From the Southeast Missourian newspaper dated Monday July 6, 2020…
Photo credit: John Rust- Southeast Missourian
“From left: Steven Thrasher of Cottonwood Point, Missouri; Rodney Neville of Cooter, Missouri; and Clint Lacy of Marble Hill, Missouri, protest the potential removal of the Confederate monument from Ivers Square in Cape Girardeau on Sunday. “We’re protesting the removal of American history; it’s no longer just about the Confederacy” said Neville. Lacy added: “If they do move it to Old Lorimier Cemetery, I understand that visits are by appointment only. I hope they open the cemetery during the day, and they don’t place a plaque on it. We know what the monument represents; it doesn’t need an explanation.” Lacy said the group, which promoted the gathering on Facebook, had been protesting daily since Friday and that the most present at any one time was five people. The monument is the white slab over Lacy’s left shoulder. The ground around it is closed because of construction on nearby buildings. Two prominent local historic preservation groups, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Kellerman Foundation, have recommended the monument be moved.”
Apologies for the low volume of the video. I don’t know what happened other than the fact that my phone got too hot and I had to shut it down. Rodney Neville of Cooter Missouri took the time to stand at the monument, give his own views about the War Between the States and gives his views on the reasons monuments are being attacked and removed.
From Left-Right: Rodney Neville, Steve Thrasher & Clint Lacy
On Saturday July 4, 2020 the Southeast Missourian newspaper published a Letter to the Editor that I had written detailing why the monument to Cape’s Confederate monument:
“Cape’s Historic Preservation Commission, which recently voted unanimously to remove the monument to Southeast Missouri’s Confederate soldiers has proven that it is not interested in history or preserving it.
Charges made by the commission and some very visible left-wing activists that the monument was placed as a warning to African-Americans is unfounded.
During Reconstruction veterans of the Confederate army could not vote, hold most jobs or political office, therefore it wasn’t until the 1900’s that the ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy could begin fundraising, which was further delayed by World War I. It took until 1931 before the monument could be erected.
Nothing in the newspaper archives or the UDC records indicate the group had any motives other than honoring Confederate soldiers from Southeast Missouri. Most of the men it honors fought for the Confederacy because Union General Lyon, on Tuesday, June 11, 1861, declared that he would kill every man, woman and child in the state. During the war Missouri lost one-third of its population.
The HPC let the public attend their meeting but no input was allowed, giving it an air of legitimacy when in reality it was a farce, as was their charge that the monument’s “historical integrity” was disturbed.
I ask that Mayor Fox and the city council do not give in to those wanting the monument’s removal. Appeasement never works and if the monument is removed, it will only result in more demands by activists to take down more monuments.”
Also found in the July 4, 2020 edition of the Southeast Missourian was an Editorial penned by the highly respected historian Frank Nickell who wants to move the monument to Lorimier Cemetery and place a plaque there putting the monument into “historical context.”
While I agree that Lorimier Cemetery is a better alternative than putting the monument into storage I can think of two disadvantages of placing the monument there:
1: Lorimier Cemetery is fenced off to protect it from vandals (which is good), unfortunately it stays locked up. If you want to visit Lorimier Cemetery you have to make an appointment (which is bad).
2: The last thing needed if the monument is moved to Lorimier Cemetery is a plaque “putting into context”. We already know what the context is. The ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy dedicated the monument in 1931 in memory of the men from Southeast Missouri who served in the Confederacy. Nothing else needs to be said, interpreted or politicized, especially in the final resting place of so many.
Meanwhile Sophia Voss who started the petition to remove the monument is (as predicted) unhappy with the thought of a possible compromise. In a Facebook post dated July 4, 2020 Voss stated:
” I believe compromise is a strong word to choose, seeing as how this ignores the bulk of the arguments presented by those in favor of the monument’s removal. while yes, this does move the CSA monument from our city hall, Lorimer is STILL public land, the monument still has a RACIST history, and is still NOT historically significant. this is little-to-no improvement.”
Voss also stated in the previously quoted Facebook post that she is a liberal and “huge proponent” of Black Lives Matter.
The Cape Girardeau City Council will meet Monday July 6, 2020 at 5:00 pm at 401 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau.
If you haven’t already, please sign the petition to oppose the removal of Cape Girardeau’s Confederate monument:
Also please take the time to contact Mayor Fox and the City Council members to tell them you oppose removing the monument. You can do so by clicking the link below:
General Lyon’s threat to kill every MAN, WOMAN & CHILD rather than work with the state government to maintain peace & neutrality:
Planter’s House Hotel Meeting
Tuesday June 11, 1861
At the insistence of Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson, he, General Sterling Price, Nathaniel Lyon, and Frank Blair meet at the Planter’s House Hotel in St. Louis to negotiate a peaceful settlement of Missouri’s status during the secession crisis. Lyon, freshly promoted to brigadier general and to command of the Department of the West, instead says that rather than see a loss of Union control, “I would see you, and you, and you, and you, [pointing to each man in the room] and every man, woman, and child in the State dead and buried. This means war. In an hour one of my officers will call for you and conduct you out of my lines.” With that statement, Lyon makes it clear that he will stop at nothing to keep Missouri squarely in the Union. – Civil War On the Western Border
What this story doesn’t tell you is that while the public was allowed to attend the meeting NO public input was allowed also not reported is the fact that the commission that ruled the monument lost its “historical integrity” when it was moved to the courthouse grounds in 1995. However; the reason it was moved is because of plans to build a new bridge and destroy the old bridge on Morgan Oak street the monument had to be moved. The Cape Girardeau Historical Commission and the local media sought to give the meeting an air of legitimacy when it was all a farce!
Cape Girardeau’s Historical Preservation Commission Meeting Was Rigged!
A screenshot from Sophia Voss’s petition to remove Cape Girardeau’s Confederate monument makes it clear the commission was biased. Voss states that the commission is on her side.
Interview with Charlie Richardson, Webb City, Missouri, by Bernard Hinkle, Jasper County, Joplin, Mo:
Do you remember much about the war
Charlie?
“Not very much. I was only seven then, but I remembers that those Bushwackers came to steal my Marster’s money but he wouldn’t tell where he hid it. Said he didn’t have any. They said he was telling a lie ’cause no man could have so many slaves and not have some money. He did have 150 slaves but he wouldn’t tell where the money was hid. So they burned his feet, but he still wouldn’t tell ’em he had hid it in the orchard. No Sah! He jest didn’t tell. Them Bushwackers though, were not so bad as them Union soldiers. They took all our horses and left us old worn out nags; even took my horse I use to ride.”
Interview with “Aunt” Ann Stokes, 91 Years old, Caruthersville, Missouri:
One of the most interesting characters of all Pemiscot County today is an old negro called “Aunt” Ann Stokes. She was born a slave “out hyar at Cottonwood Pint in 1844, a
year of high water”. Nineteen thirty-six brings her to her ninety third year; all of which have been spent in Pemiscot County, except for an occasional visit to relatives.
You cud allas hyar de Yankees at Kennett or Hornersville wen day’s aroun’. One day I’ze over to see Melindy and I say:
‘Melindy, does you all hyar sompin? Soun’ like de Yankees, look out de winder and see if you sees anything.’
“She say, ‘I don’ see nothin’. Dey ain’t no Yankees aroun’ hyar.’
Well, I jest sit thar ’till I caint stan’ it no more. I gets up and looks out de winder myself.
Thar dey come down de road and I knows theys Yanks ’cause I see de blue ob de coats.
Pretty soon dey ride up to de house. Dey yell out:
“You all got any Gurrillers aroun’ hyar?”
“‘No suh!’ sez I, ‘Taint non aroun’ hyar.”
“Know Mr. Douglass?’, he say pointin’ his finger to a house ‘cross de prairie.”
‘’Yes suh,’ siz I, ‘I knows him wen I sees Him.”
“Has he got any Gurrillers thar?”
“‘I don’t know, suh.’
“‘Wal, thars a collad girl thar ain’t they?’
‘’Yes suh, but I don’ go round her no mo. We ain’t speakin’. Reckon I ain’t been on Mr. Douglasses place foah six month. I don’t know nothin’ ’bout it. You all better go see fur Youshsevs.”
He leab den an ride ovah to Douglasses place. I seen Bud come out in de yard. He call Bud ovah to de fence and talk to him. ‘Bout dat time I see men comin’ out de back ob de house an chargin’ ovah de fence into de thicket whar warn’t nothin’ but lots ob trees, tare blanket, an blackberry bushes. Right den and dare dey had a scrummage. De Yanks set fire to ever’ buildin’ on de place. De blaze wuz a-goin’ up to de elements! Not a thing did they take out obde house ceptin’ feather bed for a wounded Yankee. Mr. Douglass, he hear about de shootin’.
He tuk to de woods an stay fur a spell.”
Interview with Mrs. Tishey Taylor, age 77, Poplar Bluff, Missouri:
“Them ‘Blue Coats’ (Northern Soldiers), wus lots meaner than the ‘Brown Coats (Gray), in the South. Them ‘Blue Coats’ come in and steal your chickens and cook them over your fireplace and eat them right ‘fore your eyes.”
“Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to “eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms.”
While President Trump’s executive order maintains that governments may erect or take down monuments it prohibits the use of unlawful force in doing so, increases penalties for those who do so, and reserves the right to withhold federal funding to entities who do not try to protect the monuments from anarchists. By not allowing public input at its meeting and recommending the immediate removal of Cape Girardeau’s Confederate monument, Cape Girardeau’s Historic Preservation Commission has attempted to circumvent the rule of law. Sophia Voss (who started the petition to remove the monument) has stated publicly that Cape’s Historic Preservation Committee is on her side. Recently the Cape Girardeau Confederate monument was vandalized with the words “Black Lives Matter” written upon it. The city has failed to protect the monument and therefore has violated President Trump’s executive order.
“Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set” –Proverbs 22:28
The March 14, 1929 Greenville Sun newspaper [Greenville, Missouri] contained a story that would spark outrage by today’s standards. The headline read “Nigger Minstrel Saturday Night” which announced a comedy show which featured “The Black Face Boys” and guaranteed that the performance would make each and every audience member “forget their troubles.”
Of course this was a much different time in American history. A time in which “black face” performances were a popular and accepted form of comedy.
MARBLE HILL, Missouri – Foothills Media LLC is announcing the publication of “The Rape of Delaware County” by Clint Lacy.
The book is the result of several months of communication with Delaware County, Oklahoma, resident Edwin Turlington, who on April 14, 2014, shot a convicted felon who attacked him on his family’s property. The result is that Turlington launched his own investigation and fought the charges for over five years before they were finally dropped.
Through countless hours of interviews and research, a picture of protected informants, abusive jailers, and a lawyer who made international news when he was arrested in a murder-for-hire plot is presented. Delaware County used to be a safe-haven for outlaws, and, as Edwin Turlington found out, it still is. Lacy has also authored “Blood in the Ozarks.”
In my previous post I talked about Adam Bollinger a former slave who was arrested for the murder of a fellow slave in 1862.
This was a unique case in Missouri courts as Bollinger offered a brilliant defense stating that if he was considered property in 1862, how could one piece of property murder another piece of property?
I had not found what fate befell Adam Bollinger but thanks to an inquisitive reader we now have the answer!
“The State’s Bight of Appeal in Criminal Cases. Where a motion in arrest of judgment in a criminal case has been sustained, and the prisoner ordered discharged, on the ground that at the time of the commission of the offense the defendant was a slave, and as such not liable to punishment, the State cannot appeal. Her right of appeal.is limited to those cases, where, either on motion to quash, on demurrer or on motion in arrest of judgment, the indictment has been adjudged to b.e insufficient either in form or substance. *578Appeal from, Madison Circuit Court. — Hon. ¥m. N. Nalle, ■Judge. J. L. Smith, Attorney-General, for the State. Duchouquette § Fox for respondent.” State v. Bollinger, 69 Mo. 577 (1879)”
Thank You to our helpful reader!
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The January 8, 1879 issue of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat carried a fascinating story which was originally published in the Fredericktown [Missouri] Plaindealer.
The story involves a former slave named Adam Bollinger who murdered another slave named “Jack” (no last name was provided in the report) in 1862.
According to the paper both men had wives and “Jack” had become a little too familiar with Adam’s wife. One day as they were leaving the field at the end of the day Adam Bollinger chased “Jack” who fell trying to escape at which time Adam stabbed “Jack” to death with a butcher knife.
The paper reported that Adam Bollinger had been living in St. Louis, Missouri for nearly 16 years under the name of John Allen and that it was the son of the late “Jack” who had vowed to find Adam and see that he paid for his crime.
In an ironic twist Adam Bollinger brought up the fact that the murder had happened when both he and “Jack” were slaves and since they were both considered “property” at the time asked the question, “Could being property, like a horse, be any more guilty of killing a slave likewise property, than one horse in killing another horse?”
The paper stated that the Supreme Court had never tried such a case. I will be on the “lookout” for what fate befell Adam Bollinger.
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I posted an article on January 28, 2020 in which I talked about gold discovered in Dallas (present day Marble Hill) Bollinger County, Missouri in 1866. Recently I discovered that gold has been found elsewhere in Southeast Missouri in 1862. The February 4, 1862 issue of The Daily Missouri Democrat contains information about the discovery of gold in neighboring Madison County, Missouri.
I don’t know if the evidence of gold in the area ever resulted in any additional prospecting but I am confident that further research of the archives of the time will result in more information of the subject.
This week I sat down for an interview with Dr. Edward DeVries for TBR History Hour.
Dr. Ed and I talked for an hour about my latest book “The Rape of Delaware County”
We also discussed my relationship with Edwin Turlington, who was facing 10 years in prison for defending himself from a violent attack against a convicted felon, how the collaboration fell apart and how all of these circumstances inspired me to write about not only Turlington’s five-year legal battle but the greater corruption and violent crimes that are a common occurrence in Delaware County, Oklahoma. Note: I have to correct myself, I mistakenly referred to Darrell Philpott as “Jerry” Philpott. I apologize for the error.
“The Rape of Delaware County” is available in paperback for $10 (b/w 145 pages) and Kindle for $.99 (Free with Kindle Unlimited. Order by clicking this link.
Listen to the interview by clicking on the video below:
BONUS INTERVIEW!
In addition to my appearance on the TBR History Hour, I appeared on Dr Ed’s OTHER program TBR’s Dixie Heritage Hour where we discussed the effects the recent Corona virus has had on Southeast Missouri. Listen to this interview by clicking the video link below.
Keep up to date and never miss another one of my articles, new book releases or interviews again. Click below to subscribe to our email list.
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The December 31, 1862 edition of the New York Daily Herald contained much information about the situation in Missouri. Among the reports of guerrilla warfare activities and false reports that the Confederates had retaken Columbus, Kentucky is a report of a minister at a St. Louis Church who was expelled for claiming he was “neutral” on the issue of the war. Also in the report in which the New York Daily Herald calls abolitionists in Missouri “nigger worshipers”.
There has been much condemnation in the press regarding Confederate General Robert E. Lee, who called for reconciliation in the country after the war was over and Confederate symbols in general, “racism” is always the excuse but the December 31, 1862 issue of the Daily Herald serves as an example of Northern views on religion (placing the government above the church) as well as race.
Northern hands are not clean on the subject of race, yet symbolism of the United States government is never called into question.
