USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 53
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The meetings continued for six weeks and 3,000 conversions were made. As a testimonial of their appreciation of Mr. Sunday's labors, the church people of Joplin raised at the final collection $5,500 which was given to the evangelist.
As one of the results of these meetings Jasper county voted on local option in February, 1910, and excepting Joplin, went dry.
THE BROTHERHOOD MOVEMENT
In February, 1910, largely through the instrumentality of the Rev. W. M. Cleaveland, of the First Presbyterian church, a men's society was organized and was called the Brotherhood of the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. The Brotherhood movement, which originated in the east, is an organization of the men of the church, and its purpose is threefold-first, to aid in spreading the Gospel; secondly, to bring the men of the church closer together in a social way and, thirdly, to strengthen the bonds of friendship.
F. E. Butcher was the first president of the Brotherhood and J. M. Evans has occupied the chair during the past year. The Brotherhood has held a monthly business and social session in the parlors of the church since its organization. The plan of these monthly meetings is as follows: On the night of the meeting, the members of the Brother- hood come directly from their work, or places of business, to the church parlors, and at 6:30 sit down to supper in the spacious dining room of the church and here partake of their evening meal which is served by one of the ladies' societies of the church. After the meal is concluded and as they sit around the table, a literary program is carried out, the exercise differing at each meeting; sometimes it is a lecture, sometimes a discussion of some of the great topics that are before the people, and sometimes a number of short recitations, readings and songs.
The Brotherhood of the First Presbyterian Church has entertained
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as its guests quite a number of distinguished men, and is a great fac- tor in the life of the church. The Brotherhood movement spread from the First Presbyterian church to quite a number of the other church organizations, similar societies having been formed in the North Heights Presbyterian, First Christian and the South Joplin Christian churches.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The ten years of the decade ushered in with 1900 represent ten busy, active and productive years for the Young Men's Christian As- sociation. The year 1900 saw plans consummated for a new and com- modious building; 1901 saw the magnificent structure completed, and the remaining years have seen its scope of usefulness enlarged. In order that the reader may have an idea of the influence it exerted we give here space for the mention of a few of its important doings.
When J. E. Coulter took charge of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation he introduced the custom of asking some one of the several churches to have charge of the New Year's day reception and so the Methodists, Congregationalists, Christians, Presbyterians, the Baptists and others took turns in entertaining the young men of the city on that anniversary, each vying with the other in conducting the most bril- liant and pleasant New Year's day entertainments.
On January 1, 1900, it was the turn of the First Presbyterian church to entertain and Mrs. J. E. Coulter, the genial wife of the secretary and a past worthy matron in the art of entertainment, was appointed to preside over the annual New Year's day reception. Mrs. Coulter called to her assistance twenty-four of the most charming young ladies of the church to assist her. The entertainment given and the good cheer that prevailed eclipsed all previous receptions. The rooms were most beautifully decorated and the general air of brilliancy was heightened with a liberal array of potted plants and cut flowers. All formality was waved aside and the committee of twenty-five saw that everybody got acquainted and had a good time.
During the evening an informal program was rendered and there was just enough of music and literary entertainment to add spice to the social conversation; and, to cap it all off, there was a superb abun- dance of cakes and pies "just like mother used to make," and other edibles, which were served by the good women and rounded out the evening's pleasure. .
Ground for the Y. M. C. A. building was broken June 1, 1900, and the elegant new home was completed in February, 1901. The building has been liberally patronized and well supported by the young men of the city.
JOPLIN CHURCHES IN BRIEF
The following church statistics, published January 1, 1910, will give an idea of the church population of Joplin :
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Churches
Pastors No. Members
First Presbyterian
Rev. W. M. Cleaveland 488
Bethany Presbyterian
Rev. G. W. Williamson 185
North Heights Presbyterian
152
First Baptist
Rev. H. A. Smoot 800
Second Baptist
Rev. J. W. T. Givens 325
113
Calvary Baptist
Rev. S. F. Taylor
73
First Methodist
Rev. Frank Neff
500
Byers Avenue Methodist
Rev. E. W. Elayer
498
Central Avenue Methodist
Rev. M. V. Heidelbaugh 151
Epworth Methodist
Rev. E. H. Sapp 75
Rev. C. H. Briggs
400
First Christian
Rev. G. L. Chapman
900
Second Christian
Rev. J. R. Blunt
750
Central Christian
Rev. A. K. Williams 153
Villa Heights Christian
Rev. J. W. Famuliner
206
First Congregational
Rev. C. L. Parker 192
East Joplin Congregational
Rev. S. A. Willard
120
St. Peter's Catholic
Father Meany
700
Lutheran
Rev Louis Seidel
242
First Christian Science
Ernest C. Price, Reader
275
Second Christian Science
Mrs. Will Porter, Reader 115
Salvation Army
Ensign Edgar Harris
48
Unity Baptist (colored)
Rev. C. C. Calhoun
50
M. E. (colored)
Rev. C. F. Webster 64
A. M. E. (colored)
Rev. C. W. Newton
72
Total membership
7,892
To this number add 7,200 Sunday School children and you have a correct idea of the church-going people of Joplin.
THE CHILDREN'S HOME
The Children's Home of Joplin originated with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union which organization, realizing the neces- sity of a place where the friendless and homeless children could be cared for, started in June, 1900, the W. C. T. U. Home. The home was first housed in a four room cottage at 708 Pearl street. In 1901 Gilbert Barbee donated the use of a twelve-room building, at the cor- ner of Twelfth and Virginia avenue, and suggested that the home be incorporated and plans laid for making it a permanent institution. Articles for incorporation were drawn up and, for the purpose of widening its scope of usefulness, the name was changed to the Joplin Children's Home. Among the W. C. T. U. women who were prom-
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St. Philip's Episcopal
Rev. C. A. Weed
175
First M. E., South
Blendville M. E., South
Rev. T. H. Clayton 70
Empire Street Baptist
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
inent in founding the Children's Home were Mrs. S. A. Phelps, Mrs. L. Gould, and Mrs. Dr. Willim. The first matron of the home was Mrs. C. E. Barr.
In 1904 John H. Taylor donated a five-acre tract of land in East Joplin for a building site, and the good women of the city raised $10,- 000 to build and equip a home. In 1905 Mrs. Barr moved to Kansas City and was succeeded as matron by Mrs. Dona C. Daniels, who has proven a most excellent officer. During the twelve years that this home has been in operation the officers have found permanent homes for two hundred and four children. Last year one hundred and seven homeless or friendless children were cared for, sixty-five of whom have been provided with permanent homes.
The Home has been supported almost entirely by private subscrip- tions, which have been made by the charitably inclined people. One of the important plans for making money is the annual event known as "Tag Day," which was first introduced in 1907 and has since been observed with great success. The Tag Day plan is so fresh in the minds of the people that it is hardly necessary to describe it here, except to say that too much praise cannot be given to the splendid women of Joplin for the manner in which they have rallied to the support of the Home and to their untiring efforts for its welfare. The follow- ing are the present officers of the Home: President, Mrs. C. M. Spring; vice president, C. C. Spencer; secretary, Mrs. J. W. Willim; treas- urer, Mrs. J. W. B. Amsden.
The following interesting story which describes the manner in which the Home was first started was told the author by Mrs. S. A. Phelps, one of its founders. In the spring of 1900 a girl came to Joplin seeking employment and in wandering about the city from place to place, in search of work, she came to the home of Mrs. C. E. Barr. It was then almost night time and the girl, who was tired and hungry, asked to remain with Mrs. Barr until she could find some- thing to do and the good woman, realizing the temptations that would come to a homeless girl, took her in and cared for her until she found work in a private home. The girl told the incident to one or two other young women out of employment and they too came to Mrs. Barr for assistance. At a meeting of the W. C. T. U. Mrs. Barr related the in- cident and asked the Union to help her provide for these young women, and thus guide them over the pitfalls and dangers that would beset them. The Union with one voice voted "aye," and from this little beginning a Children's Home movement took root and grew to the splendid institution which is today Joplin's generously supported charity.
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The Young Women's Christian Association was organized in 1905, largely through the efforts of Mrs. J. W. Bell, who became its first president. The objects of the "Y. W.," as it has been popularly called,
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were threefold-first, to bring the Christian young women of the city in closer touch with one another; second, to strengthen the bond of friendship, and third, to provide a Christian home for the young women who are temporarily in the city and away from the home life and influence. The home has done a splendid work for the young women of the city. From 1906 to 1911. it maintained a home in the John Taylor's old property, corner of Seventh and Joplin.
ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL
In 1900 the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy Convent launched a pro- ject to build a hospital-an institution much needed in a mining com- munity. The citizens generally endorsed the plan and assisted the good women in collecting the funds necessary to build the same. Many wealthy men also contributed to the building fund and quite a num- ber of lodges gave entertainments for the benefit of the hospital.
T. C. Malloy, councilman from the third ward, has perhaps more than any other one man pushed the matter of public contributions and has, as chairman of the club hospital committee, given much of his time to this worthy charity.
BALL GAME FOR HOSPITAL FUND
One of the first and most enjoyable of a hundred or more enter- tainments given for the hospital was a ball game played by a picked team of ball enthusiasts from the Elks Lodge and the Joplin Club and we print here the News-Herald account of the great game, which oc- curred July 31, 1901: "The great game of ball is over at last. And St. John's hospital won a large sum of money. With the weather as fine as one could wish for, the grand stand packed with the most en- thusiastic audience that ever witnessed a game, besides, fifty vehicles filled with the elite of Joplin's smart set, the best amateur event in the history of Joplin ball playing began.
"Everybody was there.
"The orange and black of the Joplin club were also conspicuously displayed all through the audience and was waved frantically when- ever the favorites performed noteworthily.
"The purple and white of the Elks was in evidence in parasols, streamers, neckties, etc., by those who 'rooted' the 'best on earth.'
"As for the quality of ball the two teams put up, the universal comment expressed great surprise at the professional manner in which the game was carried out, many expecting to see merely a laughable burlesque of a ball game; but instead it was faster and more spirited than many of the so called professional games. To see business men, whose work is in office away from the out door air and not enlivened by out door exercise, play such a game as yesterday's shows that there is ability in the physical line accompanying the more active mental exertion.
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"When the two teams got themselves together yesterday afternoon, arrayed in striking uniforms of black for the Elks and white for Jop- lin club, they had their pictures taken separately-that is, the two teams. The patrol wagon in charge of Officer Tom Brower was in wait- ing for the Elks and they were immediately taken in. The Joplin Club was more stylish but less amusing, as they rode in two open cabs. The band which was to have headed the procession did not materialize. However, that was no obstacle, and soon the patrol wagon had hur- ried to the park where it unloaded its freight in front of the grand stand, while a cheer went up from the purple and white. Rubber tired cabs are not so slow, however, and in a minute another cheer went up for the Joplin Club, as its members filed out of the carriages.
"At 3:45 o'clock, Umpire Marcum sent the Club to the field and the Elks began batting all over the Club's pitcher scoring five runs in the first inning. The Club was not so lucky in the first inning scor- ing only one run. However, a bad beginning does not mean a bad ending, and after the first inning things began to look serious for the Elks until the fourth, when Baker was put in the box for the Elks and Smith was sent to the field. This changed matters somewhat and Roy Caulkins' megaphone again came into evidence, the purple and white taking on a more lustrous sheen meanwhile, for Baker was hold- ing the Club down. However, the latter raised themselves gradually and at the close of the seventh inning, the score was 18 to 13 in favor of the Club. But there were two more innings and in the eighth the Elks took advantage of every opportunity and succeeded in bring- ing up the score to 18 and 18. This made the matter more serious than ever, as the Elks had had their last bat and it was up to the Club in the last half of the last inning to decide the game. The winning run was scored, pandemonium reigned, the crowd departed and all was over."
JOPLIN CLUB
A. B. R. H. P. O. A. E.
Quinby c. f.
3
3
2
1
0 0
Walden s. s. r. f.
6
3
2
1
1
1
Jones r. f. 2 1. b.
5
3
2
1 1
1
Rummel 1. f.
6
2
3
1 0
0
Maher p.
6
2
2
1
3
1
Chestnut 1 b. s. s.
6
3
4
4
1
1
Shepherd 3 b.
4
0
1
3
0
2
Campbell 2 b. 2 1. b.
5
1
2
1
1 0
King c.
5
2
2
14
3 2
Totals
46
19
20
27 10
7
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ELKS
A. B. R. H. P. O. A. E.
Smith p.
5
2
3
0
1 0
Howard s. s.
6
3
4
2
4
1
Baker 3 b.
4
1
1
1
0
1
Bayless c.
5
4
4
8
3
0
Simons r. f. 2 b. 1. b.
6
2
2
2
1
0
Craig 1. b. 2 b.
6
1
1
8
1
1
Young 2 b.
3
1
2
2
0
1
Shepherd c. f.
5
3
2
0
1
0
Kirkpatrick l. f. j. 3 b.
4
0
0
2
0
0
o Lane r. f.
2
1
0
0
0
0
x Kingsbury r. f.
1
0
0
0
0
0
Totals
47 18 19
25
11
4
Summary : Earned runs-Joplin Club 4, Elks 6; two base hits- Quinby, Walden, Jones, Rummel, Bayless, 2 Craig, Shepherd; three base hits-Quimby, Chestnut, Shepherd; home run-Layne; struck out -by Smith, 6; by Maher, 11; bases on balls, h. b. p .- Smith, 1; Maher, 1; o substitute for Baker; x-substitute for Layne. Time: two hours. Umpire: Marcum.
This was the beginning of a series of entertainments-balls, lawn socials, festivals, etc .- all of which added to the hospital fund. The hospital was built in 1902 and formally opened to the public. It has proven such a popular institution and has been so generally used that it became necessary, in 1910, to enlarge the building.
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CHAPTER XLIV
THE NEGRO LYNCHING AND THE RIOT
MURDER OF POLICEMAN LESLIE-CAPTURE OF THE MURDERER-THE JAIL BATTERED IN-AWFUL LYNCHING OF GILYARD CLEARING OUT THE NEGRO QUARTERS-LAW AND ORDER IN CONTROL-FINAL RESULT.
From April 14 to 16, 1903, Joplin witnessed a scene of wildest ex- citement and great disorder, which was brought on by the murder of Policeman Theo Leslie while attempting to arrest Thomas Gilyard and a band of lawless negro tramps. Officer Leslie was the third member of the Joplin police force to be killed while in the discharge of his duty during the administration that was just drawing to a close.
A short time before the incident a negro ravisher at Pierce City had been lynched-and the irate citizens of both Pierce City and Monnett had driven the colored people of those two places out of the city and the recollection of this unfortunate incident was still fresh in the minds of the people of Joplin and no doubt influenced some of the people and helped bring about the incidents that followed.
On the night of April 13 the hardware store of Bullock & Pierce had been burglarized and a number of revolvers and a quantity of ammunition stolen. This was one of a number of small depredations that had been committed during the spring and indicated the opera- tion of a gang of petty thieves whom the police were determined to suppress.
MURDER OF POLICEMAN LESLIE
On the afternoon of the 14th in searching through the Kansas City Southern Railway yards Policeman Leslie discovered a gang of negro tramps occupying a box car in an out-of-the-way place in the north end of the yards in the Kansas City Bottoms. As he approached the car one of the inmates of the box-car house came out and Policeman Leslie, ordering him to halt, began to search him. At this a negro named Thomas Gilyard opened fire on Leslie from the rear and the officer, turning on this assailant, returned the fire. Several shots were exchanged, one of which killed the officer, and he fell dead, a victim of the bullet of the negro leader of the gang.
A number of citizens witnessed the shooting and ran to the as- sistance of the unfortunate policeman, and Clarence Shortless, like Clark and others took after the negro, who had been wounded in the
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leg by a shot from the officer's gun. Examination of the box-car showed that it had been the shelter of the gang, as it contained bed clothing, a few cooking utensils and a quantity of plunder which had been taken on the numerous pilfering trips during the month previous.
The news of the officer's murder spread like wildfire and the great- est excitement existed. From all over the city people flocked to the police station and thence to the morgue of the Joplin Undertaking Company, where the body of the officer lay cold in death. City Mar- shal Marquiss, of Webb City, was telephoned for and came over with his bloodhounds. The dogs were placed on the scent, which they fol- lowed north on the railroad for some three miles, when the chase was given up. The men in charge of the dogs stated that they were ex- hausted and had no means of following the dogs except on foot. Armed posses of citizens from Joplin, Galena, Carl Junction, Asbury and all the other towns in the district scoured the country in search of the murderer.
Never, perhaps, in the history of Joplin, were such scenes witnessed as those which accompanied the capture and hanging of the negro Gilyard. All that day excitement ran high and groups of men stood on every corner talking about the murder of Policeman Leslie. In every hamlet and village in the surrounding country the news was flashed from Joplin to watch for the murderer. In every locality for a radius of twenty-five miles men were scouring hill and dale with set faces and stern purpose. The wildest rumors came thick and fast stating that the murderer had been caught in this place or that and with each new report still another band of armed citizens would start on double quick to investigate the story. It would seem that he whom the public sought could not possibly escape and as the day lengthened into the evening the tense nerves of the people never relaxed. "He will, he must be found" seemed t .e universal verdict.
CAPTURE OF- THE MURDERER
Lee Fullerton, an employee of the Bauer Brothers' butcher shop and M. R. Bullock, living near Castle Rock, captured the murderer. Fullerton first discovered the man on the afternoon of April 15th at 3 o'clock. He had gone to the company's slaughter pen on Turkey Creek between Castle Rock and the Frisco block and was just entering the yards when he saw a negro limping up the hill. The man carried a large gun and Fullerton thought at once that the man before him was probably the one who killed officer Leslie.
"Where are you going?" he asked. The negro at first made no answer but finally after sitting down and leaning against the fence he replied, "Come here a minute, I want to tell you something."
"Tell me from where you are," said Fullerton.
"Well, boss, it's dis way. I got in a shootin' scrape in town last night and I got shot in de leg. I wants to stay here till I gets well." Vol. 1-32
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At this stage of the proceeding Bullock appeared and the two men retreated into the slaughter house near by. When they returned Ful- lerton carried a large butcher knife. To the negro he said, "I guess it will be all right for you to stay here;" and Fullerton busied himself cutting tallow within a couple of feet of the negro.
Suddenly he leaped in front of the negro and placing the knife in front of the fellow's throat, he said "Make one movement and I'll cut your throat."
The negro was disarmed and then the two men took charge of their prisoner.
Just at 4:15 o'clock the same day a shout went up from somewhere nobody perhaps knew where. But that shout echoed far and wide. "They have the murderer" was the cry and from every street and alley, from every point and suburb, men and women and children came flocking to the jail.
On all sides, in front and even on top of the old structure, a sea of surging humanity fought and struggled to get nearer the cell in which the shivering cowed black man lay. Every moment swelled the crowd, until thousands surrounded the prison and cries of "kill him!" "Lynch the nigger!" and "bring a rope!" rose on every side.
"Break the jail down !" shouted frenzied men, and from somewhere came willing hands bringing a heavy timber. Only a moment did the crowd hesitate. Strong hands seized the battering ram, there was a crash and the side door of the old jail was in splinters. Into the cor- ridor poured the raging, tossing mob, carrying down the cordon of police who vainly sought to stem the terrible tide.
Down to the cell where Gilyard lay in an agony of fear surged the mob. Someone raised a heavy sledge hammer aloft. Crash after crash came the hammer on the lock and louder yelled and stormed the wild crowd behind. As the blows fell the fastenings gave way, the door opened and into the cell like devouring wolves the avengers surged.
Thomas Gilyard, from the floor where he lay, looked at those who came after him with a face from which hope had fled. Big and pow- erful as an ox, he was tossed about like a feather in the sea of human- ity of which he was now the center. Out into the open air and bright sunlight, Thomas Gilyard was dragged to his doom. Westward on Second street to Wall pushed the multitude and louder and still louder roared the awful concourse which demanded the prisoner's life. The crowd was by this time swelled to thousands. Like a terrible vortex of raging billows the mob swayed and struggled and fought to reach the object of its wrath. A handful of bold determined men fought manfully to save the negro in the interest of law and order. Back and forth with the strength of desperation, these men struggled to hold the avengers back. Ravening hands seized the negro only to have their fingers torn loose from his quivering flesh. Long and faith- fully those who wished the law to take its course battled with the mob and each moment the frenzy of the mob grew stronger. Attorney
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Perl Decker was hoisted to the shoulders of the crowd and made a powerful plea in behalf of the law. Time and again he was pulled to the earth and each time he clambered back above the howling multi- tude; but his efforts were in vain.
Dr. F. E. Rohan struggled with might and main to hold the crowd in check and Mayor-elect Cunninghan was hurriedly driven to the scene in a buggy. Urging his horse as far as possible into the densely packed crowd he stood up and commanded the attention of the crowd. But no human voice could make itself heard above that awful roar.
Louder and fiercer grew the cries for the negro's death. It now became a struggle for mastery. Men fought like demons to reach the black man, who looked about him with staring, horror-stricken eyes. Slowly but surely the negro and his would-be rescuers were borne across the street toward a telephone pole. From somewhere a rope was whirled across the heads of the crowd. As its serpentine length flew through the air one end fell on the negro's shoulder.
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