Murders in 19th Century Mississippi - An Introduction

All across America, the 1800s were turbulent times.  Industrialization, the growth of plantation agriculture, westward expansion, continued conflicts with Native Americans, urban growth and the arrival of immigrants, the tensions between class, race and gender - American society and culture presented many variables that people had to negotiate if they were to survive and thrive successfully. Unfortunately, not everyone found a smooth path to successful integration with other people.  Interpersonal conflicts sometimes erupted into violence, and murder was sometimes the result. 

When I began perusing historical source materials for mid-19th Century Mississippi, I was struck and surprised at how frequently murder was present.  My investigations began when I perused letters written to past Mississippi governors, in which people were requesting clemency, release from prison and execution, and commutation of their sentences for murder.  The letters are part of the collections of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and can be found here at the MDAH.  Presently, a group at the University of Southern Mississippi are transcribing these letters and coding them to make the information contained within the letters searchable.  So, someone who is interested in specific events, people or topics can search them!  Check out the Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi  project and check out the project director's website Dr. Susannah Ural's website to check in on the progress.  I have highlighted a few of these cases on the pages contained in this exhibit.

I went to search some mid-19th Century newspapers to try and find out more details about these murder cases.  For some, such as the Henderson and Patrick Fitzgerald cases, I was able to find out more details on the circumstances surrounding them.  For others, like the B.F. Jackson and Green Smith cases, I have not yet found out more information.   

It is surprising how many cases of murder were reported in the newspapers!  I have not completed a systematic or organized study of it, but it seems like at least one murder is reported in every issue of every paper.  For example, in the March 13th, 1861 issue of the Vicksburg Whig, this was reported: "M.O.P. Wright's negro, who killed his overseer some time ago, was hung on Friday last, a few miles from the city, on the spot where he committed the murder.  The negro ascended the scaffold more than resigned to his fate.  He said he did not want to live after committing such an awful crime."  The Natchez Daily Courier on May 7, 1862, reported the offer of a reward for information about another murder: "1,000 dollars for the detection and conviction of the person or persons who murdered, or procured the murder of, the late STEPHEN ODELL, who was barbarously assassinated at his own home and in his own bed, on the night of March 16th, 1862.  In view of the atrocity of the crime, all good citizens are interested, and requested to aid in its detection."

These are just two small windows into the fascinating underworld of mayhem and murder going on across Mississippi during the turbulent 19th Century.  So, take a peek at the following cases - what in the world do you think is going on here?