S Glenn Young

Events leading to and the murder of Glenn Young

Jan 1925 Special Addition of the Herrin Herald

I have this special addition which consists of 6 over sized pages of newspaper.  One page contains very large pictures of this funeral.  The first pages has a very long article about the vice and crime in Williamson Co, mainly in Herrin.   There is also a page with various articles written by local ministers, which are basically sermons.  There is a page about the inquest into the crimes that day.  An article about Young's wife, Maude and his obituary.  There also many other large pictures.

Anyone with ties to Wmson Co, have heard it called "Bloody Wmson".  Many think this comes from the mine riots in 1922, how ever this infamous title comes from further back from an article in the old St Louis Democrat paper on 05 Feb 1875, the title stems from the "Bloody Vendetta" involving the Russell, Bulliner, Crain and Henderson feuds.  For more on this crime wave see the Newspaper section and Erwin's 1876 County History.

from the newspaper

In 1925 Wmson Co was different than it is now.  This was a time before the Crab Orchard lake and the Wildlife Refuge were in place.  The main road was Rt 13 (this would be the old route, part of which is now in the lake), it ran from Carbondale, through Marion to the Ohio River (east to west).  Rt 37 came down from West Frankfort and crossed Rt 13 a few block west of the Marion square.  In 1925, Marion had 12,000 people.  Herrin had 13,000 people and 39 "soft drink parlor" which were a front for saloon's. About 3,000 people lived north of Herrin in the mining camps of Weaver, Freeman, Chittyville and various other smaller camps. Jeffery and Fudgetown were on the hard road between Herrin and Johnston City.  Johnston City had 8,000 people mostly foreigners.  Between Johnston City and Marion along Rt 37 were the mining camps of New Virginia, Spillertown, White Ash and Dog Walk.  Carterville had 4,000 people. North of Carterville was the mining camp of Dewmaine also known as Madison #8, with 500 people mostly black.  Then Colp known as #9 or "Pistol City" followed by Clifford with about 1500 people. On the western side of the county were the mining towns of Cambria, Blairsville, Hurst and Bush, were the MO Pacific RR was located.

Writers Note: As you can see by the roaring 20's, Wmson Co was dotted with coal mines and people from about 13 foreign countries lived in its boundaries.  At that time there were many small mining camps without any law enforcement of any type, making them rough places to live.  Prohibition was in full swing and so was bootlegging. Not only did coal flow in the veins of Wmson Co but so did alcohol and Herrin seemed to be the focal point.   22 Jun 1922, had seen the mine riots just east of Herrin in which about 20 people were killed.

The Klan was reactivated in May 1923 as a means to clear out the county of bootleggers and speak easies. Charlie Burger and his gang were running wild, in the fall of 1923 Charlie supposedly killed Whitey Doering at the Half Way Tavern. The county had seen its share of lawlessness many times before Glenn Young arrived in Wmson Co in Nov 1923 from Washington, DC.  He had been called in to "clean-up" the county.  The first raid was 22 Dec 1923 and several more followed with 250 to 300 cases hitting the courts.  But before Glenn Young's death there were other events to take place.  On 19 Jan 1924, there was another raid with Young in charge.  08 Feb 1924, Constable Caesar Cagle of Herrin was at the Masonic Lodge and was called out by his small son.  Cagle was gunned down in front of the Jefferson Hotel by some men who came from the Rome Club (on the corner of Monroe and N 14th). Prior to the shooting Chief John Ford had been to the Rome Club with two policeman.  Sheriff Galligan and deputy John Layman and a few others were already there.  They went after Ford and his group.  In the brawl that followed John Layman was shot, probably by one of his own men.  Ford and his men were rounded up and taken off to St Clair Co jail, where they were when Cagle was murdered.  Glenn Young was in Marion at the time and was called to Herrin, he basically took over the town.

A special grand jury was formed at the Herrin Court, Glenn Young and 99 others were indicted for involvement in the raids and various other so called crimes. Out on bail, Young went to St Louis for a Klan meeting.  While driving back, just west of Okawville,  Glenn and his young wife were shot at while driving.  Glenn was shot in the leg, his wife shot in the face and blinded.  Four men were thought to have done this Carl & Earl Shelton (also wanted in the shooting of Cagle), Jack Skeltcher (from Cambria) and Charles Brown.  On 23 May 1924, Skeltcher and another man were coming back to Herrin, when police tried to stop there car, Skeltcher was shot and killed.  The Shelton brothers were indicted for murder of Cagle, however State's Attorney Duty, nulled the case.  Judge Bowen threw out the case, stating lack of evidence. After this the Shelton boys went to East St Louis.  30 Aug 1924, Carl & Earl Shelton returned to Herrin with Blackie Egan, they along with Sheriff Galligan, Sheriff Ora Thomas and several others went to Smith's garage to get Jack Sheltcher's Dodge back.  A shoot out occured leaving Green Dunning, Dewey Newbold, Charles Wolland, "Bud" Allison, Chester Reid and Otto Roland died.  Herman Phemister the city court bailiff was wounded, he later died on 29 Sep 1924.

24 Jan 1925 (General thoughts on what happened)

Before the battle began, Glenn Young and some of his men were at Jack Eberharts restaurant.  Ora Thomas Chief Deputy Sheriff was down the street at the pool hall.  Inside the Hotel were Rev Elias Green, Jim Bratcher and Dudley Dawson.  A civil case was going on in the City Court (a block from the hotel) were Judge Bowen, Night Chief Policeman Harry Walker, Officer Ross Linsenby and an unknown person were all in attendance. The unknown person was thought to be Charlie Birger. As court was letting out, Judge Bowen and Office Walker disappeared.  Officer Linsenby went walking down Park Ave. Just before the shoot out a shot was fired at Gauldoni's drug store in the Annex building on Park Ave just across the street from the European Hotel. ( Inside the first floor was the hotel lobby, an eatery and the Canary Cigar Store)  The bullet hit the stone pillar in front. It was unknown who fired the shot or just were it was fired from.  Officer Linsenby happened to be in front of the drug store when the bullet it the pillar and falls to the sidewalk gun in hand. About 3pm Glenn Young, Jackie Rowe, Lamon Wolland (his father was killed 30 Aug 1924 at Smith's Garage), Leo Barris and some other of Young's men go to the Hotel to see what is going on.  He finds Rev Green there and gets into an argument with him over some remarks Green had made. Young went outside, only to return inside.  Ora Thomas comes in and draws his gun, shooting Young once in the right side and once in the heart .  Young fires at Thomas, hitting him in the head.  Edward B Forbes is also shot in the chest.  Omer Warren is shot twice in the top of the head. Young and Forbes died at the scene.  Thomas and Warren died at Black (Herrin) Hospital not soon after. The Chief of Police was not there and Walker & Linsenby could not be found, leaving officer Harold Crain in charge.  Soon after the shooting the National Guard from Carbondale was called in to keep order.

The Inquest

Coroner -- George A Bell

State's Attorney--Arlie O Boswell

Jury--Tom Benton, manager Johnston City Lumber Co--JR McAnelly, real estate agent in Marion--BL Baiars, manager of a store in Johnston City--HO Fowler, Herrin merchant---Brady Jenkins, manager mine camps & mail carrier---Guy A Bell, Herrin Merchant (not related to George Bell)

Four guns were presented as evidence.  2 pearl handled 45's belonging to Glenn Young, one not fired, the other 3 shots. One long barreled gun, belonging to Edward Forbes, not fired.  One 32.20 gun, belonging to Ora Thomas, which he fired until empty, how ever his gun belts had bullets for a 38.

Fire Chief AE Lauder--He said Officer Ross Linsenby fired the shot before the battle.  He saw Jackie Rowe, Mont Wollard and Leo Barris with Young before the shooting. After the shooting inside the Hotel, there was general firing from several guns. Joseph Smith testified to the same story

Other witness also confirmed Linsenby fired the first shot at the drug store.  Linsenby was a former Klan member.

Jackie Rowe--He and Young were at Jack Eberharts restaurant and saw the bullet hit the pillar and they all went to the hotel.  Elias Green and Jim Bratcher were in the Hotel.  Thomas came in and shot Young.  After the shooting inside, shots were fired into the building from across the street and they seemed to come from up high.  He only saw police officers Sim Stevens and Rufus Whitson.  He never saw Linsenby or Harry Walker.

John Fitzgerald--saw three shots come from Judge Bowen's office on the second floor of the Woolworth Building and bullets coming from the window above the Cigar Store doorway.

Officer Albert Jones--had seen strange men in pairs getting off the train and wondering around town with Ora Thomas

Other witnesses also confirmed this and that Ora Thomas was seen with Judge Bowen, Officer Harry Walker and an unknown man, thought to be Charlie Birger

Henry Peterson--Saw through the window, Thomas come from the pool hall on the same side of the street and go into the Cigar Store just after Young.  Turner Pulley and TB White also testified but added nothing new.

JA Presnell-- Stated that Officer Linsenby told him that the first single shot came from a automobile parked in front of the hotel.  He says that after Young went in the Cigar Store, Thomas came from across the street.  Someone in the upstairs window over the Cigar Store door shot Warren and there was also some shooting from Judge Bowen's office.

Roy Eldridge-- Stated that Young and about 15 men first entered the Cigar Store.  Young had all but 3 or 4 leave.  Thru the window, he saw Rev Green, Jim Bratcher and Dudley Dawson in the store.  He says Thomas shot Forbes and that Young only shot once.

Leonard Barris--Stated the shot that killed Forbes came from the back of the lobby

Mont Wollard--age 20 and a painter was with Young at the restaurant.  He saw the first shot and they went to see what happened.  He said Green started to leave the Cigar Store but Young grabbed him, then Thomas fired from behind the counter.  There was also shooting coming from the lobby

In a short statement given by Glenn wife, Maude, she had a different account of the murder of her husband.  She said the first single shot was fired to lead her husband to the hotel, a known hangout of the Flaming Circle. She said that Glenn was shot in the back and not killed by Ora Thomas, but by someone in the back of the hotel lobby

According to the paper, these are "Marked Men" associated with Glen Young

Glen Fowler son of HO Fowler a merchant and member of High School board, Glen was a friend and driver for Glenn Young. John Smith owner of Smith Auto Store, a leading Klansman.  He owned the garage where the massacre occurred on 30 Aug 1924.  Roy Browning a carpenter and contractor.  Harold Crain, head of the Herrin Police Dept.  Carl Neilson, a manager of a grocery store and leader in the raids and clean up effort.  John Ford the former police Chief of Herrin.