She kept her wedding pictures on her wall. In one photo she was dressed in a borrowed wedding dress and her late husband was in his Army dress uniform. A copy of her wedding announcement with the location being somewhere in France (the exact location could not be disclosed) was framed.

Ms. Hardy was classy and proper. She went out of her way to greet people and reminded us all that good manners are always in style. I never heard a coarse word come out of her mouth. Our family grew close to her as the years passed. In winter I would clear her walk of snow and then clean her car. She sent a pizza over one day out of the blue. When our two children were born, she had gifts for them waiting just behind our screen door when we arrived home with the kids for the first time. Ali and I joked that if we ever moved we would take Ms. Hardy with us.

When my cell phone rang around 11 AM that Martin Luther King Day, It was Ali. Her car had broken down and she was stranded near the bridge on the Wilson Bridge Road. Ali had called Triple A and was waiting for the tow truck, and needed a ride home. I excused myself from work and went for Ali. Normally a tow truck could be expected in about 20 minutes but somehow that day it took almost two hours.

When we arrived home some two hours later than expected, both Ali and I felt bad that Lorraine had to stay the extended time. But, to no surprise, she was very gracious and understanding. She was deeply moved and proud that on that Martin Luther King Day she held in her lap a little black baby.

Every Martin Luther King Day since then, I flash back to the day the transmission died in my wife’s car and a woman of great character was able to exemplify the meaning of Martin Luther King,; we are all one together. Ms. Lorraine Hardy is that woman.

When Mathis returned to his home, he went into the living room and was seated in a chair changing his shoes. He looked up and standing in the door way of his bedroom was Thomas Lee Latham, who had escaped from the county jail and had been the object of a intensive man hunt for over a week. Latham had Mr. Mathis’ 410 gage shotgun in his hands and it was lying across his arm. His pockets were heavy with Mr. Mathis’ ammunition. Mathis spoke,” Howdy Thomas.” Latham replied, “Howdy Mr. Mathis.” After a short conversation between the two, Latham said, “Well, Mr. Mathis, I think I will have to tie you up.” Mathis argued the point stating, “Now Thomas, I have known you all of your life. I knew your father and mother. In fact I lived close to you a number of years, and I never thought that you would do what you did. I think you were just drinking and that gets a lot of people in trouble. Why don’t you give yourself up?” Mathis continued to plead with Latham telling him that he was going to get shot and that he might be responsible for some innocent people getting killed. “You’ve already caused enough trouble. Look what they did to the homes of your folks and friends.” Mathis said the Latham continued to stand in the door way and appeared to be thinking over seriously what he had heard. After sometime Latham said, “I’m afraid they will shoot me – no, Mr. Mathis I think I had better tie you up.” Page of 16 26

Mathis continued to plead with Latham telling him that he was going to get rewrapped in the cloth Latham had found it in, placed under the bed and each shell that had been taken from the four boxes were replaced in an orderly manner.

Latham was then taken immediately to the Williamson County Jail in Marion. On Thursday morning his attorney, Elmer Medlin of Carbondale, conferred with him and he was returned to Vienna at 1:30 O’clock Thursday afternoon and was taken by state police directly to the court house where he was sentences later.

Upon arraignment before Judge Reynolds after conferring with his attorney, Latham told the court that he desired to enter a plea of guilty to the charges in the indictment. The court thereupon explained to him his rights of trial by jury and admonished him of possible consequences of such a plea, but the defendant persisted therein. Latham’s plea of guilty was accepted by the court.

After Latham entered his plea of guilty before being sentenced the defendant’s counsel requested to mitigation of the offense and this was granted by the court. State’s Attorney Donald R. Mitchell then asked permission to offer evidence against the defendant that this too was granted.

Latham was called to the witness stand by his attorney, Elmer Medlin. He gave his age as 31, and told he attended high school two years, then entered the service of his country. He served about 2 1/2 years in the army. He served three “hitches” being honorably discharged twice and receiving an undesirable discharge the third time.

Attorney Medlin asked Latham what time he got up on Sunday morning (the day before the crime). Latham told the court that he got up about 7:30. Latham testified that he drank throughout the day and in the evening went to the Flamingo Club in Alexander County with Buddy Worlds and Ottis Shavis. There he continued to drink and became intoxicated.

Mathis returned to his house and searched for his gun. It had been re-wrapped in the cloth Latham had found it in, placed under the bed and each shell that had been taken from the four boxes were replaced in an orderly manner.

1 Sept 16, 1954 LATHAM GETS 180 YEARS COLORED MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGE AND INDICTMENT OF MURDER. LATHAM SAID SPIKE JOHSON ACCOMPANIED HIM ON NIGHT OF CRIME. Thomas Lee Latham, 31, colored, was sentenced by Judge C. Ross Reynolds in circuit court here Thursday afternoon to serve in the Illinois State Penitentiary for term of 180 years and on the anniversary of his crime (August 2) that he be placed in solitary confinement for the day. Page of 19 26

Mathis said that he knew that he had to do some fast thinking and he again addressed Latham. “Oh, you can tie me up, younhave my gun, but you can do that with out a gun. I can’t stay in this house all day long tied up, I’ve got work to do.” Latham then hesitated and said, “I’ve been thinking about giving myself up and I may do it tonight.” Then Mathis outlined a plan, “Why don’t you stay in this house today and I’ll go about my work outside on the farm and when night comes, I’ll go get Sheriff Dave George and bring him out here and he can take you away.” After some thought, Latham consented to the plan Mathis told him to stay in the house and away from the windows, so no one could see him. He also told him to go to the kitchen and get some breakfast, telling him there was a watermelon and cantaloupe, milk and other things in the refrigerator and for him to help himself. Mathis left the house and went to the barn. He worked about it until about 11:00 0’clock when Lloyd Gillespie came along. Gillespie was going to do some plowing for Mathis, and Mathis went to the front gate to talk to him He told Gillespie that Latham was in the house and he had promised to give himself up. Mathis instructed Gillespie to go back to his home and go to his home and go over the gravel road and tell the Sheriff to come out and that he would deliver Latham to the sheriff.

Gilllespie did as he was told, but he told a number offstage policemen that he came upon before reaching Page of 17 26

States Attorney Donald R. Mitchell and Sheriff George quickly got in touch with the state police headquarters in Duquoin and several state police were sent to aid in the search. Two airplanes from the Metropolis airport were brought into the search, and flew at low altitude until about 4:00 P.M. Three blood hounds were brought from the state penal farm at Vandalia and they arrived at about 6:00 p.m.

The blood hounds were given a scent of bed clothing in the cell occupied by Latham and then taken to spot where Latham waded across the Vienna drainage ditch south Vienna. Their handler said that they picked up a scent once but later lost it. The handler said there had been too many who had apparently crossed the escapee’s path had made it difficult for the dogs to keep the trail. The dogs searched the area south of the area until 8:00 o’clock p.m. when they returned to the jail.

State police threw up a road block at the intersection of Route 146 and 45 in Vienna: The intersection of Routes 146 and37 at West Vienna, Brookport Ohio river bridge, the Cairo, Ohio and Mississippi river bridges. State and city police from East St. Luis south were alerted and given a description of Latham.

THE VIENNA TIMES, SEPTEMBER 9, 1954 Three Negros Homes burned here Monday County and city to reimburse Colored people for loss

The three remaining buildings on the south hill in the south city limits of Vienna were destroyed by fire September 6th 1954 about 4:30 o’clock Monday afternoon. One of the homes had been the home of Thomas Lee Latham and occupied by Marie Pickens and her children, one was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Compton, a former minister, and the third was the home of Frank Murriel, who was sentenced recently for “accessary after the fact.” in connection with the fatal beating of her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray. At 2:00 o’clock on the same date a posse of deputized men and officers,

State’s Attorney Mitchell asked Latham about his past record and asked him wether he had served at the Vandalia State Penal Farm. He told the prosecutor that he had served six months in Vandalia, being sent there on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. Mitchell then asked whether or not he had served time at the state’s penitentiary at Menard, and he answered affirmative. He said he served there for a robbery and was on parole at the time he was arrested for the murder of Mrs.Gray. Mitchell continued his questioning: Q. Are you married? A. No Sir. Q Tell the court who you have been living with the past 4, 5, or 6 years . A. Marie Pickens, Sir Q. Do you have children? A. I have two, sir. Q. How many children does Marie Pickens have? A. She has three. Q. You said that you followed Spike Johnson into the house, is that correct? A. Yes sir. Page of 23 26

statements made by States Attorney Donald R. Mitchell to the effect that Thomas Lee Latham a colored person had confessed to said crime, it is our opinion that Thomas Lee Latham inflected the injuries by blows that caused her death And we recommend that Thomas Lee Latham be held for murder without bond for the death of Mrs. Maggie Gray

The coroner’s jury consisted of J. W . Robertson, William Jeffery, Royce Bridges, Eugene Oshel, Norman Veach and Levi Locke. End of August 19th article in the times. , THE VIENNA TIMES THURSDAY AUGUST 26, 1954 N 49 Frank Murriel, who was under indictment here last week on a charge of being an accessary after the fact entered a plea of guilty before Judge C. Ross Reynolds in Circuit Court Tuesday and was sentenced to one year, eleven months and twenty nine days in the State Penitentiary at Menard, Ill, and also given a fine of $500. The minimum sentence for the crime is one year and the maximum sentence for the crime is 2 years. Frank Murriel, who was under indictment here last week on a charge of of being an accessary after the fact entered a plea of “not guilty” before C. Ross Reynolds in circuit court Tuesday and was sentenced one year, eleven months and twenty nine days in the state penitentiary at Menard, ILL. and also a fine of $500. The minimum sentence for the crime is one year and the

Mr. Cox stated that when questioned about the crime that had been committed, Mrs. Gray said that a big black Negro had attacked them. Charlene told them that it was Thomas Lee Latham who had attacked them and then Mrs. Gray said, “yes it was Thomas Lee.”

Mrs. Gertrude Parker, who lives in the second home from the Gray’s residence was questioned. She too was awakened by the cries of the victims and went to investigate. She told of seeing both women in the Gray home, bleeding and when she asked as to who had inflicted their wounds, she said Charlene named Thomas Lee Latham, and she was sure of the identification for she had pleaded with him and he had talked back to her.

Charlie Gray, son of Mrs. and Gray and father of Charlene said that he entered the front door of the house and as he entered he heard a crash at the rear of the house. He ran through the house and saw a Negro fleeing across the yard and into the garden. When asked if he could identify the Negro, he said, “I only saw his back and side of his head, but I was sure it was Thomas Lee.”

When questioned by the jury as to whether or not any conversation had passed between his daughter Charlene and Thomas Lee Latham during the time she was fighting her assailant, Mr. Gray said that his daughter told him and his wife, that the intruder first told her to get off her clothes. She refused to this and he began to beat her. He said, If I can’t do it this way, I’ll kill you and do it.”

window, he saw Mrs. ‘gray in the doorway of her bedroom and she cried “Oh lourdy oh lourdy, please help us, somebody is trying to kill us.” Mr. cox stated that about that time Charlie Gray and his wife arrived at he followed Charlie into the house. He said that Charlene was sitting on a divan with a sheet wrapped around her, leading at the face and Mrs. Gray was standing in the room with her hands clasped over her, crying. Her face was badly beaten. Mr. Cox stated that when questioned about the crime that had been committed, Mrs. Gray said that a big black Negro had attacked them. Charlene told them that it was Thomas Lee Latham who had attacked them and then Mrs. Gray said, “Yes it was Thomas Lee”. end of notes on page 3 Mrs. Gertrude Parker, who lives in the second home from the Gray’s residence was questioned. She too was awakened by the cries of the victims of the Negro and went to investigate. She told of seeing both women in the Gray home, bleeding and when she was asked as to who had inflicted their wounds, she said that Charlene named Thomas Lee Latham, and she was sure of the identification for she had pleaded with him and he had talked back to her. Orlan Cox said that he saw the

Mrs. Gray was treated in the office of Dr. E. A. Veach and then taken to the home of her son, Ted Gray. Mrs. Gray is suffering from head injuries, and her face was beaten almost to a pulp. She was also kicked and stomped by the intruder, whose foot print was visible on her stomach. She is in critical condition and has had a number of convulsions and it is doubtful that she will live.

Charlene and her grandma both identified the intruder as Thomas Lee Latham. He was also identified by Charles Gray and his son Jim Bob. Latham was sentenced to the Chester Penitentiary a few years ago. He was a parolee and had his liberty for almost two years.

Authorities were quickly notified and Deputy Sheriff Bob Hook, State Patrolman, Marion Trout and Bill Jeffery quickly picked up the trail of the intruder. They went to the south hill where a number of colored people reside and searched Latham’s home. Marie Pickens, who lives in the same home told the officers that Thomas Lee had returned home and hurriedly departed after changing a shirt.

Another report that Latham had been taken out of town by a colored friend was investigated. Frank Murriel was questioned by Hook and Trout and he told of taking Latham to Levins a little community on Route 37 near Grand Chain, IL, leaving him at the home of Buddy Worlds. Murriel told the officers that Latham’s brother, Herbert, hired him to take Thomas Lee to Levins. Murriel was taken into custody and jailed. Officers Hook, Trout and Jeffery went to Levins and after inquiring about a second man they learned that Worlds had taken Latham to Mound City to catch a bus for Cairo. Worlds told the officers that Latham told him that the had been in a fight with a white man and that he wanted to get to the home of a relative in Cairo.

The Johnson County officers telephoned ahead to Sheriff John Barnett of Pulaski County to check the bus station. The Pulaski County Sheriff complied with the request. But Latham had gone out on a bus. The sheriff questioned the bus driver and was told he took a Negro to Cairo.

The body or Mrs. Gray was taken to the Frick Funeral Home in Marion, where Dr. Vess, a pathologist, performed an autopsy assisted by Dr. Veach. Following the autopsy, the body was returned to the Robertson Funeral Home, where remained until Sunday afternoon when funeral services were held and internment made in the Bridges Cemetery, West of Vienna. The inquest was held at 9:00 o’clock Saturday morning at the Times office. Mrs. Charlie Gray, mother of Charlene Gray was the first witness questioned by coroner Veach. She told the the coroner’s jury that when her husband received the call from Mrs. Grace Cox to come to the home of his mother, that “something was badly wrong, she, her husband, Charlie, Buster and Jim Bob started for the Gray home she heard screams from her daughter as they approached the house. Mrs. Gray stated that upon entering the front door of the home with her husband, she heard a noise in the rear and ran back out and around the side to investigate She said that she saw Thomas Lee Latham fleeing from the house. Mr. and Mrs. Orin Cox, neighbors of Mrs Gray were also questioned. Mrs. Cox told of being awakened about 4:30 a. m. by a noise and then she heard a scream She went to the front porch and heard noises in the Gray house and returned to awaken her husband then she called the Grays. She later went to the Gray’s home. Mr Cox said that he hurriedly dressed when he heard the women screaming. He said he started for the house and thinking that the front door would be locked, went to the bedroom window of Mrs. Gray. He said that when he reached the

maximum is two years. Murriel was represented by his attorney, Charles Winters of Marion. Winters was appointed by the court last week to represent the defendant Murriel was charged with assisting Thomas Lee Latham in escaping from the property, following the crime that resulted in the brutal beating of Mrs. Gray and her granddaughter Charlene Gray at the home of the former and which beating resulted in the death of of the aged lady ten days later.

Murriel confessed to the states attorney Donald A. Mitchell, Sheriff Dave E. George, and deputy sheriff Bob Hook that was hired by Thomas Lee Latham to take him in his automobile to Levins, a small community near Grand Chain, shortly after Latham fled from the Gray home. Murriel said that he picked Latham up on Route 45 South of Vienna near the city limits by appointment and that he took him to the home of Buddy Worlds at Levings, where he left him. There has been no new developments returned by a grand jury here last week, against Thomas Lee Latham, Herbert Latham and Ardell (Spike) Johnson. Attorneys for the defense are reviewing the indictments and evidence and it is possible that some of them will be brought into court until the November term of the circuit court.

Vienna Times Vienna, Johnson County Illinois September 2 1954 Number 50 LATHAM ESCAPES FROM JAIL Colored Man under indictment for murder is still at large Blood Hounds, State Police, airplanes and local officers

My dreams

There were hundred of us; all ages, all colors, all sizes. We wore torn , tattered clothing. Sone were barefooted. Some wore rings, necklaces, and bands. Some were well dressed and had coats, scarves,boots, bonnets. Some held hands.

| awoke from my dream.

| went back to sleep.

Someone heard the people. Each of us had a number on our skin. No sound could be heard except for a voice that called out numbers in twos. Everyone knew their number, everyone knew their name.

When their name was called they stepped forward and stopped at a line about six feet away from where they had been. A uniformed person stepped to them and asked their name. They did, and the uniformed person said follow me. –

This continued for awhile and | heard my number called out; “44.” | stepped forward to the line. Another number was called out “94” anda small person stepped to the line. | reached out to her and motioned to hold my hand: She did, but did not turn to me. A uniformed person approached us.

We stepped to the line and | called out: “Take me, not her.” The uniform 222.

said follow me.Dréacn

| awoke from my dream that had a pause and a restart. It was about my life as a young boy in a strange place. | drank a glass of water, begin to read a book about an older man of character. | fell sleep.

Two hours later | awoke again and had been dreaming. | was a young boy alone with hundreds of faces that | did not recognize. | looked myself over, ran my fingers through my almost solid white hair. | recalled the numbers,

44 and 94.

Ek 724 – B#Pragrna__

Thats thot t GlCame hid EK fferak ree. Ae. ZL, wave 94, Wee Yay Me Celle 72 A4y clererr

rn 4 /, fer Renee fe Acide rsaShoye. pre Pex LenTar, . yea ee “ee Ke lar Ley id 1 Menges

just north of Highway Route 146 they were on the east side of the right-of-way. A Freight train traveling north passed them and when the last of the cars passed, Latham was seen standing near the tracks on the west side of an embankment. Trovillion, calling him by name, ordered Latham to halt as he fled back into the cornfield. He ran west and Trovillion fired ten shots from a small calibre pistol, and Roberts fired at the fleeing Negro twice. They were about 160 yards from him and apparently the Negro was out of their range. It is presumed that Latham had in mind to catch the freight train and escape by it, but the train was traveling too fast for him to board. Latham was next reported as crossing the highway at the Charlie Hook quarry about a mile south of Vienna. The posse which at that time had risen to about 100-150 men and boys combed the wooded areas and fields in the vicinity of the quarry but failed to find him. The group then formed at the quarry to spread out and comb the entire stretch of timber and brush to a gravel road to the west of the highway known as Ballaue Road. Men were stationed from the top of Sanders hill south to the bridge in the bottoms to prevent Latham from crossing the road. As the posse, traveling west, near the gravel Page of 6 26

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY OCTOBER 14, 1954 (The final article printed by the Times on the crimes committed on August 2, 1954 in Vienna, IL.)

Spike Johnson Pleads Guilty to Murder and Gets Life Sentence Colored man was indicted for the murder of aged vienna woman

Ardell (Spike) Johnson (40?) was arraigned before circuit Judge C. Ross Reynolds and on Tuesday, October 12, 1954 entered a plea of guilty for the murder of Mrs. Maggie Gray and was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crimes.

Johnson was arraigned before Judge Reynolds a number of weeks ago and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges and indictment of murder. His decision to change his plea came as a surprise.

Johnson was returned to the Marion jail Tuesday afternoon and on Wednesday was taken to the state prison at Menard to began his tenure.

From August 2, 1954 to October 12, 1954 – 2 months and 10 days -Vienna Illinois the crimes against Maggie and Charlene Gray were headline news in the

Vienna Times. The crimes were committed more than 66 years ago.

Officers and citizens of Vienna made a survey of the situation after the fire are more of the opinion that the houses were set by bon fire. Tuesday afternoon a joint meeting of the city council of Vienna and the board of county commissioners was held at the court house. Setting in on the meeting was state’s attorney Mitchell who addressed the meeting, telling them of the loss sustained by the colored people. The destruction of the homes was discussed at length and both governing bodies passed a resolution, condemning the acts of vandalism and offering restitution to those losing their property as a result of the fires. Both the city council and county board promised to bear equally the expense of restoring or satis- dying the parties suffering loss. The vote of the alderman and county commissioners was unanimous. A committee consisting of Vern L. Williams, Joe Watson, and Royce Bridges was appointed to contact the Negros, to accertain their losses and make recommendations to the two boards. The extent of the help to be given to the city and county to the parties suffering the loss of their property will be determined by the boards. A number of Page of 3 26

Buddy Worlds went with the officers in search for Latham. when they reached Cairo, the two Johnson County officers secured the help of Cairo city police and were directed to the home of a relative of Buddy Worlds. They surrounded the house and then went to a second story apartment in the building and found Latham lying on a cot. He did not resist arrest. For security reasons Sheriff Dave George directed that the prisoner be taken to the Metropolis Jail.

When questioned by the officers, Latham said he did not remember anything and answered other questions with “I don’t know.” He was searched and only about $10 was found on his person. His underwear was bloody and stains of writing ink was found on his arm.

When the news got around in Vienna about the heinous crime, feelings against Negros ran high and officers, seeing this, will keep the accused man confined at the Metropolis jail. The State’s Attorney ordered that no one be permitted to contact him. Herbert Latham was alleged to have arranged transportation for his brother to leave town, was picked up late Monday morning and jailed for questioning.

Thomas Lee Latham was arraigned before Justice of the Peace, J. E. Arnold Tuesday morning and waived preliminary hearing. His bond was set at $10,000 and upon failure to fill same was returned to the Massac County jail to await action of a special grand jury which will be called on August 18. States Attorney Nary Mitchell will also present charges of assault with intent to rape, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon to the grand jury. The following day, Latham waived preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace, J. E. Arnold and placed under $10,000 bond to await action the grand jury.

OUR COMMON HUMANITY Despite our differences – of race, religion, social class, and gender – we carry within us an evolutionary blueprint for making a good society. Nicholas A, Cristakis – 2020 I have never liked crowds. I remember feeling excited by crowds, but mostly afraid. The volume of shouts increase and sound angry, even if they were’t intended to be. I couldn’t understand why, if they were supposed to be celebrating, the people were so agitated. For good or ill, forming crowds comes so naturally to our species that it is even seen as fundamental political political right. It is codi fied in the first Amendment to the U.S Constitution, which notes that “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress or grievance, shall not be infringed by law.” American citizens are engaged in vocal debates about their differences, about who can and should speak for whom, about the meaning and extent of personal identity, and about the pull of tribal loyalties. Lines seem sharply drawn. Is there more that unites us than divides us and that society is basically good? Can you love your own group without hating everyone else? I am less interested in what is different among us than in what is the same. Exposure to foreign culture can be both a bracing and reassuring experience. What starts as a heightened sensitivity to differences in attire, smells, appearances, customs, rules, norms, and laws yields to the recognition that we are similar to our fellow human beings in numerous and fundamental ways. All people find meaning in the world, love their families, enjoy the company of friends, teach one another things of value, and work together making it possible for all of us to lead grander and more virtuous lives.

Page of 26 26

Paul arrived just before the show was to open. He was dressed in black face. He had blacked his face and blond hair, had on black pants; rolled up; blacked legs, a white shirt with a red bow tie, a bandana around his head and white gloves. “Whadda you think, Mr. Casey,” he said. I told him. “Yuk!” Southern Illinois from Cairo to Centralia was segregated. Schools, businesses, churches, undertakers, miners, bankers, and business men and women didn’t want Blacks around. Even the KKK was active in the area. I told him that no one would like his get-up. It didn’t faze him. “Just wait,” he said. When the first couple came by our booth, Paul went into his vaudeville act. In dialect he called out,” Good to meet ya this bright morning. Thanks for commin.” They backed away with a frightened look. Paul knelt down, one knee on the floor and commenced to sing, “MAMMY, DONCHA LOVE ME, MAMMY, DONCHA LOVE ME, MY DEAR MAMMY.” He continued. “MAMMY DONCHA LOVE ME, DONCHA LOVE ME, MY DEAR OLD MAMMY.” The couple left with a puzzled look in their eyes. I told Paul that I didn’t want him to continue. “Ah, Johnnie, my boy, they love me, don’t you know?” He did a few more vaudeville stints. A chamber member came to our booth and called me over to him and said “stop your friend from doing his act here.” When I returned to the booth, I asked Paul to go to his room, remove the black stuff and come back to the booth if he wanted to. I explained why. Mt. Vernon was not a place to make fun of Blacks or to degrade them in any way.

Paul arrived just before the show was to open. He was dressed in black face. He had blacked his face and blond hair, had on black pants; rolled up; blacked legs, a white shirt with a red bow tie, a bandana around his head and white gloves. “Whadda you think, Mr. Casey,” he said. | told him. “Yuk!”

Southern Illinois from Cairo to Centralia was segregated. Schools, businesses, churches, undertakers, miners, bankers, and business men and women didn’t want Blacks around. Even the KKK was active in the area. | told him that no one would like his get-up. It didn’t faze him. “Just wait,” he said.

When the first couple came by our booth, Paul went into his vaudeville act. In dialect he called out,” Good to meet ya this bright morning. Thanks for commin.” They backed away with a frightened look.

Paul knelt down, one knee on the floor and commenced to sing,

“MAMMY, DONCHA LOVE ME, MAMMY, DONCHA LOVE ME, MY DEAR MAMMY.” He continued. “MAMMY DONCHA LOVE ME, DONCHA LOVE ME, MY DEAR OLD MAMMY.” The couple left with a puzzled look in their eyes.

| told Paul that | didn’t want him to continue. “Ah, Johnnie, my boy, they love me, don’t you know?” He did a few more vaudeville stints. A chamber member came to our booth and called me over to him and said “stop your friend from doing his act here.”

When | returned to the booth, | asked Paul to go to his room, remove the black stuff and come back to the booth if he wanted to. | explained why. Mt. Vernon was not a place to make fun of Blacks or to degrade them in any way.

Q. And you stated to the court that the purpose of going there was to get Spike out of the house, is that correct? A. Yes sir, it was my intentions to stop him. Q. Did you have to beat up Charlene Gray to get him out of the house? A. No sir, I didn’t. Q. Did you have to attempt to rape Charlene Gray to get him out of the home? A. No sir, I didn’t. States Attorney Mitchell then questioned Charles Gray, father of Charlene Gray and son of Mrs. Maggie Gray, deceased. Mr. Gray testified about being called to the home of his mother and said she was bleeding profusely. He also testified as to the condition of his daughter Charlene. He identified articles of night clothing that were blood stained and also identified a broken table lamp that was property of his mother, but which was broken during the attack on the two women. Other witnesses heard were Ted Gray, another son of Maggie Gray and Mrs. Gertrud Parker, who was at the scene of the crime shortly after it was committed. Miss Charlene Gray was called to the witness stand. She was absent from the court room while the evidence was being heard. She was brought to Page of 24 26

Southern Illinois may be considered as being below Chicago – to Chicagoans. Go me itis about Effingham & Springfield south to Cairo.

I was born in Johnson County at Tunnel Hill and consider it deep southern Illinois. Tunnel Hill is about 45 miles east of the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau and 45 miles west of Golconda on the Ohio River.

When the Civil War began in 1861-rural Illinois was as aligned with the South as it was with the North. Sometimes a family had sons who joined the Southern armies and also sons who joined the Northern armies.

This writing is about an incident that happened in 1982, 117 years after the Civil War. Itis about racism that was not erased by a war. I saw racism from childhood and still see it in 2022.

I became the manager of a branch of Germania Federal Savings and Loan located in Mt. Vernon, Illinois in 1981. My career with Germainia begin in Alton, IL The Mc. Vernon branch was one of four branches. I asked to be promoted. Mt. Vernon was considered a growing community with a good future. Mt. Vernon is about 45 miles north of where I grew up in Tunnel Hill. I was familiar with the area and believed it would be a great place to live and work. I was married and had a young son. I would be near where I had grown up and expected Mt. Vernon would be my permanent home.

The short story that follows is one of several incidents that shaped my thoughts of living in the best town in Illinois. During the first year | managed the branch office it had gained respect and had finally began to make money. Ou¥Y future looked bright.

Mt. Vernon was also growing and commerce was expanding along the new interstate highway that ran from Chicago to Tennessee, and St. Louis to Evansville, Indiana crisscrossing at Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

A new shopping center was under construction. Hotels and restaurants with brand names started popping up. Subdivisions were being developed. New Banks and savings and loans were changing with new offices and buildings. Trucking and lumber yards were being established. A new hospital was planned and a new winery was started along the highway. A community college was established as was a new minimum security prison. The airport expanded and a new golf course was built.

Mt. Vernon’s population grew to more than 17,000 before 2000. It was expected to reach 25,000 in 10 more years and optimistically, reach 30,000 by 2025. Today, (2022) Mt. Vernon is struggling and the population is approximately 14,000, with Blacks about 14% (2,000) of the population.

Most Blacks lived in the Southeast part of Mt. Vernon on the south

side of the railroad tracks. Mt. Vernon remains almost segregated.

Germania S&L was closed by the US government a few years after | left it’s employment. It became a bank and not a savings and loan.

Cause? Failure to meet government guidelines and illegal operation. Some of the executive staff served prison terms.

Illinois is losing population at a fast – rate almost 250,000 since the last census. Southern Illinois lost 20% of it’s population. Only Williamson County has shown growth of approximately 2,000 since 2010. Carbondale is the only town that has more than 20,000 population (now, 21,857) It is home to Southern Illinois University.

The number of Southern Illinois Coal miners shrunk from 50,000 to 3,000. Small villages became almost ghost towns – including Tunnel Hill. Cairo, once a thriving community that numbered close to 20,000 people does not now have a grocery store or brand restaurants, or a community center, or a hospital.

The Story

Paul Webb* became the branch supervisor of Germania Federal Savings and Loan in 1984. His background was the marketing manager of Seven Up Bottling Company in St. Louis. He graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in music.

A three day home show was planned for Mt. Vernon in the spring of 1984 at a new Ramada Inn having just been completed. A part owner was Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Friday was set up day for vendors and participants of the show and a dinner for the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce members and guests. Stan would be there. | remained at the office until it closed and joined the group for the evening event. Paul Webb came and stayed at the Ramada.

On Saturday morning two staff members and | were at the booth and prepared to meet visitors and tell them about our services and welcomed them to ask questions about any financial matter. Since | was born and raised in Tunnel Hill | knew all of the towns and villages in the area. ‘I was one of them.’ | had great expectations of a successful show. | had also met Mr. Musial before and had a good session discussing baseball with him on Friday. He promised me several autographed photos that he personally signed to give to my friends.

Paul arrived just before the show was to open. He was dressed in black face. He had blacked his face and blond hair, had on black pants; rolled up; blacked legs, a white shirt with a red bow tie, a bandana around his head and white gloves. “Whadda you think, Mr. Casey,” he said. | told him. “Yuk!”

Southern Illinois from Cairo to Centralia was segregated. Schools, businesses, churches, undertakers, miners, bankers, and business men and women didn’t want Blacks around. Even the KKK was active in the area. | told him that no one would like his get-up. It didn’t faze him. “Just wait,” he said.

When the first couple came by our booth, Paul went into his vaudeville act. In dialect he called out,” Good to meet ya this bright morning. Thanks for commin.” They backed away with a frightened look.

Paul knelt down, one knee on the floor and commenced to sing,

“MAMMY, DONCHA LOVE ME, MAMMY, DONCHA LOVE ME, MY DEAR MAMMY.” He continued. “MAMMY DONCHA LOVE ME, DONCHA LOVE ME, MY DEAR OLD MAMMY.” The couple left with a puzzled look in their eyes.

| told Paul that | didn’t want him to continue. “Ah, Johnnie, my boy, they love me, don’t you know?” He did a few more vaudeville stints. A chamber member came to our booth and called me over to him and said “stop your friend from doing his act here.”

When | returned to the booth, | asked Paul to go to his room, remove the black stuff and come back to the booth if he wanted to. | explained why. Mt. Vernon was not a place to make fun of Blacks or to degrade them in any way.

Racism was rampart in America. Radio and TV entertained their followers with shows like Amos and Andy who were black faced comedians. So too, Rochester, on the Jack Benny show. Minstrel shows were common at state and county fairs and community picnics. and events.

| had meetings with some Black leaders of Mt. Vernon as well as citizens in Mt. Vernon. | listened to Blacks who would tell me about their lives, families, and work. Many had served in the army and Navy just like whites did. One gentleman, Mr. Kendricks, a business man who owned a paper recycling plant, told me about serving on a destroyer during World War Il. On his last mission on a ship in the Pacific Ocean was part of a huge fleet of American ships carrying armament and men heading towards Japan.

Japan had never surrendered in any war, but did not have a navy to thwart a expected attack from the sea, air and land and invasion of it’s home land. Japan’s army there expected to be in a battle against a superior army that included up to a million men who would invade Japan on foot. A fight was expected to last for up to two years with casualties estimated at two million men.

Two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan when the American fleet was approaching Japan. The devastation and horror of the two bombs were so convincing that Japan might be wiped out completely and changed the Japan government to agree to surrender. They sent a message of surrender. The fleet commanders were notified that the war was over. The ships turned around and headed back to America.

When they arrived at the naval base in San Diego. Crowds had gathered on the docks and when the ship landed men disembarked into the crowd and celebrated. The celebrations did not include Blacks. Restaurants did not admit them into their building; they were not permitted to use a white man’s bathroom. Black men who had fought as hard as any American and suffered a larger percentage of causalities were not permitted to enjoy a victory as did the Americans.

When Mr. Kendricks told me this story | was humbled.

Mr. Kendricks and | had clashed a few times before and neither of us had backed away. He was the only Black businessman member of the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce. He lived in the same area as his Black friends lived.

Later, He and | were a team in the Chambers drive for membership. | signed up KING BARBARACOA BBQ to be a member. The owner said, when | asked him why had he not been a member before and he answered, “Nobody asked me.” It was my favorite to eat BBQ ever. | wish | had a BBQ right now from his joint.

*Paul Webb was not my bosses real name. John Casey

435 1/2 Bluff St. Alton, IL 62002 jrcaseyi34@gmail.com

618-670-5646

April 1, 2022

Racism in Southern IIinois –

Southern Illinois may be considered as being below Chicago – to Chicagoans. Go me itis about Effingham & Springfield south to Cairo.

I was born in Johnson County at Tunnel Hill and consider it deep southern Illinois. Tunnel Hill is about 45 miles east of the Mississippi River at – Girardeau and 45 miles west of Golconda on the Ohio River.

When the Civil War began in 186rrural Illinois was as aligned with the South as it was with the North. Sometimes a family had sons who joined the Southern armies and also sons who joined the Northern armies.

This writing is about an incident that happened in 1982, 117 years after the Civil War. Itis about racism that was not erased by a war. I saw racism from childhood and still see it in 2022.

I became the manager of a branch of Germania Federal Savings and Loan located in Mt. Vernon, Illinois in 1981. My career with Germainia begin in Alton, IL. The Mt. Vernon branch was one of four branches. J asked to be promoted. Mt. Vernon was considered a growing community with a good future. Mt. Vernon is about 45 miles north of where I grew up in Tunnel Hill. I was familiar with the area and believed it would be a great place to live and work. I was married and had a young son. I would be near where I had grown up and expected Mt. Vernon would be my permanent home.

The short story that follows is one of several incidents that shaped my thoughts of living in the best town in Illinois. During the first year | managed the branch office it had gained respect and had finally began to make money. OuY future looked bright.

Mt. Vernon was also growing and commerce was expanding along the new interstate highway that ran from Chicago to Tennessee, and St. Louis to Evansville, Indiana crisscrossing at Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Racism in Southern Illinois – Southern Illinois may be considered as being below Chicago – to Chicagoans. To me it is about Effingham & Springfield south to Cairo. I was born in Johnson County at Tunnel Hill and consider it deep southern Illinois. Tunnel Hill is about 45 miles east of the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau and 45 miles west of Golconda on the Ohio River. When the Civil War began in 1861 rural Illinois was as aligned with the South as it was with the North. Sometimes a family had sons who joined the Southern armies and also sons who joined the Northern armies. This writing is about an incident that happened in 1982, 117 years after the Civil War. It is about racism that was not erased by a war. I saw racism from childhood and still see it in 2022. I became the manager of a branch of Germania Federal Savings and Loan located in Mt. Vernon, Illinois in 1981. My career with Germainia begin in Alton, IL The Mt. Vernon branch was one of four branches. I asked to be promoted. Mt. Vernon was considered a growing community with a good future. Mt. Vernon is about 45 miles north of where I grew up in Tunnel Hill. I was familiar with the area and believed it would be a great place to live and work. I was married and had a young son. I would be near where I had grown up and expected Mt. Vernon would be my permanent home. The short story that follows is one of several incidents that shaped my thoughts of living in the best town in Illinois. During the first year I managed the branch office it had gained respect and had finally began to make money. Our future looked bright. Mt. Vernon was also growing and commerce was expanding along the new interstate highway that ran from Chicago to Tennessee, and St. Louis to Evansville, Indiana crisscrossing at Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Racism was rampart in America. Radio and TV entertained their followers with shows like Amos and Andy who were black faced comedians. So too, Rochester, on the Jack Benny show. Minstrel shows were common at state and county fairs and community picnics. and events. I had meetings with some Black leaders of Mt. Vernon as well as citizens in Mt. Vernon. I listened to Blacks who would tell me about their lives, families, and work. Many had served in the army and Navy just like whites did. One gentleman, Mr. Kendricks, a business man who owned a paper recycling plant, told me about serving on a destroyer during World War II. On his last mission on a ship in the Pacific Ocean was part of a huge fleet of American ships carrying armament and men heading towards Japan. Japan had never surrendered in any war, but did not have a navy to thwart a expected attack from the sea, air and land and invasion of it’s home land. Japan’s army there expected to be in a battle against a superior army that included up to a million men who would invade Japan on foot. A fight was expected to last for up to two years with casualties estimated at two million men. Two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan when the American fleet was approaching Japan. The devastation and horror of the two bombs were so convincing that Japan might be wiped out completely and changed the Japan government to agree to surrender. They sent a message of surrender. The fleet commanders were notified that the war was over. The ships turned around and headed back to America.

Racism was rampart in America. Radio and TV entertained their followers with shows like Amos and Andy who were black faced comedians. So too, Rochester, on the Jack Benny show. Minstrel shows were common at state and county fairs and community picnics. and events.

| had meetings with some Black leaders of Mt. Vernon as well as citizens in Mt. Vernon. | listened to Blacks who would tell me about their lives, families, and work. Many had served in the army and Navy just like whites did. One gentleman, Mr. Kendricks, a business man who owned a paper recycling plant, told me about serving on a destroyer during World War Il. On his last mission on a ship in the Pacific Ocean was part of a huge fleet of American ships carrying armament and men heading towards Japan.

Japan had never surrendered in any war, but did not have a navy to thwart a expected attack from the sea, air and land and invasion of it’s home land. Japan’s army there expected to be in a battle against a superior army that included up to a million men who would invade Japan on foot. A fight was expected to last for up to two years with casualties estimated at two million men.

Two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan when the American fleet was approaching Japan. The devastation and horror of the two bombs were so convincing that Japan might be wiped out completely and changed the Japan government to agree to surrender. They sent a message of surrender. The fleet commanders were notified that the war was over. The ships turned around and headed back to America.

Sanders Hill south of the bridge in the bottoms to prevent Latham from crossing the road.

As the posse, traveling west, on the gravel road, Kindred Hunter, a member of the group, saw Latham up in a thicket and start to run west Hunter fired at him three times with rifle. States Attorney Mitchell, who was a short distance behind Hunter did not have an opportunity to shoot because Hunter was in front of him.

Again Latham disappeared at the time he was flushed from the thicket. It was getting dark. Members of the posse continued to search during the greater part of the night, but no further trace of Latham was found.

Five state police accompanied by Deputy Sheriff, Robert Hook and constable Bill Barnett returned to the search Tuesday morning. They were aided by a group of investigators of the Department of Conservation in this area, on a report that Latham was seen getting out of a pickup truck on Route 37 near Grand Chain. This clue was checked by the state police, but like many other reports, it was found 0 be false.

Meanwhile Latham is still at large.1 Those who actually saw Latham Monday say that he now wearing a navy shirt and blue jeans. The Sheriffs office and state are leaving no stone unturned to check all reasonable reports in an effort to capture Latham.

Everett Smoot, a farmer living on the Holly Brown farm near Lick Creek, ILL west of Vienna, is positive that he saw Thomas Lee Latham Friday afternoon of last week hiding in an old abandoned house near his home. Mr. Smoot went to the house in which oats were stored. As he stepped inside the house he told Johnson County authorities the Negro surprised him and said, “If you want me, come and get me.” Mr. Smoot left quickly and when he came back later the Negro was gone.

searching in the woods and honeysuckle vines from which Latham raised up and ran. The sheriff fired two shots at his as he fled.

Latham said he fled south from the hill, through the Hood orchard and crossed the dirt road that passes the home of Bill Worlds and turned west. He entered the Funk peach orchard and went through it and then disappeared in the woods south of it and north of the Charles Skelton home near Ballows Bridge.

He then crossed the gravel road to his east on Sanders Hill, going into the weeds to the east of the the road and making his way to the Hook quarry. Here he was spotted by searchers and then fled west through the woods toward Sanders Hill. The posse divided into two parts at this time, one starting at Route 45 and combing the woods that a member of the posse, Kindred Hunter who shot at Latham with a 22 calibre rifle three times. When asked about the incident, Latham said, “I heard the shots, but I was some distance from where they came from.”

Latham eluded the posse as darkness descended. He then told that he went back to the top of the hill and hid there. He stayed in these weeds until dawn Thursday morning, when he went into the woods near the home of Steve Mathis two and a half miles south of Vienna.

He stayed in that area until Wednesday morning. Between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 o’clock he slipped into the Mathis house while Mr. Mathis was taking his wife to their store. When Mathis returned he found Latham standing in his bed room door with Mathis’s 410 shotgun in is hands. When asked why he went to the Mathis house, he said, “I thought that I might get him to give me something to eat.”

September 16, 1954 LATHAM GETS 180 YEARS

COLORED MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGE AND INDICTMENT OF MURDER. LATHAM SAID SPIKE JOHNSON ACCOMPANIED HIM ON NIGHT OF CRIME.

Thomas Lee Latham, 31, colored, was sentenced by Judge C. Ross Reynolds in circuit court here Thursday afternoon to serve in the Illinois State Penitentiary for term of 180 years and on the anniversary of his crime (AUGUST 2) that he be placed in solitary confinement for the day.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1954 OF Mathis persuades Latham to Surrender

Just how any man could be as calm and composed with the business end of a loaded shotgun pointing in his direction in the hands of a hunted criminal, who was awaiting trial for an evil murder, cannot be easily understood, but such was the case on Wednesday morning of last week, when Steve Mathis of Vienna found himself facing such a situation.

Mathis, who lives two and a half miles south of Vienna on Route 145 arose early Wednesday morning. He and his wife, Grace, breakfasts at their home as usual. They own a grocery store in Vienna. After finishing breakfast, Mr. Mathis took his wife to the store and then returned to the farm after he told his wife he had about a days work that he had to do there.

When Mathis returned to his home, he went into the living room and was seated in a chair changing his shoes. He looked up and standing in the door way of his bedroom was Thomas Lee Latham, who had escaped from the county jail and had been the object of a intensive man hunt for over a week.

Latham had Mr. Mathis’s 410 shotgun in his hands and it was lying across his arm. His pockets were heavy with Mr. Mathis’ ammunition. Mathis spoke, “Howdy Thomas.” Latham replied, “Howdy Mr. Mathis.” After a short conversation between the two, Latham said, “Well, Mr. Mathis, I think I will have to tie you up.” Mathis argued the point stating, “Now Thomas, I have known you all of your life. I knew your father and mother. In fact I lived close to you a number of years, and I never thought that you would do what you did. I think you were just drinking and that gets a lot of people in trouble. Why don’t you give yourself up?”

VIENNA TIMES – SEPTEMBER 23, 1954 HIDING PLACE OF THOMAS LEE LATHAM

he hiding place of Thomas Lee Latham, who told a Times reporter that he spent a few days and nights in the attic or loft of the Vienna Hatchery, was discovered by Glenn Taylor, Thursday afternoon of last week (sept 16) after he had read Latham’s statement that he had spent the days and nights in the loft of a barn at the rear of the building was in error. Taylor visited all of the places that Latham could've been hiding and finally he went to the attic over the chill room at his poultry dressing plant and produce building. Here he found Latham’s hiding place. He had placed boxes and crates in front of his bed to hide it from the floor view. He placed “Dixie” feed sacks between the ceiling joists and made a bed.

A picture in the Times shows Victor Hall, a representative of Sugar Creek Produce Co. Harrisburg pointing to the spot where Latham hid. There is a quantity of egg shells and in the foreground is a bucket of water. Latham existed on fresh eggs that he took from the hatchery after the hatchery closed and there was no one around.

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1954 Ardell Johnson Trial set for October 13

Ardell (Spike) Johnson, indicted for murder of Mrs. Maggie Gray, plead not guilty when arraigned before Judge C. Ross Reynolds in circuit court here Wednesday afternoon of last week.

Johnson was charged with murder in an indictment along with Thomas Lee Latham. The indictment was made due to the death of Mrs. Maggie Gray of Vienna, who was brutally beaten in her home on August 2, by two assailants.

Jackson was named by Thomas Lee Latham as his accomplice in the crime. Latham entered a plea of guilty to murder in circuit court here recently and was sentenced to 180 years in the state penitentiary.

After being informed of his rights and privileges Johnson requested that his trial be delayed and that he be tried at large. He was represented by Charles Winters of Marion.

Johnson had been held under bond of $10,000 in the Williamson County jail at Marion the greater part of the time since his arrest and indictment. He denied having a part in the brutal beating of the aged woman. Judge Reynolds set the date of trial for Wednesday, Oct. 13. A jury list was drawn this week and the petit jury will be called for that date.

Johnson is also under indictment for burglary with intent to murder and with intent to rape and assault to commit rape.Thomas Lee Latham and Frank Murriel will be called as witnesses against Johnson. Johnson has consistently denied having any part of the murder or being guilty of the other charges.

The number of Southern Illinois Coal miners shrunk from 50,000 to 3,000. Small villages became almost ghost towns – including Tunnel Hill. Cairo, once a thriving community that numbered close to 20,000 people does not now have a grocery store or brand restaurants, or a community center, or a hospital.

The Story

Paul Webb* became the branch supervisor of Germania Federal Savings and Loan in 1984. His background was the marketing manager of Seven Up Bottling Company in St. Louis. He graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in music.

A three day home show was planned for Mt. Vernon in the spring of 1984 at a new Ramada Inn having just been completed. A part owner was Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Friday was set up day for vendors and participants of the show and a dinner for the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce members and guests. Stan would be there. | remained at the office until it closed and joined the group for the evening event. Paul Webb came and stayed at the Ramada.

On Saturday morning two staff members and | were at the booth and prepared to meet visitors and tell them about our services and welcomed them to ask questions about any financial matter. Since | was born and raised in Tunnel Hill | knew all of the towns and villages in the area. ‘| was one of them.’ | had great expectations of a successful show. | had also met Mr. Musial before and had a good session discussing baseball with him on Friday. He promised me several autographed photos that he personally signed to give to my friends.

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Latham was unsuccessful in his attempt to rape the girl but she told her father that had he not arrived when he did that she believed that he would have killed her and that she could not have withstood the attack much longer. Both of the women were brutally beaten about the head and face un- mercifully. Where they were beaten their identity would have been impossible to establish a few hours later. Mrs. Gray was treated in the office of Dr. E A. Veach and then taken to the home of her son, Ted Gray, where she remained in a serious condition for over a week. She was rational only a part of the time. Charlene treated by Dr W . J. Wakefield who recommended that she be hospitalized. She retuned to her home on Sunday morning of last week and has been convalescing there. She was not physically able to appear before the coroner’s jury. end of notes from page 6

he threw her on the bed and attempted to smother her with pillows. The girl continued to fight and and as she did her clothing was torn from her body. The grandmother, who was asleep in another room heard the scream of her grand daughter and she went to investigate. The intruder knocked her down and beat her, then going from one woman to the other, in an effort to quiet their screaming, he choked both women and beat them unmercifully. At some time during the skirmish Spike went to a clothes closet adjoining the room of the aged woman and took a box underneath a pile of quilts and Mrs.Gray’s purse containing $100. Apparently the man knew the hiding place of the purse. The screams were heard by neigh- bors, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Cox. They tele- phoned Charlie Gray and told him that something terribly wrong was happening at the home of his mother. Mr. Gray, who lives a short distance from his mother’s home, quickly dressed and with his two sons, Buster and Jim Bob, ran to his mother’s house. The intruder probably saw them approaching and in his haste to escape he ran through another screen door that was latched, breaking it open as he plunged through it. Jim Bob, the youngest son of Charlie Gray, pursued him throwing rocks as he chased the intruder across a vacant lot. Charles Gray and his older son rushed into the house to investigate.

When questioned about the fight for her life, Charlene said that while she was protect- ing herself her assailant shouted, “If I can’t

autopsy on the body of Mrs. Gray. The pathologist stated that in his opinion the death of Mrs. Gray was due to the injuries described in his report to Dr. Veach. He said, Mrs. gay had the following injuries caused by force: Wound over and under the right eyebrow, concussions and sub- cutaneous hemorrhages of the skin of the neck, and incomplete fracture of the right 5th 6th, 7th and 8th and left 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs in or near the anterior axillary lines. Evidently as a consequence of these injuries, Mrs. Gray developed a confluent broncho- pneumonia, principally in the right middle and lower lobes and to some extent, in the left lower lobe of the lung. This proved to be an over- load for the acletonic and contracted (spelling kidneys of the subject, who in con- sequence developed uremia The later condition was evident from the presence of an acute, gastro- enteritis with hemorrage into the gastro in testinon tract’ end of page8 of notes The coroner’s jury returned the following verdict: Maggie Gray came to her death by injuries received causing internal hemorange and complications caused by an attack and blows. Said attack was made at her home in Vienna on August 2, 1954. We further find that said attack was made by a muscular colored person and from the evidence offered and

persons in he house or on the rear porch, while she was undergoing the beating by Latham. After the negro fled, it was found that $100 in cash belonging to Mrs. Gray was missing from its hiding place. The money was hidden in a closet. Latham fled to the hill south of town to his home which is also occupied by his brother, Herbert and Marie Peckins. He hurried, changed shirts and is alleged that he sent his brother to the home of Frank Murriel. Murriel told Deputy Sheriff Hook that he took him out of town. Murriel told Sherif Hook that he took Latham to Levins, a little community on Route 37 near Grand Chain.

He said he left him at the home of Buddy Worlds. Hook accompanied by State patrolman Marion Trout and Bill Jeffery were immediately on Latham’s trail, tracking him from the Worlds home to Mound City and where he took a bus to Cairo. At the request of Sheriff George and State’s Attorney, Mitchell, the Illinois State Division of Criminal identification and Investigation sent two men here with a lie detector and and it was taken to the Massac County jail where Latham submitted to a test. Frank Murriel, Herbert and Spike Johnson also were examined by the local authorities and the lie detecter Local authorities have not disclosed the results of these tests, but a report will be made to the grand jury. A regular grand jury will convene in Vienna on Monday, August 19, when they will present numerous charges against all of the parties being held. Upon arrival inCairo, the officers secured the help of Cario City Police and being guided by Worlds, they went to the home of a relative of Latham where they

the parties have already been contacted by the committee. The property occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Compton, belonging to Robert Pickens, was the late Dollie Bly. Frank Murriel owned the other home destroyed and it contained household effects. No one was living in the Murriel home at the time of the fire. Vienna Times Sept 9, 1954 Number 51 Latham Slips through Ring of Armed Posse and is still at large Thomas Lee Latham, 31, Vienna Colored man, who is under indictment on six counts one of which is a charge of murder of Mrs. Maggie Gray, and then escaped from the county jail here on Tuesday afternoon of last week is still at large. On inform- ation furnished Sheriff David E. George Monday about noon. The sheriff and state’s attorney recruited about 25 deputies and surrounded Page of 4 26

Murriel confessed to the States Attorney Donald A. Mitchell, Sheriff Dave E. George, and Deputy Sheriff Bob Hook who was hired by Thomas Lee Latham to take him in his automobile to Levins, a small community near Grand Chain, shortly after Latham fled from the Gray home. Murriel said he picked Latham up on Route 45 south of Vienna near the city limits by appointment and that he took him to the home of Buddy Worlds at Levings, where he left him.

There has been no new developments returned by grand jury this week, against Thomas Lee Latham, Herbert Latham, and Ardell (Spike) Johnson. Attorneys for the defense are reviewing the indictments and evidence and it is possible that some of them will not be brought into court until the November term of the Circuit Court.

VIENNA TIMES, JOHNSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1954 – NUMBER 50

LATHAM ESCAPES FROM JAIL

Colored man under indictment

for murder is still at large

Blood hounds, State Police,

airplanes and local officers in search Thomas Lee Latham, 31, colored of Vienna, under indictment with six counts, escaped from the county jail in Vienna Tuesday (August 31) shortly after noon.

Latham who had been held in the Williamson jCounty jail at Marion had been returned to Vienna about two hours earlier. He was taken to jail

All of the deputies took their position and at the time designated, Sheriff David E. George approached the hill from the north. He had been given information that Latham was in a mass of honeysuckle vines and weeds near one of the houses. Going to the spot, he began searching through the weeds and vines. Sheriff George stated, “While searching the weeds, I thought I heard a rock over turned. I listened and advanced in the direction of the sound and as I did, I saw Latham flee through the weeds.” Sheriff George fired two shots at Latham and alerted the posse who had circled the hill. Latham fled east toward IL. State Route 45. Due to the lack of enough men on the east side of the hill Latham escaped.

Latham was next reported to be in cornfield near the Big Four Railroad in the east part of Vienna. V. P. Trovillion and Bobby Roberts went to the railroad and walked south of the highway to near the trestle just north of Highway Route 145. They were on the east side of the right- of-way. A freight train was traveling north passed them and when the last of the cars passed, Latham was seen standing near the tracks on the west side of an embankment.

Trovillion, calling him by name, ordered Latham to halt as he fled back into the cornfield. He ran west and Trovillion fired ten shots as fast as he could pull the trigger of his small calibre pistol at the fleeing Negro. Roberts fired at the Negro twice. They were about 160 yards from him and out of their range.

It is presumed that Latham had in mind to catch the freight train and escape by it, but the train was traveling too fast for him to board. Latham was next reported as crossing the highway at the Charlie Hook Quarry about mile south of Vienna.

The posse which at that time had risen to about 150 men and boys, combed the wooded areas and fields in he vicinity of the quarry but failed to find him. The group then formed at the quarry to spread out and comb the entire stretch of timber and brush to a gravel road to the west of the highway known as Ballaue Road. Men were stationed from the top of

the yard and east on the street running east and west in front of the jail. As he passed the home of Carl Sanders diagonally across the the street from the jail, he waived at Sanders who was sitting in his yard. Sanders recognized him and spoked to him calling him by name. Sanders said he saw Latham leave the jail through the front door and thought for a while some officer would be following him but when ] none appeared, he knew the Negro was escaping. Earl Hilburn, local cleaner, who lives south of the sanders home said that he looked up and through the window of his cleaning establishment just in time to see Latham come over the hill He said he was running when he first saw him and that when he re- ached the top of the hill he slowed to a walk. From there he went between the two vacant houses at the end of the street and disappeared in some tall weeds to the south. Sheriff George quickly rounded up a posse of about fifty boys and men, most of them armed and began to search for Latham. They combed the fields and weeded sections south of Vienna until about 4:30 p.m.` States’ Attorney Donald R. Mitchell and Sheriff George quickly got in touch with the state police head- quarters in Duquoin and several state police were sent to aid in the

who gallantly fought back. When the grandmother heard screams coming from the girls room, she went to investigate and tried to intercede on behalf of the girl. She was knocked down and by bruise marks on her body, probably stomped and kicked while she was on the floor.

After subduing the aged woman he returned to Charlene, beat and choked her trying to smother her cries for help with pillows.

Neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Orlan Cox, heard the screams and telephoned the father of the girl, Charlie Gray, who lives about two blocks from the home of his mother. Charles and his two sons, Buster and Jim Bob rushed to the home of their mother and grandmother and as they approached, Latham fled through another rear screen door that was locked. He deliberately ran through it in haste to get away as he left the house he was recognized by Charles Gray and a son, both the aged lady and the girl identified the assailant as Thomas Lee Latham. Charlene told her father that had he and her brother not arrived when they did, she believed hat she would not have been able to hold out against the attack any longer. She believed that Latham would have killed her. The Girl also told State’s Attorney Mitchell that there were one or more other

his hiding place, he is quoted as telling Union County authorities that the Negro said, “If you want me, come and get me”. After Smoot went to the yard the Negro left the house and stood there for a short time and then ran across a pepper patch and into the woods to the north of the Smoot house. Ray Brown, son of Holly Brown, was riding by on a tractor and Smoot sent the youth to a telephone to call the Union County, sheriff’s office. Brown said that the did not see the Negro. When Questioned by the Johnson County authorities who arrived later in the afternoon, Smoot told them that the Negro was a large man and wore a blue shirt and blue jeans that was torn about the legs. When presented a picture of Latham by the authorities he was positive that the party he saw was Latham. Johnson County authorities did not get the information about Latham being seen until about 6:00 o’clock Friday afternoon. A posse consisting of several men went to Lick Creek and the search continued to past midnight.

Page of 9 26

At the request of Sheriff George and State’s Attorney, Mitchell, the Illinois State Division of Criminal Identification was contacted and two men were sent with a lie detector which was taken to the Massac County Jail where Latham submitted to a test. Frank Murriel, Herbert Latham and Spike Johnson also were examined by the lie detector in Vienna. Local authorities have not disclosed the results of these tests, but a report will be made to a grand jury. A regular grand jury will convene in Vienna on August 19, when they will present numerous charges against all of the parties being held.

Ted Gray was questioned and he told of going to his mother’s home and finding the home in disarray, and blood all over the floor, bed and walls of the house. He told of caring for his mother after taking her to his home and said a few hours after the attack on her, her mind was clear and she related different phases of the attack to him. He said that later she could not recall why she was suffering and why she could not go back to her home.

Mrs. Rita Height was questioned and she stated that she saw Frank Murriel driving east on West Main Street toward the court house about 5:30 on the morning the crime was committed. Mrs. Height was on her was to her work at the Smith Cafe. She said that there was colored man with Frank but she could not identify him.

Orin Cox, a neighbor, heard the cry for help and he quickly dressed and headed to the home of Maggie Gray. He said that when he reached the window, he saw Mrs. Gray in the doorway of her bedroom and she cried – “Oh lourdy, Oh lourdy, please help us, somebody is trying to kill us.” Mr. Cox stated that about that time Charlie Gray and his wife arrived and he followed Charlie into the house. He said that Charlene was sitting on a divan with a sheet wrapped around her, bleeding at the face and Mrs. Gray was standing in the room with her hands clasped over her crying. Her face was badly beaten.

The inquest was held at 9:00 o’clock Saturday morning at the Times office. Mrs. Charlie Gray, mother of Charlene Gray was the first witness questioned by coroner Veach. She told the coroner’s jury that when her husband received the call from Mrs. Grace Cox to come to the home of her his mother, that “Something was badly wrong”, she, her husband, Charlie, Buster and Jim Bob started for the Gray home and she heard screams from her daughter as they approached the house. Mrs. Gray stated upon entering the front door of the home with her husband, she heard a noise in the rear and ran back out and around the side to investigate. She said that she saw Thomas Lee Latham fleeing from the house.

Mr. and Mrs. Orin Cox, neighbors of Mrs. Gray were also questioned. Mrs. Cox told of being awakened about 4:30 a.m. by a noise and then she heard a scream. She went to the front porch an heard noises in the gray house and returned to awaken her husband then she called the Grays. She later went to the Gray’s home.

Mr. Cox said that he hurriedly dressed when he heard the women screaming. He said he started for the house and thinking that the front door would be locked, went to rear of the home. Orin Cox said that he saw the back of a Negro fleeing from the home and that it appeared to him that the Negro was without his pants and was in his shorts. He said an arm was lowered as if he might be carrying something, but he did not see anything in his arms. Cox said that the fleeing man was a Negro, but that he did not see his face and could not identify him.

Dr. E.A. Veach read a report from Dr. A. Voss, Pathologist, who performed an autopsy on the body of Mrs. Gray. The pathologist stated that in his opinion the death of Mrs. Gray was due to the injuries caused by force: Wound over and under the right eyebrow, concussions and subcutaneous hemorrhages of the skin of the neck. and incomplete fracture of the right 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and left 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs in or near the anterior axillary lines. Evidently as the consequences of these injuries, Mrs. Gray developed confluent bronchopneumonia, principally in the right middle and lower lobes and on the left lower lobe

he had. When asked if on the morning of the time he had smoked any marijuana cigarettes. He finally replied, “Yes, I did.” He would not disclose the number of cigarettes he had used on the night before and morning of the crime. Upon questioning, Latham said that the price of the marijuana cigarettes was 50 cents each. “How many of the cigarettes can you smoke before you feel the effect of them?” Latham replied, “Different numbers, sometimes you get some weak ones which are about like smoking a cigarette, and then you can buy it in the leaf. That’s the best way to buy it, then you roll your own cigarette.” Latham would not disclose where had purchased cigarettes. Mathis persuades Laham to surrender Just how any man could be as calm and composed with the business end of a loaded shot gun pointing in his direction in the hands of a hunted criminal, who was awaiting trial for an evil murder, cannot be easily understood, but such was the case on Wednesday morning of last week , when Steve Mathis of Vienna found himself facing such a situation. Mathis, who lives two and a half miles south of Vienna on Route 45 arose early Wednesday morning. He and his wife, Grace, breakfasted at their home as usual. They own a grocery store in Vienna. After finishing breakfast , Mr. Mathis took his wife to the store and then returned to the farm after he told his wife he had about a days work that he had to do there. Page of 15 26

The matter of food entered the questioning and Latham said that after dark and whenever everyone had gone from the hatchery, he would come down out of loft, get water, and eat raw eggs from the hatchery. There is a window glass out of the rear of the hatchery that would have permitted him to enter the building and having been employed there, he knew where the eggs were kept. He lived entirely on eggs during his stay at the hatchery. (It seems logical that an employee would have noticed eggs missing leading to a theory – “let things alone, and don’t go into the loft” .)

When Latham left the hatchery, he retraced his steps toward the hill south of Vienna, still keeping concealed by the wooded area when it was possible. He went back over the hill and followed the woods to “Little Fork.”

Latham remained in the woods during Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday night he made his way back to the hill and went by his home on the hill which he shared with Marie Pickens. He entered the home and stayed there all night. His common low wife was staying with Fred Compton and his wife just over the hill.

Asked if he got food during his stay in the woods after he left the hatchery, Latham said, “NO, I only found a slice of bread and a few crackers in Marie’s home and I ate them.”

When Latham got to Marie Pickens house, he found that she had packed most of her belongings. Monday morning Latham again took to the woods near the ruins of Bob Worlds house. He said while he was hiding there he saw Marie coming to her home. He appeared from out of the woods and he said that he and Marie talked for about an hour. Latham quoted Marie as saying, “Why don’t you give yourself up?” He replied; he said, ‘I told her, I was afraid I would get shot.”

After Sheriff Dave E. George received word that Latham was hiding on the hill he formed a posse and surrounded the hill. The sheriff approached the hiding place from the north wood slope.. He was

The matter of food entered the questioning and Latham said that after dark and whenever everyone had gone from the hatchery, he would come down out of the loft, get water and eat raw eggs from the hatchery. There is a window glass out of the rear of the hatchery that would have permitted him to enter the building and having been employed there, he knew where the eggs were kept. He lived entirely on eggs during his stay at the hatchery. When Latham left the hatchery, he retraced his steps toward the hill south of Vienna, still keeping concealed by the wooded area when it was possible, he went back over he hill and followed the woods to “Little Fork.” Latham remained in the woods during Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday night he made his way back to the hill and went by his home on the hill which he shared with Marie Pickens. He entered the home and stayed all night there. His common law wife was staying with Fred Compton and his wife just over the hill. Asked if he got food during his stay in the woods after he left the hatchery, Latham said, “NO, If only found a slice of bread and a few crackers in Marie’s home and I ate them.” When Latham got to Marie Pickens house, he found that she had packed most of her belongings. Monday morning Latham again took to the woods near the ruins of Bob Worlds house. He said while he was hiding there he saw Marie coming to her home. He appeared from out of the woods and he said that he and Marie Page of 12 26

of the lung. This proved to be an overload for the acletonic and contracted kidneys of the subject, who in consequence developed uremia. The later condition was evident from the presence of an acute, gastroenteritis with hemorrhage into the gastro in the testinon tract.

The coroner’s jury returned the following verdict: Maggie Gray came to her death by injuries received causing internal hemorrhaging

and complications caused by an attack and blows. Said attack was made at her home in Vienna on August 2, 1954. We further find that said

attack was made by a muscular colored person and from the evidence offered and statements made by State’s Attorney Donald R. Mitchell to the effect that Thomas Lee Latham colored person had confessed to said crime, it is our opinion that Thomas Lee Latham inflected the injuries by blows that caused her death and we recommend that Thomas Lee Latham be held for murder without bond for the death of Mrs. Maggie Gray.

THE VIENNA TIMES, THURSDAY AUGUST 26, 1954

Frank Murriel, who was under indictment here last week on a charge of being an accessary after the fact entered a plea of guilty before Judge C. Ross Reynolds in Circuit Court Tuesday and was sentenced to one year, eleven months and twenty nine days in the State Penitentiary at Menard, Ill, and also give a fine of $500. The minimum sentence for the crime is one year and the maximum sentence for the crime is 2 years.

Murriel was represented by his attorney, Charles Winters of Marion. Winters was appointed by the court last week to represent the defendant. Murriel was charged with assisting Thomas Lee Latham in escaping from the property, following the crime that resulted in the brutal beating of Mrs. Gray and their granddaughter, Charle Gray at the home of the former and which beating resulted in the death of the aged lady ten days later.

The murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy In the afternoon November 7, 1837 A mob of nearly 200 converged near the Mississippi River in Alton, Illinois that was owned by Godfrey, Gilman and company. The warehouse held the fourth printing press owned by an abolitionist newspaper , edited by Reverend Elijah P. Lovejoy. On three different occasions angry mobs had hurled the newspaper’s printing press into the river. It would not be until that evening that trouble would come. That night a mob gathered outside the warehouse, most of them were intoxicated. They shouted out for the press be surrounded. It was refused. The crowd used rocks to shatter the windows of the warehouse and several members of the mob waved guns and Lovejoy or someone inside the building fired their own weapons through a broken window. One of the men outside crumpled to the ground and the mob was enraged. They stormed the warehouse intent on revenge. Someone in the crowd outside placed a ladder against the building and climbed to the roof, a burning touch in his hands. Lovejoy ran outside with a pistol and ordered the man to come down. Before he could fire his weapon, several men in the crowd opened fire on the editor and he was hit five times. He fell to the ground, crying out, “My God, I am shot”. He died in just moments. The mob pushed their way inside and broke the printing press into pieces, then flung them into the river. Lovejoy’s body was left in the warehouse overnight. The next day, on what would have been his 35th birthday, a grave was hastily dug on a high bluff in the Hunterstown Cemetery and the body, without a proper ceremony, was thrown into it and haphazardly covered up. Some years later, Lovejoy’s body was exhumed and moved to another location. Today a fine monument stands in tribute to the fallen abolitionist. His death was never avenged. Twenty five years later Lovejoy was killed and the Civil War broke out. Alton was branded a lawless place and shunned by many. it was believed to be haunted and a rough and tough place to live and work.

When they arrived at the naval base in San Diego. Crowds had gathered on the docks and when the ship landed men disembarked into the crowd and celebrated. The celebrations did not include Blacks. Restaurants did not admit them into their building; they were not permitted to use a white man’s bathroom. Black men who had fought as hard as any American and suffered a larger percentage of causalities were not permitted to enjoy a victory as did the Americans. When Mr. Kendricks told me this story I was humbled. Mr. Kendricks and I had clashed a few times before and neither of us had backed away. He was the only Black businessman member of the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce. He lived in the same area as his Black friends lived. Later, He and I were a team in the Chambers drive for membership. I signed up KING BARBARACOA BBQ to be a member. The owner said, when I asked him why had he not been a member before and he answered, “Nobody asked me.” It was my favorite to eat BBQ ever. I wish I had a BBQ right now from his joint. *Paul Webb was not my bosses real name. John Casey 435 1/2 Bluff St. Alton, IL 62002 jrcasey134@gmail.com 618-670-5646 April 1, 2022

the sheriff’s office. The police notified states attorney Donald R. Mitchell there was some misunderstanding of the plan Mathis had outlined. Gillespie then went to the sheriff’s office and reported to them. By that time a number of state police had started to Mathis’s home. The house was surrounded on all sides. Mathis saw what was happening and told them there had been a mix- up in his instructions. He told the officers that Latham had promised to give himself up to the sheriff and warned them to be careful about storming the home, that Latham was armed and there might be blood shed. Mathis told the officers the he would go unarmed into the house and deliver Latham to them if possible. Sept. 16, 1954 Vienna Times Mathis went to the house and entered by way of the rear door. He found Latham scared and excited. He told Latham it was best for him not to resist and to go along with the officers, Latham replied, “I’m afraid they’ll shoot me and then, “I don’t want to be put in the Vienna Jail.” Mathis assured him that he would be taken to Marion and that no one would shoot him. “You just walk by my side and out that door, around to he front of the house and to the officers and no one will harm you.” He told the colored man. Mathis said he started for the door and Latham started with him carrying out the instructions and he was taken to the officers who put handcuffs on him and drove away with him. Page of 18 26

in search Thomas Lee Latham, 31, colored of Vienna, under indictment with six counts escaped from the county jail in Vienna Tuesday shortly after noon.

Latham who had been held in the Williamson County Jail at Marion had been returned to Vienna about two hours earlier. He was taken to the jail by Deputy Sheriff Robert Hook who locked him in the women’s cell on the second floor of the jail. At the time of his escape, Mrs. Ruth Darnell, wife of Jailer, Everett Darnell and Mrs Bill Morris and son Don were in the kitchen of the living quarters of the jail property preparing the noon meal. Young Morris said that he heard the front screen door of the jail slam shut and he glanced out of the kitchen window and saw a colored man walking from the jail through the yard. He called the attention of Mrs. Darnell to the man and asked if it wasn't Thomas Lee Latham. Mrs. Darnell recognized Thomas Lee Latham and immediately called Sheriff Dave E George. Latham continued to walk out of

At some time during the skirmish another intruder, Spike Johnson, went to a clothes closet adjoining the room of the aged woman and took a purse underneath a pile of quilts containing $100. Apparently the man knew the hiding place of the purse.

Screams were heard by neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Cox. They telephoned Charlie Gray and told him that something terribly wrong was happening at the home of his mother. Mr. Gray, who lives a short distance from his mother’s home, quickly dressed and with his sons, Buster and Jim Bob ran to his mother’s house.

The intruder probably saw them approaching and in his haste to escape he ran through another screen door that was latched, breaking it open as he plunged through it. Jim Bob, the youngest son of Charlie Gray, pursued him throwing rocks as he chased the intruder across a vacant lot. Charles Gray and his older son rushed into the house to investigate.

When questioned about the fight for her life, Charlene said that while she was protecting herself her assailant shouted, “If I can’t have you this way, I’ll kill you and have you my way.” At about this time her father arrived and frightened the would-be rapist away. The girl had been successful in warding off her assailants attacks. She later told her father that had he not arrived when he did, she could not have withstood the punishment any longer. Charlene also told her father another Negro walked back and forth across the back porch of the home all the time the intruders were in the home.

Charlene was taken to the office of Dr. W.J. Wakefield for treatment and she was later taken to the Anna City Hospital on the doctor’s recommendations. Charlene suffered a badly bruised and lacerated face and head, and both eyes were injured. She was also suffering other injuries. She remained at the hospital until Sunday morning when she was released and returned to her home. She is recovering from her extensive injuries.

the witness stand and when she was unable to testify, as she was excused by Judge Reynolds, she ran almost terror stricken and sobbing through the crowded courtroom to the exit and was taken home by her parents. Asking Latham to stand, Judge Reynolds said “It is the judgement and sentence of the court that the defendant be sentenced to the Illinois State Penitentiary for 180 years at hard labor, except on August 2nd of each year hereafter he shall be confined in solitary imprisonment. Latham was then escorted from the court house room by law enforcement officers and deputy Robert Hook and Russel Tate. Latham was returned to the Williamson county jail and Friday morning he was taken to he Illinois State Penitentiary by Sheriff Dave E. Bridges. Page of 25 26

search. Two airplanes from the Metropolis airport were brought into the search, and they flew at low altitude until about 4:00 p.m. Three blood hounds were brought from the state penal farm at Vandalia and they arrived about 6:15 p.m. The bood hounds were given a scent of bed clothing in the cell occupied by Latham and then taken to a spot where Latham waded across the Vienna drainage ditch south of Vienna. Their handler said that they picked up a scent once but later lost it. The handler said there had been too many who had apparently crossed the crossed the escapee’s path had made it difficult for the dogs to keep the trail. The dogs searched the area south of Vienna until 8:00 o’clock p.m. when they returned to the jail. State police threw up a road block at the intersection of Route 146 and 45 in Vienna: the intersection of Routes 146 and 37 at West Vienna, the Brook port – Ohio river bridge, the Cairo Ohio and Mississippi river bridges. State and city police from East St. Louis south were alerted and given a description of Latham.

The original page will appear here.

DEMOCRATIC PUBLICATION HOUSE VAN EVRIE, HORTON, & co., 163., NASSAU ST,, N.Y. Publish the following important WORKS NEGROES AND NEGRO “SLAVERY,”; THE FIRST AN INFERIOR RACE – THE latter its normal condition.

One vol. 12 ., pp 339. Price $1.50. Illustrated with four cuts, showing the indifference between White Men and the Negro. ““““““““““““““““““““““““““““` The author of this work assumes a starting point, that, the subordinate position of the Negro, as always existing in American society, is not a condition at all, but the natural relation of an inferior to a superior race and whatever evil, if any, existed in Southern society, were referable to a failure to strictly embody the natural inferiority of the negro in the civil law, and not to say any error in the fundamental organism or theory of that society, which is based on a great and everlasting truth. His work is divided into two parts. First, the specific and radical differences of the races are examined. The color, figure, hair, features, language, senses, brain, &c. of the Negro are shone to be only the more palpable specialities out of a thousand similar ones, separating the Negro from the White Man. Why, when, or how the Creator saw fit to this order things, the author regards as immaterial. He simply starts with the facts as they exist. After the Negro is shown to be a different human being, physically and mentally, his proper relations to the white man are discussed; also, Mulattoism and its ultimate extinction, showing the impossibility of interunion, like cognate branches of the white race, a very important and but little understood branch of the subject The position assumed in this work is entirely new and distinct from that presented by any other writer; and founded as it is, upon facts and unavoidable inferences from them, it is believed presents at last the true philosophy of this distracting question.

Jordan / Lonnie,

The 1954 crime in Vienna was headline news from August 5 to October 14.

My first interest was to knowing more about and to try and find three Black classmates. Albert and Virginia Shavis, and Olivia Worlds. Another Black was Martha Kelly who was not yet in High school. None of these four graduated from high school.

The horrendous crime excited everyone in Vienna and a all-out effort was made to capture and punish the men who were involved.

I attempted to write the exact printed words in the articles in the Vienna Times. I did not add any comments of my own.

Originally, I planned to interview people, research records, review locations and write about my findings. I’ve decided not to.

I will save what I found, also my notes and information. The library may want a copy of what I wrote. There may be others.

John Casey

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The 1954 crime in Vienna was headline news from August 5 to October 14.

My first interest was to knowing more about and to try and find three Black classmates. Albert and Virginia Shavis, and Olivia Worlds. Another Black was Martha Kelly who was not yet in High school. None of these four graduated from high school.

The horrendous crime excited everyone in Vienna and a all-out effort was made to capture and punish the men who were involved.

I attempted to write the exact printed words in the articles in the Vienna Times. I did not add any comments of my own.

Originally, I planned to interview people, research records, review locations and write about my findings. I’ve decided not to.

I will save what I found, also my notes and information. The library may want a copy of what I wrote. There may be others.

John Casey

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THE VIENNA TIMES Thursday, September 9, 1954

Three Negro Homes Burned Here Monday County and City to Reimburse Colored People for Losses

The three remaining buildings on the South hill in the south city limits of Vienna were destroyed by fire about 4;30 o'clock Monday afternoon. One of these buildings had been the home of Thomas Lee Latham. One was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Compton, the former a minister. Another was occupied by Marie Pickins and her children and the third was the home of Frank Murriel who was sentanced recently for "accessory after the fact" in connection with the fatal beating of Mrs. Maggie Gray and the beating of her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray.

At two o'clock on the same afternoon a posse of deputized men had surround- ed the hill after sheriff Dave George had received a tip that Latham was hid- ing there.

Officers and citizens of Vienna who made a survey of the situation after the fire are more of the opinion that the houses were set on fire.

Tuesday afternoon a joint meeting of the city council of Vienna and the Board of County Commissioners was held at the court house. Sitting in the were State's Attorney Mitchell and Circuit Judge C. Ross Reynolds, State's Attorney Mitchell addressed the meeting, telling them of the loss sustained by the colored people. The destruction of the homes was discussed at length ai both governing bodies passed a resolution condemming the acts of vandalism and offering restitution to those losing their property as a result of the fire. Both the City Council and county board promised to bear equally the expense of restoring their property or satisfying the parties suffering loss. The vote of the aldermen and county commissioners was unanimous.

A committee consisting of Vern L. Williams, Joe Watson and Royce Bridges was appointed to contact the Negroes to ascertain their losses and make re- commendations to the two boards.

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THE VIENNA TIMES September 2, 1954

LATHAM ESCAPES FROM JAIL Colored Man Under Indictment For Murder Still At Large-Blood Hounds, State Police, and Airplanes Join Local Offices In Search

Thomas Lee Latham, 31, colored of Vienna, under indictment on six counts escaped from the County Jail in Vienna Tuesday shortly after noon.

On August 16, a Grand Jury here returned six indictments against Latham. They were murder of Maggie Gray, burglary with intent to murder Charlene Gray, burglary with intent to rape, assault with intent to murder Charlene Gray, bur- glary and assault with intent to rape.

Latham confessed to States Attorney Donald B. Mitchell, Sheriff Dave George and Deputy Bob Hook that he was one of two parties who entered the home and beat the women. He named Ardell (Spike) Johnson as his accomplice. Latham said that Johnson entered the house first and he followed Johnson. Johnson has denied having any part in the crime. He is being held in the Williamson county Jail and has been indicted on five charges.

Frank Murriel was sentanced this week by Judge C. Ross Reynolds to one year, ll months, and 29 days in the Menard State Penitentiary for the transporting Lat- ham to Levings after the crime.

Herbert Latham, brother of Thomas Lee Latham, is being held under indictment for burglary. He is being held in the county jail.

The VIENNA TIMES Thursday, September 9, 1954

Latham Again Evades Capture Latham Slips Through Ring of Armed Posse and Is Still At Large Hunted Man Fired At On Three Different Occasions South of Vienna Monday

Thomas Lee Latham, 31, Vienna colored man, who is under indictment on six counts, one of which is the charge of the murder of Mrs. Maggie Gray, and who escaped from the County Jail here on Tuesday afternoon of last week is still at large.

Deputies surrounded a hill south of town where three houses belonging to colored people are located. They had been informed that Latham was hiding in homeysuckle and weeds near one of the houses. He next was reported in a corn field near the Big Four Railroad in the East part of Vienna. Fired on and escaped.

Latham was next reported as crossing the highway at the Charlie Hook quarry about a mile south of Vienna. The posse had grown to about 100-150 men by this time. Fired on and escaped.

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1954

VIENNA NEGRO HELD ON CHARGE OF ASSAULT WITH ATTEMPT TO MURDER

Thomas Lee Latham, 31, of Vienna has been arrested and is being held by Johnson County authorities on a charge of assault to intent to murder, on charges filed by States Attorney, Donald R. Mitchell.

Two other Negros, Frank Murriel and Herbert Latham, both of Vienna, the latter a brother of the accused man are being held in the county jail for questioning and further investigation of the crime.

At 4:30 O’clock Monday morning August 2, 1954 the home of Mrs. Maggie Gray, 82, who lives a few blocks from the public square, was broken into by an intruder. The intruder who entered the Gray home cut a hole in the screen wire on a rear door, unfastened a screen hook and entered the home.

Mrs. Gray’s granddaughter, Charlene Gray, daughter of Charlie Gray, janitor at the court house, stayed with her grandmother at night. The intruder entered her room and ordered her to remove her night clothing. When she failed to comply with his demands he begin to beat her. The eighteen-year old girl fought back. The man picked up a bottle of rubbing alcohol and continued to beat her. She threw a bottle of writing ink that struck him, breaking the bottle. When she screamed for help he threw her on the bed and attempted to smother her with a pillow. The girl continued to fight and as she did her clothing was torn from her body.

The grandmother, who was asleep in another room heard the scream of her granddaughter and she went to investigate. The intruder knocked her down and beat her, then going from one woman to the other, in an effort to quiet their screaming, he choked both women and beat them unmercifully.

At some time during the skirmish another intruder, Spike Johnson, went to a clothes closet adjoining the room of the aged woman and took a purse underneath a pile of quilts containing $100. Apparently the man knew the hiding place of the purse.

Screams were heard by neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Cox. They telephoned Charlie Gray and told him that something terribly wrong was happening at the home of his mother. Mr. Gray, who lives a short distance from his mother’s home, quickly dressed and with his sons, Buster and Jim Bob ran to his mother’s house.

The intruder probably saw them approaching and in his haste to escape he ran through another screen door that was latched, breaking it open as he plunged through it. Jim Bob, the youngest son of Charlie Gray, pursued him throwing rocks as he chased the intruder across a vacant lot. Charles Gray and his older son rushed into the house to investigate.

When questioned about the fight for her life, Charlene said that while she was protecting herself her assailant shouted, “If I can’t have you this way, I’ll kill you and have you my way.” At about this time her father arrived and frightened the would-be rapist away. The girl had been successful in warding off her assailants attacks. She later told her father that had he not arrived when he did, she could not have withstood the punishment any longer. Charlene also told her father another Negro walked back and forth across the back porch of the home all the time the intruders were in the home.

Charlene was taken to the office of Dr. W.J. Wakefield for treatment and she was later taken to the Anna City Hospital on the doctor’s recommendations. Charlene suffered a badly bruised and lacerated face and head, and both eyes were injured. She was also suffering other injuries. She remained at the hospital until Sunday morning when she was released and returned to her home. She is recovering from her extensive injuries.

Mrs. Gray was treated in the office of Dr. E. A. Veach and then taken to the home of her son, Ted Gray. Mrs. Gray is suffering from head injuries, and her face was beaten almost to a pulp. She was also kicked and stomped by the intruder, whose foot print was visible on her stomach. She is in critical condition and has had a number of convulsions and it is doubtful that she will live.

Charlene and her grandma both identified the intruder as Thomas Lee Latham. He was also identified by Charles Gray and his son Jim Bob. Latham was sentenced to the Chester Penitentiary a few years ago. He was a parolee and had his liberty for almost two years.

Authorities were quickly notified and Deputy Sheriff Bob Hook, State Patrolman, Marion Trout and Bill Jeffery quickly picked up the trail of the intruder. They went to the south hill where a number of colored people reside and searched Latham’s home. Marie Pickens, who lives in the same home told the officers that Thomas Lee had returned home and hurriedly departed after changing a shirt.

Another report that Latham had been taken out of town by a colored friend was investigated. Frank Murriel was questioned by Hook and Trout and he told of taking Latham to Levins a little community on Route 37 near Grand Chain, IL, leaving him at the home of Buddy Worlds. Murriel told the officers that Latham’s brother, Herbert, hired him to take Thomas Lee to Levins. Murriel was taken into custody and jailed. Officers Hook, Trout and Jeffery went to Levins and after inquiring about a second man they learned that Worlds had taken Latham to Mound City to catch a bus for Cairo. Worlds told the officers that Latham told him that the had been in a fight with a white man and that he wanted to get to the home of a relative in Cairo.

The Johnson County officers telephoned ahead to Sheriff John Barnett of Pulaski County to check the bus station. The Pulaski County Sheriff complied with the request. But Latham had gone out on a bus. The sheriff questioned the bus driver and was told he took a Negro to Cairo.

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Buddy Worlds went with the officers in search for Latham. when they reached Cairo, the two Johnson County officers secured the help of Cairo city police and were directed to the home of a relative of Buddy Worlds. They surrounded the house and then went to a second story apartment in the building and found Latham lying on a cot. He did not resist arrest. For security reasons Sheriff Dave George directed that the prisoner be taken to the Metropolis Jail.

When questioned by the officers, Latham said he did not remember anything and answered other questions with “I don’t know.” He was searched and only about $10 was found on his person. His underwear was bloody and stains of writing ink was found on his arm.

When the news got around in Vienna about the heinous crime, feelings against Negros ran high and officers, seeing this, will keep the accused man confined at the Metropolis jail. The State’s Attorney ordered that no one be permitted to contact him. Herbert Latham was alleged to have arranged transportation for his brother to leave town, was picked up late Monday morning and jailed for questioning.

Thomas Lee Latham was arraigned before Justice of the Peace, J. E. Arnold Tuesday morning and waived preliminary hearing. His bond was set at $10,000 and upon failure to fill same was returned to the Massac County jail to await action of a special grand jury which will be called on August 18. States Attorney Nary Mitchell will also present charges of assault with intent to rape, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon to the grand jury. The following day, Latham waived preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace, J. E. Arnold and placed under $10,000 bond to await action the grand jury.

At the request of Sheriff George and State’s Attorney, Mitchell, the Illinois State Division of Criminal Identification was contacted and two men were sent with a lie detector which was taken to the Massac County Jail where Latham submitted to a test. Frank Murriel, Herbert Latham and Spike Johnson also were examined by the lie detector in Vienna. Local authorities have not disclosed the results of these tests, but a report will be made to a grand jury. A regular grand jury will convene in Vienna on August 19, when they will present numerous charges against all of the parties being held.

Ted Gray was questioned and he told of going to his mother’s home and finding the home in disarray, and blood all over the floor, bed and walls of the house. He told of caring for his mother after taking her to his home and said a few hours after the attack on her, her mind was clear and she related different phases of the attack to him. He said that later she could not recall why she was suffering and why she could not go back to her home. “et Mrs. Rita Height was questioned and she stated that she saw Frank Murriel driving east on West Main Street toward the court house about 5:30 on the morning the crime was committed. Mrs. Height was on her way to her work at the Smith Cafe. She said that there was, colored man with Frank but she could not identify him. a

Orin Cox, a neighbor, heard the cry for help and he quickly dressed and headed to the home of Maggie Gray. He said that when he reached the window, he saw Mrs. Gray in the doorway of her bedroom and she cried – “Oh lourdy, Oh lourdy, please help us, somebody is trying to kill us.” Mr. Cox stated that about that time Charlie Gray and his wife arrived and he followed Charlie into the house. He said that Charlene was sitting on a divan with a sheet wrapped around her, bleeding at the face and Mrs. Gray was standing in the room with her hands clasped over her crying. Her face was badly beaten.

Mr. Cox stated that when questioned about the crime that had been committed, Mrs. Gray said that a big black Negro had attacked them. Charlene told them that it was Thomas Lee Latham who had attacked them and then Mrs. Gray said, “yes it was Thomas Lee.”

Mrs. Gertrude Parker, who lives in the second home from the Gray’s residence was questioned. She too was awakened by the cries of the victims and went to investigate. She told of seeing both women in the Gray home, bleeding and when she asked as to who had inflicted their wounds, she said Charlene named Thomas Lee Latham, and she was sure of the identification for she had pleaded with him and he had talked back to her.

Charlie Gray, son of Mrs. and Gray and father of Charlene said that

aur he entered the front door of the house and as he entered he heard a crash

at the rear of the house. He ran through the house and saw a Negro fleeing across the yard and into the garden. When asked if he could identify the Negro, he said, “I only saw his back and side of his head, but I was sure it was Thomas Lee.” ©O

When questioned by the jury as to whether or not any conversation passed between his daughter Charlene and Thomas Lee Latham during the time she was fighting her assailant, Mr. Gray said that his

daughter told him and his wife, that the intruder first told"her to get off* her clothes. e refused to this and he began to beat her. He said, If I

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THE VIENNA TIMES – AUGUST 12, 1954 YOUR HOME TOWN PAPER GIVES YOU THE NEWS

Latham confesses to Assault on two women here last week.

Thomas Lee Latham, 31 of Vienna has confessed to assault on two Vienna Women. For security reasons, Latham is being held in the Massac County jail.

State’s Attorney, Donald R. Mitchell has filed charges against Frank Murriel and Herbert Latham, the later brother of Thomas Lee Latham, and they are still being held in the Johnson County jail. They both waived a preliminary hearing on charges against them and have been placed under $10,000 bond each to await action by the grand jury.

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1954 MAGGIE GRAY DIES FOLLOWING BRUTAL BEATING.

Mrs. Maggie Gray died at the home of her son, Ted Gray about 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 11. Mrs. Gray was one of the victims who was brutally beaten when one or more Negros entered her home in Vienna on morning of August 2 and took $100 in cash and also unmercifully beat her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray, 18.

Following Mrs. Gray’s death, D. E. A. Veach empaneled a jury at Robertson Funeral Home, which visited the body. the inquest was continued until Saturday morning to await the outcome of the autopsy ordered by the coroner.

The body was taken to the Frick Funeral Home in Marion, where Dr. Vess, a pathologist, performed an autopsy. Following the autopsy, the body was returned to the Robertson Funeral Home, where it remained until Sunday afternoon when funeral services were held and internment made in the Bridges Cemetery, west of Vienna.

Publications of the stories in the Times regarding the crimes were retrieved and obtained from the Abraham Lincoln Historical Library in Springfield, IL. The quality of the printing of articles after being archived and being digitally entered in the library’s records were difficult to read and convert, first in handwritten words, then in type.

I made an attempt to be exact and present information exactly as written, but know that sometimes errors may have been made. I Apologize for any of them.

John Casey

435 1/2 Bluff St.

Alton, IL 62002

618-670-5646

jrcasey 134@gmail.com

THE VIENNA TIMES your Home town county paper gives you the news Seventy-Forth Year Vienna Johnson County, Illinois Thursday, August 19, 1954 Maggie Gray Dies Following Brutal Beating Corner’s jury Recommended Latham be held for murder

Mrs. Maggie Gray died at the home of her son, Ted Gray about 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 11. Mrs. Gray was one of the victims who was brutally beaten when one or more Negroes entered her home in Vienna on the morning of August 2 and took $100 in cash and also unmercifully beat beat her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray, 18. Following her death, Dr. E.A. Veach, empaneled a jury at Robertson Funeral Home, which visited the body. The inquest was continued until Saturday morning, to await the out- come of the autopsy ordered by the coroner end of notes on page 1

THE VIENNA TIMES YOUR HOME TOWN P APER GIVES YOU THE NEWS Seventy-Forth year Vienna, Johnson County Il. Thursday August 12, 1854 Number 47 Latham confesses to Assault On two women here last week Two others Being held for Investigation Thomas Lee Latham, 31 of Vienna has confessed to assault on two Vi- enna women. For security reasons, Latham is being held in the Massac County jail.

THE VIENNA TIMES – AUGUST 12, 1954

YOUR HOME TOWN PAPER GIVES YOU THE NEWS Latham confesses to Assault on two women here last week.

Thomas Lee Latham, 31 of Vienna has confessed to assault on two Vienna Women. For security reasons, Latham is being held in the Massac County jail.

State’s Attorney, Donald R. Mitchell has filed charges against Frank Murriel and Herbert Latham, the later brother of Thomas Lee Latham, and they are still being held in the Johnson County jail. They both waived a preliminary hearing on charges against them and have been placed under $10,000 bond each to await action by the grand jury.

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1954 MAGGIE GRAY DIES FOLLOWING BRUTAL BEATING.

Mrs. Maggie Gray died at the home of her son, Ted Gray about 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 11. Mrs. Gray was one of the victims who was brutally beaten when one or more Negros entered her home in Vienna on morning of August 2 and took $100 in cash and also unmercifully beat her granddaughter, Miss Charlene Gray, 18.

Following Mrs. Gray’s death, D. E. A. Veach empaneled a jury at Robertson Funeral Home, which visited the body. the inquest was continued until Saturday morning to await the outcome of the autopsy ordered by the coroner.

The body was taken to the Frick Funeral Home in Marion, where Dr. Vess, a pathologist, performed an autopsy. Following the autopsy, the body was returned to the Robertson Funeral Home, where it remained until Sunday afternoon when funeral services were held and internment made in the Bridges Cemetery, west of Vienna.

THE VIENNA TIMES THURSDAY ,AUGUST 5, 1954 NUMBER46 74th yr. VIENNA NEGRO HELD ON CHARGE OF ASSAULT WITH ATTEMPT TO MURDER Aged Woman And Granddaughter RecognizedNegro Who robbed and beat them. Thomas Lee Latham, 31, of Vienna has been arrested and is being held by Johnson County authorities on a charge of assault to intent to murder, on charges filed by States Attorney Donald R. Mitchell. Two other negroes, Frank Muriel and Herbert Latham, both of Vienna, the latter a brother of the accused man are being held in the county jail for questioning and further investigation of the crime.

At 4:30 O’clock Monday morning August 2, 1954 the home of Mrs. Maggie Gray, 82 , who lives a few blocks from the public square, was broken into by an intruder whose name was Spike Johnson who cut cut a hole in the screen wire of a rear door, unfastened a hook and entered the home. Mrs Gray’s granddaughter, Charlene Gray, daughter of Charlie Gray, janitor at the court house, stayed with her grandmother at night. One of the two intruders entered her room and ordered her to remove her night clothing. When she failed to comply with his demands he began to beat her The eighteen-year old girl fought back. the man picked up a bottle of rubbing alcohol and continued to beat her. She threw a bottle of writing ink that struck him, breaking the bottle. When she screamed for help

THE VIENNA TIMES – THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1954

VIENNA NEGRO HELD ON CHARGE OF ASSAULT WITH ATTEMPT TO MURDER

Thomas Lee Latham, 31, of Vienna has been arrested and is being held by Johnson County authorities on a charge of assault to intent to murder, on charges filed by States Attorney, Donald R. Mitchell.

Two other Negros, Frank Murriel and Herbert Latham, both of Vienna, the latter a brother of the accused man are being held in the county jail for questioning and further investigation of the crime.

At 4:30 O’clock Monday morning August 2, 1954 the home of Mrs. Maggie Gray, 82, who lives a few blocks from the public square, was broken into by an intruder. The intruder who entered the Gray home cut a hole in the screen wire on a rear door, unfastened a screen hook and entered the home.

Mrs. Gray’s granddaughter, Charlene Gray, daughter of Charlie Gray, janitor at the court house, stayed with her grandmother at night. The intruder entered her room and ordered her to remove her night clothing. When she failed to comply with his demands he begin to beat her. The eighteen-year old girl fought back. The man picked up a bottle of rubbing alcohol and continued to beat her. She threw a bottle of writing ink that struck him, breaking the bottle. When she screamed for help he threw her on the bed and attempted to smother her with a pillow. The girl continued to fight and as she did her clothing was torn from her body.

The grandmother, who was asleep in another room heard the scream of her granddaughter and she went to investigate. The intruder knocked her down and beat her, then going from one woman to the other, in an effort to quiet their screaming, he choked both women and beat them unmercifully.

Vienna Times – September 16, 1954 Latham Interview Thomas Latham Interviewed by Times Reporter In an exclusive interview, Thomas Latham told a Times reporter his story of spending over a week hiding and evading apprehension, bringing his story up to a point when he surrendered to the Johnson County officers and state police. Latham was interviewed in the Williamson County jail on Wednesday night following his surrender about noon of that day Latham begin his story by telling of leaving the jail. He said that he walked past the home of Carl Sanders down to the end of third street and went into some high weeds. Latham then crossed the Vienna drainage ditch, turned right and followed a strip of woods leading to the hill on which he lived. He went to the hill, keeping in the wooded area and came to the colored cemetery. From here he crossed through the Hood orchard and after leaving the orchard he said he saw cars on the road that he presumed were looking for him. He went on South, staying in the weeds, and walking toward “Hells Neck,” known as the Oak Grove community. Page of 10 26

The Vienna Times Sept. 9, 1954 Three Negro Homes Burned here Monday County and city to reimburse Colored people for loss The three remaining buildings on the south hill in the south city limits of Vienna were destroyed by fire September 6th 1954 about 4:30 O’clock Monday afternoon. One of the homes had been the home of Thomas Lee Latham. One was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Compton, the former a min- ester. An other was occupied by Marie Pickens and her children and the third was the home of Frank Murriel, who was sentenced re- gently for “accessary after the fact,” in connection with the fatal beating of Mrs. Maggie Gray and the beating of her granddaughter Miss Charlene Gray. At 2:0 O’clock on the same after noon a posse of deputized men had Page of 1 26

WHITE MEN MUST RULE AMERICA NEW YORk DAY-BOOK FOR 1887 Standing on the foundation of the Declaration of Independence that “all (white) men are created equal,” and therefore entitled to equal rights, it is opposed to all forms and degrees of special legislation that conflict with this grand central truth of Democracy. and over all, and above all, does it combat that monstrous treason to American liberty, which. thrusting the Negro element into our political system, must of necessity wreck the whole mighty fabric left us by our fathers. God has created white man superior, and negroes inferior, and therefore all the efforts of the past five years to abolish his work, and equalize with negroes – every law violated, every state Constitution overthrown, every life sacrificed, and every dollar expanded, are necessarily just so many steps toward national suicide; and the simple and awful problem now upon us is just this-shall we recover our reason and retrace our steps, or march on to Mongrelism, social anarchy, and the total ruin of our country! The Day-Book, therefore, demands the restoration of the “Union as it was,” a Union of co-equal states upon the white basis-as the only hope, and the only means, possible under heaven for saving the grand ideas of 1776- the fundamental principals of American Liberty. I don’t know the origin of the New York Day Book. It is laced with White supremacy. It mentions that God created White men superior and Negros inferior. The Civil War ended in 1865. Slavery was abolished partially in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1865 Slavery ended, Just over 20 years after it ended, the article in the New York Day Book was published. White Supremacy in the year 2022 is still a stigma. Racism is it’s name. God had nothing to do with creating a White person superior to a black person.

WHITE MEN MUST RULE AMERICA

NEW YORk DAY-BOOK FOR 1887

Standing on the foundation of the Declaration of Independence that

“all (white) men are created equal,” and therefore entitled to equal rights, it is opposed to all forms and degrees of special legislation that conflict with this grand central truth of Democracy. and over all, and above all, does it combat that monstrous treason to American liberty, which. thrusting the Negro element into our political system, must of necessity wreck the whole mighty fabric left us by our fathers. God has created white man superior, and negroes inferior, and therefore all the efforts of the past five years to abolish his work, and equalize with negroes – every law violated, every state Constitution overthrown, every life sacrificed, and every dollar expanded, are necessarily just so many steps toward national suicide; and the simple and awful problem now upon us is just this-shall we recover our reason and retrace our steps, or march on to Mongrelism, social anarchy, and the total ruin of our country!

The Day-Book, therefore, demands the restoration of the “Union as it was,” a Union of co-equal states upon the white basis-as the only hope, and the only means, possible under heaven for saving the grand ideas of 1776- the fundamental principals of American Liberty.

| don’t know the origin of the New York Day Book. It is laced with White supremacy. It mentions that God created White men superior and Negros inferior.

The Civil War ended in 1865. Slavery was abolished partially in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1865 Slavery ended, Just over 20 years after it ended, the article in the New York Day Book was published.

White Supremacy in the year 2022 is still a stigma. Racism is it’s name.

God had nothing to do with creating a White person superior to a black person.

8:00 o’clock that evening.” Worlds returned Chavis and Latham to Vienna, letting them out of his car on the Negro hill road. He told the court that after getting out of the car he saw Spike Johnson, Frank Murriel, and Herbert Latham, who drove up in Murriel’s car. He was asked whether of not the other boys were drunk and Latham said that he and all of the others were drunk. Medlin asked if he said anything to Spike Johnson and he said he conversed with him and Spike told him to wait for him and went down the road. Latham said he waited at the Big bridge for him to return and he came back fairly soon. They then walked to the front of the Frank Sullins home. Latham said that ke Johnson went around on the north side of the Sullins house and that Johnson disappeared. Latham said that he went to the yard and later saw Johnson on the rear porch of the Maggie Gray home. The testimony continued See “Latham Sentenced – page 8 skip the interview for now Page of 22 26