The Black and White of It

The Cleveland Gazette of January 16, 1892, publishes a case in point. Mrs. J.S. Underwood, the wife of a minister of Elyria, Ohio, accused an Afro-American of rape. She told her husband that during his absence in 1888, stumping the State for the Prohibition Party, the man came to the kitchen door, forced his way in the house and insulted her. She tried to drive him out with a heavy poker, but he overpowered and chloroformed her, and when she revived her clothing was torn and she was in a horrible condition. She did not know the man but could identify him. She pointed out William Offett, a married man, who was arrested and, being in Ohio, was granted a trial.

The Cleveland Gazette of January 16, 1892, reported a case that illustrates this point. Mrs. J.S. Underwood, the wife of a minister in Elyria, Ohio, accused a Black man of rape. She told her husband that the man had come to their kitchen door and forced his way inside. This happened in 1888, while her husband was away campaigning across the state for the Prohibition Party. She said the man had assaulted her. She tried to drive him out with a heavy poker, but he overpowered her and used chloroform on her. When she regained consciousness, her clothing was torn, and she was in a horrible condition. She did not know the man, but she said she could identify him. She identified William Offett, a married man, who was arrested. Because he was in Ohio, he was granted a trial.

The prisoner vehemently denied the charge of rape, but confessed he went to Mrs. Underwood's residence at her invitation and was criminally intimate with her at her request. This availed him nothing against the sworn testimony of a ministers wife, a lady of the highest respectability. He was found guilty, and entered the penitentiary, December 14, 1888, for fifteen years. Some time afterwards the woman's remorse led her to confess to her husband that the man was innocent.

The prisoner strongly denied the rape charge. But he admitted that he had gone to Mrs. Underwood's home at her invitation and had sex with her at her request. His account did him no good against the sworn testimony of a minister's wife, a woman of the highest respectability. He was found guilty and entered prison on December 14, 1888, to serve fifteen years. Some time later, the woman felt remorse and confessed to her husband that the man was innocent.

These are her words:

These are her words:

When asked by her husband why she told him she had been outraged, she said: "I had several reasons for telling you. One was the neighbors saw the fellows here, another was, I was afraid I had contracted a loathsome disease, and still another was that I feared I might give birth to a Negro baby. I hoped to save my reputation by telling you a deliberate lie." Her husband horrified by the confession had Offett, who had already served four years, released and secured a divorce.

Her husband asked why she had told him she had been raped. She said: "I had several reasons for telling you. One was that the neighbors saw the men here. Another was that I was afraid I had caught a terrible disease. I also feared I might give birth to a Black baby. I hoped to save my reputation by deliberately lying to you." Horrified by her confession, her husband secured the release of Offett, who had already served four years, and obtained a divorce.

There are thousands of such cases throughout the South, with the difference that the Southern white men in insatiate fury wreak their vengeance without intervention of law upon the Afro-Americans who consort with their women. A few instances to substantiate the assertion that some white women love the company of the Afro-American will not be out of place. Most of these cases were reported by the daily papers of the South.

There are thousands of such cases throughout the South. But there, Southern white men take revenge with unrelenting fury on Black people who have relationships with white women. They do so without the intervention of the law. A few examples will help support the claim that some white women love the company of Black people. Most of these cases were reported by Southern daily newspapers.

In the winter of 1885-86 the wife of a practicing physician in Memphis, in good social standing whose name has escaped me, left home, husband and children, and ran away with her black coachman. She was with him a month before her husband found and brought her home. The coachman could not be found. The doctor moved his family away from Memphis, and is living in another city under an assumed name.

In the winter of 1885-86, a Memphis doctor's wife left her home, husband, and children. She ran away with her Black coachman. The doctor had a medical practice and was well regarded socially. I have forgotten his name. She stayed with the coachman for a month before her husband found her and brought her home. The coachman could not be found. The doctor moved his family away from Memphis and now lives in another city under an assumed name.

In the same city last year a white girl in the dusk of evening screamed at the approach of some parties that a Negro had assaulted her on the street. He was captured, tried by a white judge and jury, that acquitted him of the charge. It is needless to add if there had been a scrap of evidence on which to convict him of so grave a charge he would have been convicted.

Last year in the same city, a white girl screamed as some people approached her at dusk. She said a Black man had assaulted her on the street. He was captured and tried by a white judge and jury, who acquitted him. Needless to say, if there had been a scrap of evidence to convict him of so serious a charge, he would have been convicted.

Sarah Clark of Memphis loved a black man and lived openly with him. When she was indicted last spring for miscegenation, she swore in court that she was not a white woman. This she did to escape the penitentiary and continued her illicit relation undisturbed. That she is of the lower class of whites, does not disturb the fact that she is a white woman. "The leading citizens" of Memphis are defending the "honor" of all white women, demi-monde included.

Sarah Clark of Memphis loved a Black man and lived openly with him. Last spring, she was charged with miscegenation. In court, she swore that she was not a white woman. She did this to avoid prison and continued her forbidden relationship without interference. She is a lower-class white woman, but that does not change the fact that she is white. "The leading citizens" of Memphis are defending the "honor" of all white women, including women of the underworld.

Since the manager of the Free Speech has been run away from Memphis by the guardians of the honor of Southern white women, a young girl living on Poplar St., who was discovered in intimate relations with a handsome mulatto young colored man, Will Morgan by name, stole her father's money to send the young fellow away from that father's wrath. She has since joined him in Chicago.

Since the guardians of Southern white women’s honor drove the manager of the Free Speech out of Memphis, a young girl living on Poplar St. was discovered in an intimate relationship with a handsome young mixed-race man named Will Morgan. She stole her father’s money to send him away from her father’s wrath. She has since joined him in Chicago.

The Memphis Ledger for June 8 has the following:

The June 8 issue of the Memphis Ledger includes the following:

Note the wording. "The truth might reveal fearful depravity or rank outrage." If it had been a white child or Lillie Bailey had told a pitiful story of Negro outrage, it would have been a case of woman's weakness or assault and she could have remained at the Woman's Refuge. But a Negro child and to withhold its father's name and thus prevent the killing of another Negro "rapist." A case of "fearful depravity."

Notice the wording. "The truth might reveal terrible depravity or a shocking crime." If the child had been white, Lillie Bailey could have stayed at the Woman's Refuge. The same was true if she had told a pitiful story of assault by a Black man. It would have been treated as a case of a woman's weakness or of assault. But instead, she had a Black child and withheld the father's name, preventing the killing of another Black "rapist." A case of "terrible depravity."

The very week the "leading citizens" of Memphis were making a spectacle of themselves in defense of all white women of every kind, an Afro-American, M. Stricklin, was found in a white woman's room in that city. Although she made no outcry of rape, he was jailed and would have been lynched, but the woman stated she bought curtains of him (he was a furniture dealer) and his business in her room that night was to put them up. A white woman's word was taken as absolutely in this case as when the cry of rape is made, and he was freed.

The very week the "leading citizens" of Memphis were making a spectacle of themselves defending all white women of every kind, a Black man, M. Stricklin, was found in a white woman's room in the city. Although she did not cry rape, he was jailed and would have been lynched. But the woman said she had bought curtains from him. He was a furniture dealer, and he was in her room that night to put them up. The white woman's word was accepted just as completely in this case as when a woman cries rape, and he was freed.

What is true of Memphis is true of the entire South. The daily papers last year reported a farmer's wife in Alabama had given birth to a Negro child. When the Negro farm hand who was plowing in the field heard it he took the mule from the plow and fled. The dispatches also told of a woman in South Carolina who gave birth to a Negro child and charged three men with being its father, every one of whom has since disappeared. In Tuscumbia, Ala., the colored boy who was lynched there last year for assaulting a white girl told her before his accusers that he had met her there in the woods often before.

What is true of Memphis is true of the entire South. Last year, daily newspapers reported that a farmer's wife in Alabama had given birth to a Black child. When the Black farmhand heard this, he was plowing in the field. He unhitched the mule from the plow and fled. News reports also told of a woman in South Carolina who gave birth to a Black child. She named three men as its possible father, every one of whom has since disappeared. In Tuscumbia, Alabama, a Black boy was lynched last year for assaulting a white girl. In front of his accusers, he told her that he had often met her in the woods before.

Frank Weems of Chattanooga who was not lynched in May only because the prominent citizens became his body guard until the doors of the penitentiary closed on him, had letters in his pocket from the white woman in the case, making the appointment with him. Edward Coy who was burned alive in Texarkana, January 1, 1892, died protesting his innocence. Investigation since as given by the Bystander in the Chicago Inter Ocean, October 1, proves:

Frank Weems of Chattanooga was not lynched in May. That was only because prominent citizens guarded him until he was safely inside the penitentiary. He had letters in his pocket from the white woman involved, arranging the meeting with him. Edward Coy was burned alive in Texarkana on January 1, 1892. He died protesting his innocence. A later investigation, reported by the Bystander in the Chicago Inter Ocean on October 1, proves:

In Natchez, Miss., Mrs. Marshall, one of the creme de la creme of the city, created a tremendous sensation several years ago. She has a black coachman who was married, and had been in her employ several years. During this time she gave birth to a child whose color was remarked, but traced to some brunette ancestor, and one of the fashionable dames of the city was its godmother. Mrs. Marshall's social position was unquestioned, and wealth showered every dainty on this child which was idolized with its brothers and sisters by its white papa. In course of time another child appeared on the scene, but it was unmistakably dark. All were alarmed, and "rush of blood, strangulation" were the conjectures, but the doctor, when asked the cause, grimly told them it was a Negro child. There was a family conclave, the coachman heard of it and leaving his own family went West, and has never returned. As soon as Mrs. Marshall was able to travel she was sent away in deep disgrace. Her husband died within the year of a broken heart.

In Natchez, Miss., Mrs. Marshall, one of the crème de la crème of the city, caused a tremendous sensation several years ago. She had a Black coachman who was married and had worked for her for several years. During that time, she gave birth to a child whose color drew notice but was attributed to a dark-haired ancestor. One of the city’s fashionable ladies was the child’s godmother. Mrs. Marshall’s social position was unquestioned, and her wealth provided every luxury for this child. Its white father adored it, as he did its brothers and sisters. In time, another child was born, but this one was unmistakably dark. Everyone was alarmed, and they guessed the cause was "rush of blood, strangulation". But when they asked the doctor, he grimly told them it was a Black child. The family held a meeting. The coachman heard about it, left his own family, and went West, never to return. As soon as Mrs. Marshall could travel, she was sent away in deep disgrace. Her husband died within the year of a broken heart.

Ebenzer Fowler, the wealthiest colored man in Issaquena County, Miss., was shot down on the street in Mayersville, January 30, 1885, just before dark by an armed body of white men who filled his body with bullets. They charged him with writing a note to a white woman of the place, which they intercepted and which proved there was an intimacy existing between them.

Ebenzer Fowler was the wealthiest Black man in Issaquena County, Miss. On January 30, 1885, just before dark, an armed group of white men shot him on a street in Mayersville. They filled his body with bullets. They accused him of writing a note to a local white woman. They had intercepted the note, which proved that Fowler and the woman were intimate.

Hundreds of such cases might be cited, but enough have been given to prove the assertion that there are white women in the South who love the Afro-American's company even as there are white men notorious for their preference for Afro-American women.

Hundreds of such cases could be cited, but enough have been given to prove the point. Some white women in the South love the company of Black men, just as some white men are notorious for preferring Black women.

There is hardly a town in the South which has not an instance of the kind which is well known, and hence the assertion is reiterated that "nobody in the South believes the old thread bare lie that negro men rape white women." Hence there is a growing demand among Afro-Americans that the guilt or innocence of parties accused of rape be fully established. They know the men of the section of the country who refuse this are not so desirous of punishing rapists as they pretend. The utterances of the leading white men show that with them it is not the crime but the class. Bishop Fitzgerald has become apologist for lynchers of the rapists of white women only. Governor Tillman, of South Carolina, in the month of June, standing under the tree in Barnwell, S.C., on which eight Afro-Americans were hung last year, declared that he would lead a mob to lynch a negro who raped a white woman. So say the pulpits, officials and newspapers of the South. But when the victim is a colored woman it is different.

Hardly a town in the South lacks a well-known case of this kind. So the claim is repeated: "nobody in the South believes the old, worn-out lie that Black men rape white women." As a result, African Americans increasingly demand that the guilt or innocence of people accused of rape be fully established. They know that Southern men who refuse this are not as eager to punish rapists as they claim. The words of leading white men show that, for them, it is not the crime but the class. Bishop Fitzgerald has become a defender of those who lynch the rapists of white women only. In June, Governor Tillman of South Carolina stood under a tree in Barnwell, S.C., where eight African Americans were hanged last year. He declared that he would lead a mob to lynch a Black man who raped a white woman. Southern preachers, officials, and newspapers say the same. But when the victim is a Black woman, it is different.

Last winter in Baltimore, Md., three white ruffians assaulted a Miss Camphor, a young Afro-American girl, while out walking with a young man of her own race. They held her escort and outraged the girl. It was a deed dastardly enough to arouse Southern blood, which gives its horror of rape as excuse for lawlessness, but she was an Afro-American. The case went to the courts, an Afro-American lawyer defended the men and they were acquitted.

Last winter in Baltimore, Md., three white thugs attacked Miss Camphor, a young Black woman. She was out walking with a young Black man. They held her companion and raped her. The deed was vile enough to stir Southern anger. Southerners use their horror of rape to excuse lawlessness, but she was Black. The case went to court, where a Black lawyer defended the men. They were acquitted.

In Nashville, Tenn., there is a white man, Pat Hanifan, who outraged a little Afro-American girl, and, from the physical injuries received, she has been ruined for life. He was jailed for six months, discharged, and is now a detective in that city. In the same city, last May, a white man outraged an Afro-American girl in a drug store. He was arrested, and released on bail at the trial. It was rumored that five hundred Afro-Americans had organized to lynch him. Two hundred and fifty white citizens armed themselves with Winchesters and guarded him. A cannon was placed in front of his home, and the Buchanan Rifles (State Militia) ordered to the scene for his protection. The Afro-American mob did not materialize. Only two weeks before Eph. Grizzard, who had only been charged with rape upon a white woman, had been taken from the jail, with Governor Buchanan and the police and militia standing by, dragged through the streets in broad daylight, knives plunged into him at every step, and with every fiendish cruelty a frenzied mob could devise, he was at last swung out on the bridge with hands cut to pieces as he tried to climb up the stanchions. A naked, bloody example of the blood-thirstiness of the nineteenth-century civilization of the Athens of the South! No cannon or military was called out in his defense. He dared to visit a white woman.

In Nashville, Tennessee, a white man named Pat Hanifan raped a little Black girl. Her injuries ruined her life. He was jailed for six months, then released. He is now a detective in that city. In the same city last May, a white man raped a Black girl in a drugstore. He was arrested and released on bail at the trial. Rumors spread that five hundred Black people had organized to lynch him. Two hundred and fifty white citizens armed themselves with Winchester rifles and guarded him. A cannon was placed in front of his home. The Buchanan Rifles (State Militia) were ordered to the scene to protect him. The Black mob never appeared. Only two weeks earlier, Eph. Grizzard had been charged with raping a white woman. He was taken from jail while Governor Buchanan, the police, and the militia stood by. He was dragged through the streets in broad daylight, with knives plunged into him at every step. A frenzied mob subjected him to every fiendish cruelty it could devise. At last he was hanged from the bridge. His hands were cut to pieces as he tried to climb the supports. A naked, bloody example of the bloodthirstiness of nineteenth-century civilization in the Athens of the South! No cannon or military was called out to defend him. He dared to visit a white woman.

At the very moment these civilized whites were announcing their determination "to protect their wives and daughters," by murdering Grizzard, a white man was in the same jail for raping eight-year-old Maggie Reese, an Afro-American girl. He was not harmed. The "honor" of grown women who were glad enough to be supported by the Grizzard boys and Ed Coy, as long as the liaison was not known, needed protection; they were white. The outrage upon helpless childhood needed no avenging in this case; she was black.

At the very moment these civilized white people were declaring their determination "to protect their wives and daughters" by murdering Grizzard, a white man was in the same jail. He was there for raping eight-year-old Maggie Reese, a Black girl. He was not harmed. The "honor" of grown women needed protection because they were white. They had been glad enough to be supported by the Grizzard boys and Ed Coy, as long as their relationships remained secret. But the violation of a helpless child needed no avenging in this case because she was Black.

A white man in Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, two months ago inflicted such injuries upon another Afro-American child that she died. He was not punished, but an attempt was made in the same town in the month of June to lynch an Afro-American who visited a white woman.

Two months ago, a white man in Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, injured another Black child so badly that she died. He was not punished. But in June, people in the same town tried to lynch a Black man who visited a white woman.

In Memphis, Tenn., in the month of June, Ellerton L. Dorr, who is the husband of Russell Hancock's widow, was arrested for attempted rape on Mattie Cole, a neighbors cook; he was only prevented from accomplishing his purpose, by the appearance of Mattie's employer. Dorr's friends say he was drunk and not responsible for his actions. The grand jury refused to indict him and he was discharged.

In June, Ellerton L. Dorr was arrested in Memphis, Tenn., for attempting to rape Mattie Cole, a neighbor’s cook. Dorr was married to Russell Hancock’s widow. He was stopped only when Mattie’s employer appeared. Dorr’s friends said he was drunk and not responsible for his actions. The grand jury refused to indict him, and he was released.