The Craighead County Night Riders 1920-1921 Researched and written by H.L. (Plug) Eaton In 1920 the entire nation was caught up in the grips of a severe recession. The economy, it seemed, had hit rock bottom. The tenant farmer in Craighead County was extremely hard hit as the price of cotton, the lifeblood of the Craighead County Farmer, had dropped far below the cost of production. Creating additional hardship for the tenant farmer was the fact that many land owners, to offset their own losses, had raised the rent on their lands from the customary oneforth, to one-third of gross production. The future of the tenant farmer appeared very bleak indeed. The plight of the farmer had been brought about by a huge surplus of cotton that had accumulated on the world market. During the tragic years of World War I (1914-1919), the demand for cotton had reached an all time high. This extraordinary demand had driven the price of the product up to $1.00 per pound. Taking advantage of this unexpected windfall, every available acre of farmland had been planted to cotton. Many small farmers had borrowed heavily to expand their production capabilities. However, the tragic war ended in 1919 and so did the extraordinary demand for cotton products. With the loss of the war demands, coupled with vastly increased production by farmers, the surplus grew and grew until the price of cotton was driven down from $1.00 per pound to $.05 per pound. The tenant farmer found it impossible to break even, much less show a profit. Many of those who had borrowed money to purchase additional tools and equipment now found themselves unable to meet their financial obligations. As frustration with their helpless predicament mounted, a group of tenant farmers in the Bay Lunsford area, centered around the Brown School House Community, decided to take matters into their own hands and attempt to force the price of cotton back up to a profit making level and at the same time, force land owners to reduce rents on their farm land back to the former rates. During the winter of 1920-21 several farmers in the bay Lunsford area reported to authorities that they had been visited by a band of “night riders” who had given them stern warnings to not plant more than one third of their land to cotton nor pay more than one-third of their land to cotton nor pay more than one-fourth of their land to cotton nor pay more that one-forth rent to their “land-lords”. Several landowners also reported to authorities that they had been visited by the same gang who had warned them not to permit their tenant farmers to plant more than onethird of their land to cotton, and also to not charge their tenants more than one-fourth rent. The nightriders had threatened to “burn them out” if they refused to obey the warnings. Several buildings in the area were reported burned by the group. A barn on the Tyner farm. A barn on the Perkins and Stringer farm, a house on the McAdams and Stroud farm and two houses on the George Blaylock farm were reported burned during this period. The Refuge School Building, located two miles west of Lake City, was burned just before Christmas in 1920, and the nightriders were accused of setting this fire also. Depredations continued over the countryside and the entire community was caught up within the grips of a complete “reign of terror”. Many residents told authorities that they were afraid to go to sleep at night for fear that their homes
would be “torched” while they were asleep. Some reported that family members “stood Watch” in shifts at night while other family members slept. Men slept on “Pallets” near the front door of their homes with their shotguns at ready, anticipating a visit by the nightriders. The situation was eased somewhat on Wednesday, April 12, 1921 when Craighead County Sheriff Walter T. Johnson reported that he and deputies Tom Carter and J.J. Cureton had arrested seven Bay area men, Clarence Craig, Everett Kinkade, Henry Evans, L.C. Bird, J.C. Castlemen, Noah Housley and DeWitt Garrett, and had charged them with “night riding”. The sheriff also reported that on the same day, Chief Deputy Sheriff Louis Wright of Lake City, had arrested three Pleasant Valley area men, Pleas Ashley, Ed Snow and John Haynes, and had charged them with the same offense. Sheriff Johnson also revealed that two other Bay area men, Harrison Duty and Ezekiel (Zeke) Bowman, had been arrested the previous day on the same charges. The following day, April 13, Sheriff Johnson reported five additional Bay area men, Floyd Walker, Ed Barber, D.L. Staley, Clarence Burrow and Lem Behme, were arrested and charged with night riding. The sheriff also revealed to the press that his office held warrants for twenty-two additional men who had been implicated with the gang. The sheriff and his deputies were kept busy for the next few days until all outstanding warrants had been served. Most of the arrested men were able to make bond, and were released from custody pending action of the circuit court. Investigation had revealed that William Moon, a Bay area resident and Maumelle Township Justice of the Peace, had told friends that he knew the identity of certain members of the nightriders. Moon then allegedly named several area residents as being members of the gang. Among the names mentioned by Moon was DeWitt Garrett. Garrett learned of Moon’s statement and confronted him concerning the accusation. Moon confirmed that he had indeed made the statement, but refused to reveal the source of his information. The discussion grew heated and Moon told Garrett “it will all come out when the grand jury meets”. Moon was attempting to “bluff” Garrett, as he had no information that anyone was going to testify before the grand jury concerning the nightriders. However, Garrett, and other members of the gang, knew that the grand jury was to convene in Jonesboro in a few days and they became quite concerned. Knowing that Zeke Bowman was a close neighbor of William Moon, the other members of the gang immediately became suspicious of him, believing that Bowman had revealed their identities to Moon. At that time, very few people owned automobiles and the most convenient means of transportation to Jonesboro from Bay was by train. On the day that the grand jury was to convene, Garrett and other members of the gang watched the depot at Bay to determine who might be traveling to Jonesboro. By some strange quirk of fate, Zeke Bowman was the only person to board the Jonesboro bound train at the Bay station. Bowman was enroute to Jonesboro on business and was not intending to appear before the grand jury. However, Garrett and the other members of the gang were certain that Bowman was, in fact, enroute to appear before the judicial body and was intending to tell all that he knew about their involvement with the gang. Later that night, a trap was laid for Bowman. One of the gang members, who was neighbor of Bowman, came to Bowman’s home and told Bowman that he had a sick mule and needed to borrow some “horse Liniment’. Bowman and the neighbor went to Bowman’s barn where the medicine was kept. When Bowman walked to the Barn, he discovered that the building was
filled with gang members, all armed. The gang members forced Bowman to walk into the nearby woods and were discussing what to do with him. While being led through the woods, Bowman stepped into water filled hold and filled his boots with water. His captors permitted him to sit on a log to empty the water from his boots. While this was being done, the gang produced a jug of moonshine whiskey and was occupied with the jug, Bowman escaped barefoot into the woods. He made his way into Bay where a friend hid him in the storage room of a mercantile store. The following morning, April 9, Bowman made his way to Jonesboro where he contacted Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Roy Penix and gave a full confession, implicating himself with the nightriders and identifying other members of the organization. The information provided by Bowman was presented to the grand jury, indictments were returned and warrants were issued for the other gang members. The first night riding case came to trial in Craighead County Circuit Court at Jonesboro on Thursday, April 21. 1921, only nine days after the first arrest was made. DeWitt Garrett, who was alleged to be the “ring leader” of the gang, was the first defendant to be tried. Circuit Judge E.L. Johnson of Crittenden County was the presiding judge. Prosecuting Attorney Cecil Shane of Blytheville assisted by Deputy Prosecutor Roy Penix and Special Prosecutor N.F. Lamb, both of Jonesboro, represented the state; Attorney Mike Huddleston of Paragould had been employed to represent Garrett. The jury consisted of Andrew Wiles, C.R. Forrester, F.H. Watson, Jim Byers, R.L. Edwards, Fred Hamilton, Tom Lane, A.A.Connelly, Eric Rogers, Buck Sharp, William Jeter and Algie Groves. Evidence presented at the trial revealed that DeWitt Garrett was the leader of the gang and that Zeke Bowman was the “Captain” or second in command. The gang was very well organized and was patterned after the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan was rather active in several sections of the country at that time, however, there was no evidence ever presented to indicate that the nightriders considered themselves to actually be a part of the Klan. There is no doubt that the original inspiration for the gang was received from the Klan. They wore robes and masks to conceal their identities as did the Klan, they had passwords and oaths of secrecy as did the Klan, and they operated by threats and intimidation, as did the Klan. During the early days of the gang’s existence, the news media attached the name nightriders to the gang and the general public and the members of the organization adopted that name as well. Several of the defendants described in their confessions and testimony, the manner in which they were recruited into the organization. Late at night, a group of men on horseback would surround the house of a prospective recruit and the leader would call him out. The leader would be the only member of the group to speak. He would explain the purpose of the nightriders and then ask the prospective recruit if he agreed that something must be done to ease the plight of the tenant farmer. When the prospective recruit agreed that something needed to be done, he would then be taken a short distance from his home, usually to a wooded area, where he would be given the oath of secrecy and then be “sworn in”. He would then be permitted to return to his home, but only after being informed that he would be called on when needed. He would also be informed that it he failed to respond when called, that his home and or barn would be burned, or more severe action would be taken against his person. Several of the defendants stated that they joined the gang strictly out of fear of reprisal if they refused to do so. Several gang members also told of an alleged plot by members of the organization to kill John Taylor of Lunsford, and
George Blaylock of Bay, two of the largest landowners in the area. However the plots never materialized and no one was ever killed or even beaten by the nightriders. Bob Story testified during the trial, explaining the method of administering the oath of secrecy to new recruits. He testified that two members of the gang would participate in the ritual, one holding a gun on the recruit’s head, while the other member administered the oath. He testified that the oath required that the recruit never reveal anything said or done by another member, and that the identity of any member of the group would never be revealed. Violation of any part of the oath would result in the violator having his head either “shot off” or “cut off” Chester Fleeman testified that he was a member of the nightriders and that he was recruited by DeWitt Garrett and was sworn in by Zeke Bowman. He also testified that he participated in the “raid” when the house on the McAdams and Stroud farm was burned. He testified that he also participated in warning raids in the Lunsford area. Zeke Bowman testified, concerning his involvement with the gang. He also explained how Garrett and others became suspicious of him, ambushed him in his own barn and then took him into the woods to kill him. He told of his escape and of his testimony before the grand jury. He testified that after providing information to the grand jury that he requested that he be incarcerated in the county jail for his own protection. On April 26, DeWitt Garrett took the witness stand to testify in his own defense. He testified that he was not a member of the nightriders and had absolutely no knowledge of the gang. However, when court reconvened on April 27, Garrett in a very surprising move stated to the court that he wished to withdraw his “not guilty” plea and enter a plea of guilty to all forty-two charges of night riding and arson. Judge Johnson accepted the change of plea, and at the request of defense attorney’s recessed court for two hours. When court was again called into session, defense attorneys reported to Judge Johnson that all of the remaining defendants wished to enter pleas of “guilty”. Judge Johnson accepted the guilty pleas and later that same day, pronounced sentence on all of the defendants. DeWitt Garrett was five a sentence of one year in the Arkansas State Penitentiary. Harry Wainfield, Lawrence Stally, Henry Adams and Will Davis were sentenced to serve six months in the penitentiary. Zeke Bowman, Ed Barber and Bob Storey were sentenced to serve two months in the penitentiary and be placed on probation for a long period of time. The charges against Roy Childress were dismissed. He had been indicted but had left the state and had not been arrested. Charges against Chester Fleeman, Oscar Lamberson and Vess Kinkaide were also dismissed. These men had given valuable information to the prosecuting attorney that greatly assisted authorities in prosecuting the cases. Charges against Herbert Pottman and Lem Behme were also dismissed, both being teen age boys. The remaining defendants, Everett Kinkade, Henry Evans, L.C. Bird, J.C. Castleman, Noah Housley, Pleas Ashley, Ed Snow, John Haynes, Harrison Duty, Floyd Walker, Clarence Burrow, W.H. Collins, Bill Davis, Roy Morgan, Virgil Coffman and Artie Cooper had never given confessions or statements and were all sentenced to serve one year in the state penitentiary.
With the ending of the trial, the defendants were permitted to return to their homes so that they might attend to personal business and get their crops “laid by” and were instructed to report to the Craighead County Sheriff on August 1, to begin their incarceration. On August 1, the defendants returned to the county jail and submitted to the custody of Sheriff Johnson. An interesting footnote is that their families, along with several friends and neighbors, accompanied them to jail. Ladies of the community had prepared lunch baskets and a picnic was held on the county jail lawn. Newspaper reporters covering the event, reported that the county jailer and his family joined the picnic and a “festive air permeated the occasion”. When interviewed by reporters, several of the former nightriders expressed joy that the gang had been “broken up”. Most of them stated that they had joined the gang out of fear, and that once involved, they were afraid to attempt to withdraw from the organization, in fear that their homes would be burned and their families placed in danger. Thus ended what was, without any doubt, the darkest and most tragic era in the history of the Bay Lunsford area. The reign of terror for many citizens was over, but for the thirty former members of the nightriders gang the tragedy was just beginning. These otherwise law-abiding citizens had established criminal records that were to haunt them for the remainder of their lives. These men were not the usual rabble rousing militant types who make a habit of causing trouble. Most of the were honest, hard working citizens who had never before intentionally broken the law. The were, for the most part, uneducated people as was common in those days, and were simply caught up in a economic situation that they did not know how to cope with. There were no government subsidies or federal assistance programs, as there are today in times of emergency, and the men felt they could not just stand idly by and watch everything they had worked for go down the drain. Several of them, interviewed later at the penitentiary by members of the press, expressed no animosity toward the government, the local authorities or their neighbors. They expressed instead a feeling of regret for their unlawful actions and a sense of frustration at their economic predicament. After being released from prison most of the former night riders came back to the same area and lived long, useful, productive lives and raised food families. Many of them are well known by, and are good friends of this writer. Most, perhaps all, of the former members of the Craighead County Night Riders are gone now, but I am sure that if they were alive today, they would all agree that although our system is fraught with weakness, and far from being perfect, there is no room in our society for this type of action. I am sure they would all agree that we must work together, within the system, to correct the weakness and inequities of our society.