As word of the murder of Sheriff J.M. Poag traveled across the country and Tate county, the small town of Senatobia was flooded with people from all sections of the county. In fact, The Senatobia Democrat reported that Sheriff Poag laid in state inside the jail where people by the hundreds came and grown men wept openly. Crowds gathered outside the courthouse trying to find out more information about what happened. Sheriff Poag was a beloved member of the community and people were highly inflamed upon hearing of his senseless murder.
The statements made by Sheriff Poag before his death helped launch the investigation. Leading the charge was Deputy Sheriff W.G. “Willie” Lowery. Upon his arrival on the scene, Lowery searched the jail and documented the bullet holes around the porch and hall. He also found tracks outside in the yard which everyone involved was anxious to follow. The bloodhounds that Sheriff Poag had ordered earlier that morning were set to arrive on the noon train. Until then, everyone was left to speculate on who was responsible for such a brazen act.
The overall suspicion was that the mob was after a prisoner named James “Jim” Whitt. Whitt had killed a young man, O.R. “Buster” Thomason back in 1903. Whitt had been sentenced to hang by a jury in 1904, but the Mississippi Supreme Court had recently overturned his conviction and ordered a new trial. There had been rumors back in 1903 that a mob would try to lynch him to seek justice for the young man he killed. The rumors were rampant back in 1903 so much so that the sheriff at the time, B.B. Brooks had been advised to secretly move Jim Whitt to another county. Whitt was not brought back to Tate County until April 1904 to stand trial. After his conviction, thoughts of mob justice were no more.
However, when the Supreme Court handed down their decision and Whitt’s arrived back in Senatobia, the rumors of a lynching began to circulate again. The court had advised Poag to be cautious. Which prompted Sheriff Poag to visit Buster Thomason’s father, J. H. Thomason. Mr. Thomason had assured Poag that Whitt would not be harmed.
Interestingly enough, Sheriff Poag testified at the first trial of Jim Whitt in April 1904. He stated then that he had been advised since taking office to provide extra security for the prisoner. Poag told the court that he added more men than suggested to guard the jail. In addition, he asserted under oath the following: “I am going to take all precautions necessary to prevent anything and I don’t intend for anyone to be hanged here in this jail“. Furthermore, Poag had been known to assert that any attempt to lynch a prisoner would be over his dead body. Even with the renewed threats in 1905, the sheriff continuously said that he would not tolerate such lawlessness in his jail.
As the investigation progressed, Sheriff Poag’s deputies and other volunteers gathered at the jail to help – among them were John Bryant, W.H.D. McCants, Bob Pickle – a Constable from Arkabutla whose name the mob used to gain access to the jail, Button Graham, and John Whalen. John Whalen was reported to be an exceptional law man and was made the special detective. Deputy Lowery assembled a great team and put them to work immediately. In the meantime, according to newspaper reports, Governor James K. Vardaman had been apprised of the murder shortly before 10:00 a.m. that morning. He gave his full support and offered a reward of $500 to bring the group responsible to justice. Sheriff Poag was obviously well known and highly respected around the state capital.
As the noon hour approached, Deputy W.H.D. McCants and other eager citizens were sent to collect the dogs from the train station. Once the dogs arrived, a posse was formed and led by Lowery. The dogs picked up a scent immediately from the tracks at the jail. I am sure that not a single man in the group was surprised when the bloodhounds headed west. The group had to wonder if the rumors had been true and someone that was close to the murdered boy, Buster Thomason had killed Poag while seeking to lynch Jim Whitt. I am even more sure, however, that what happened next was not what they expected…
The bloodhounds took Deputy Lowery and his posse to Broom’s gin. The dogs went right up to a group of horses hitched by the gin, but no one was found. The dogs continued onward leading the posse to Sam Howell’s mill about 2 miles north of Strayhorn. Around the back of the mill was a makeshift camp. The posse found several men there and promptly arrested them without incident. The deputies searched the mill thoroughly. An overcoat with blood stains and hole that appeared to have been made by a bullet were found. Inside the coat pocket were several letters addressed to the owner of the mill – Sam Howell. Deputy Lowery found masks which provided further evidence that this group was involved in the murder of Sheriff Poag. According to the Senatobia Democrat, five men were arrested at the mill – Alex Nelson, Henry Hunter, John Tully, John Boling, Rose Beech and Tobe Williams. However, the owner of the overcoat, Sam Howell was not at the mill. The posse assumed from the blood and hole in the coat that Sam Howell had been shot by Sheriff Poag. A woman working at a home near the mill confirmed that Howell was wounded, but she did not know how. The men arrested would not disclose any information and not one of the men questioned why the posse was there or why they were being arrested.
At some point between Wednesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 13, J.T. Gabbert was appointed acting sheriff. Mr. Gabbert was a local businessman in Senatobia. I am not sure exactly who appointed him, but his leadership was needed to deal with the fallout to come. Before noon on Thursday, April 13, Norman Clayton, the son of the former state representative, S.T. Clayton, had sent word that he was to surrender. When Clayton arrived, he reportedly made a full confession naming everyone involved in the mob. Upon hearing the confession, acting Sheriff Gabbert and his deputies quietly gathered together and deputized 15 additional men. Warrants were issued and shortly after 1:00 p.m. a heavily armed posse headed west towards Strayhorn. The posse divided in squads and split up searching for the mob. About 7 miles west of Senatobia, several men left the road and arrested Tate McConnell at his plow handle. In addition, John Butler, Willie Sinquefield, O.L. Manning and J.H. Thomason were all arrested while working in the fields. As these men were being brought to Senatobia, another posse continued the search for the other men implicated by Clayton.
J.H. Thomason, the father of Buster Thomason (the young man Jim Whitt killed) confessed to being the leader of the mob. He said he wanted vengeance for his son. One newspaper made the assertion that Thomason was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Not only was J.H. Thomason, the father of the murdered boy, he was the Tate County Supervisor for District 1 which made him a rather well-known and prominent figure in the county. Thankfully, Thomason was forth coming and expressed regret for the death of Sheriff Poag. He stated that Alex Nelson (one of the men arrested at the mill) fired the fatal shot that killed the sheriff. Thomason named other participants in the mob including the Spencer brothers and Dave Smith. He also exonerated a few men that had been arrested earlier. All together 13 men were charged in the murder of Sheriff J.M. Poag.
Governor Vardaman continued to closely follow the investigation. He ordered that Jim Whitt be sent to Jackson until his trial began. The governor also spoke harshly about the perpetrators of this crime in the Vicksburg Evening Post; Vicksburg, Mississippi – Friday, April 14, 1905 – “I think that the killing of Sheriff Poag was a most brutal and cowardly assassination of a faithful and efficient officer whose fidelity to duty sets an example that is worthy of being emulated by all the law officers of the State of Mississippi. There is one lesson that should not be forgotten by the men who are charged with the enforcement of the law and that is that when a man or a dozen men undertake to override the law, and interfere with an officer in the performance of his duty, the proper thing for him to do is to shoot straight, instead of over the head of the offending party. If Mr. Poag had done that the cowardly scoundrel who took his life would have been put in the grave instead of Poag. If it is known that the officer is going to do his duty and shoot when necessary, there is no danger of a mob trying to take his prisoner from him. Every possible effort will be made to punish the men who are responsible for this outrage. All the power invested in the governor of the State of Mississippi will be employed to bring these assassins to justice.”
Subsequently, Vardaman appointed a special prosecutor to handle to case, Mr. J.F. Dean. Mr. Dean along with Acting Sheriff, J.T. Gabbert made the following statements in the April 21, 1905 edition of the Senatobia Democrat:
“We have ten men in jail. There were thirteen men in the mob that murdered Sheriff Poag at the jail Wednesday morning, and we have all, but three men who are now at large. Eight of the ten men confessed that they were members of the mob and gave the names of the other five. The statements made by the eight men agree in almost every detail. They said three men were left to hold the horses, while the ten went to the jail.” J.T. Gabbert
J.F. Dean, the special prosecutor, made these remarks. “These confessions were made by the prisoners voluntarily. They were not urged. There was no extortion whatsoever and no promises of any kind were made to them. Each of these confessions was taken in the hearing of at least two reputable citizens besides myself and were taken separately. The prisoners corroborated each other’s statement in almost every detail. Six of the ten men have been sent away. We sent these men to other prisons, not from fear of any mob violence, either for or against them. We did not fear that they would be taken out and murdered by the friends of Mr. Poag, nor did we fear that they would be liberated by their own friends. They were removed, first, because of the crowded condition of the jail, and second, because we thought it absolutely essential to separate them and keep them from communicating with each other and with others until we could get all the information they possessed. In addition to the confession of the men, there is full and complete proof of their guilt and sufficient evidence to secure a conviction of not only the ones we have arrested, but of those to be arrested, aside from their confession, we believe firmly we can convict the entire thirteen of murder. The confession of the eight men show that J.H. Thomason, the father of Buster Thomason, who was killed by Jim Whitt, was the leader of the mob. The twelve men who assisted him were Sam Howell, Norman Clayton, Tate McConnell, Henry Hunter, Alex Nelson, Dave Smith, Will Sinquefield, O.L. Manning, Tom Vincent, William Still and Jack and Preston Spencer. Thomason, Howell, Clayton, and Mcconnel are now in the jail at Hernando, Alex Nelson and Henry Hunter are at Batesville and Tom Vincent, O.L. Manning, Will Sinquefield, and Dave Smith are at Senatobia. William Still and Jack and Preston Spencer are still at large, but will no doubt be captured within the next few days. The citizens of Senatobia and the county have done some commendable work in detecting those alleged to be responsible for the death of Sheriff Poag.”
In the days and weeks after the murder, several newspapers published tributes in honor of J.M. Poag.
Published in the Senatobia Democrat – Special to the Commercial Appeal
Washington, April 14
The tragedy at Senatobia, Mississippi on the morning of April 12 in which Sheriff J.M. Poag lost his life in the defense of a prisoner against a mob, has attracted a good deal of comment in the East. Leading newspapers like the New York Times urge the erection of a monument to commemorate the courage of the martyred Sheriff. The Times says: “The people of Senatobia, Mississippi will fall in their duty as men and as citizens if they do not erect a monument to commemorate the courage and the civic virtue of J.M. Poag, late sheriff of Tate County who was shot and killed while attempting to defend a prisoner against a mob that had attacked the jail with the intention of lynching him. Sheriff Poag’s example is of priceless value and his blood has be shed upon Southern soil, where Sheriffs are, perhaps, more frequently than elsewhere called upon to confront such perils as these which have cost him his life. The Southerners are a brave people. Sheriff Poag was a brave man. They ought to honor him and keep his memory green.
Published in the August 25, 1905 edition of the Senatobia Democrat:
In Memory of John M. Poag
The subject of this tribute was a man and a mason. Need we say more? The night of April 12, 1905 will ever be memorable in the history of Tate county. On that fateful night as our beloved brother lay slumbering in the repose of well earned rest, feeling that sense of security that is the birthright of every law-abiding citizen; surrounded by his own loved ones who dreamed of naught but pleasure; at that hour when sleep is deepest and sweetest, he was called upon to stand between a mob on the one hand, thirsting for blood, and the prison cells above, in which reposed a man once adjudged unworthy even to live, whose hands were gory with human blood. Will John Poag make a feint and then with pretended reluctance turn over the prison keys or will he not? This question was pondered well by the mob and doubtless answered in the affirmative. But a man of mob nature and temperament cannot judge correctly the courses and conduct of one of nature’s nobleman and hence they easily mistook a man and his devotion to duty which impelled him to fire the signal of his own death.
The mob fled in confusion and our martyr sheriff staggered back into his room to expire with the night that had passed thus far so sweetly.
No braver, truer, or more self-sacrificing man ever lived than John M. Poag.
Therefore, Resolved, That we tender to his bereaved family our expressions of deepest sympathy and condolence with assurance of our personal interest in their future welfare.
Hall of Solomon Lodge, No 126, Independence, Mississippi, May 27, 1905
T.C. Newsom
F.M. Davis
J.S. Russwurm
In the April 21, 1905 edition of the Senatobia Democrat, this story was published about a meeting held at the courthouse.
To Erect Home
Meeting held Wednesday – Another Meeting will be held next Monday.
A mass meeting was held at the courthouse Wednesday for the purpose of raising money to erect a home for Mrs. J.M. Poag and children. The home will stand as a monument to our late sheriff, who laid down his life in the discharge of duty. On motion of J.T. Gabbert, J.A. Wooten was elected chairman and R.C. Smith, secretary. H.I. Gill presented the purpose of the meeting after which he introduced the following resolution which was adopted.
“Whereas, our community, state and country realize its great obligations to the late J.M. Poag who so bravely laid down his life in the discharge of his duty as Sheriff of Tate County on the morning of April 12th, and whereas, as citizens we are anxious in some measure to show our appreciation of this high performance of duty,
Therefore, be it resolved that we as citizens in mass meeting assembled, do select a committee of three citizens to receive and receipt for popular subscriptions to fund of $2500 to $3000 for the purpose of buying Mrs. Poag and her five fatherless children a home in Senatobia, Mississsippi or other place in Tate County as will be satisfactory to Mrs. Poag, that she may be of us and that her children may grow up to be educated in our midst.
Resolved further that J.T. Gabbert, W.B. Roseborourgh, and H.I. Gill constitute said committee to receive and receipt for said subscription to invest said funds when collected in a home.
On motion B.A. Tucker requested that his name be omitted from the above resolution and H.I. Gill’s be inserted as a member of the committee. Carried.
B.A. Tucker introduced the following explanatory resolution, which was unanimously adopted.
Resolved, that we deplore the fact that mob violence has asserted itself in our county, and that we feel keenly the disgrace, humiliation and reproach cast upon our county and ourselves as its citizens by the death of our brave and devoted Sheriff J.M. Poag at the hands of a mob.
Resolved, that while as a reading and intelligent people we appreciate the value of daily newspapers, we deplore the fact that the daily papers which circulate in this community have seen it to publish unfounded and sensational reports of the condition of affairs existing in this county.
Resolved, that we denounce as untrue and as pure yellow journalism the reports that the men arrested for the murder of Sheriff Poag are now or have been in any danger of mob violence themselves or that any feud or ill feeling exists between the eastern and western parts of Tate County, or between the citizens of Senatobia and the citizens of any other part of the county or that militia will be needed to preserve order at our court. And we assert that all such statements are the creations of the imagination of sensational and irresponsible newspaper reporters and do not exist in fact.
J.F. Dean offered a resolution that court adjourn one hour Monday out of respect to the memory of J.M. Poag and that a meeting be held during the hour at the courthouse by the citizens of the county. Honorable W.J. East was appointed a committee of one to make all necessary arrangements for this meeting.
The subscription list was opened and the following donations were made:
Senatobia Bank – $50.00
Tucker & Gabbert – $25.00
Garrott & Co. – $25.00
R.E. Walker – $10.00
J.T. Gabbert & Co. – $25.00
J.F. Dean – $5.00
H.I. Gill – $20.00
J.A. Wooten – $20.00
J.R. Solomon – $5.00
W.T. Wright – $2.50
J.L. Friedheim – $2.50
C.P. Varner – $3.00
A.L. Kerr – $2.50
J.H. Bernard – $10.00
J.S. Bowen – $10.00
Phil A. Rush – $10.00
M.H. Thompson – $5.00
R.C. Smith – $5.00
Walker Wood – $5.00
J.M. Salmon – $1.00
Total = $240.00
To close this blog post, I leave you with Governor Vardaman’s words sent by telegram directly to Mrs. Poag that were published in the Jackson Daily News; Jackson, Mississippi on April 12, 1905:
Accept my heartfelt sympathy and condolence in this the darkest hour of your life. While I know that words are vain and meaningless to a heart distressed as yours must be, I have this consolation to offer: your husband died nobly at the post of duty, and the world is better for him having live. May God’s tender mercy and His all-enveloping love sustain you. J.K. Vardeman, Governor
Next post: The Mob Trials – Part 1: Arraignment