Arkansas Idea of Justice -- March 14, 2025

Hot Springs Weekly Star, 31-March-1899

I wonder if General Duckett really was trying to stir up a revolt, or if this was a case of white hysteria inspired by one killing. I suspect the "war of extermination" was more on one side than the other.

ARKANSAS IDEA OF JUSTICE

Seven Negroes Lynched Because One

Killed a White Man.

The wildest excitement prevails among the negroes or Little River County, Ark., and seven negro men have been lynched by the citizens of that section. The affair grew out of Ihe lynching of a negro named General Duckett, near Richmond, in that county, on March 21 last. On March 18 a prominent planter named James Stockton was murdered at his home near Rocky Comfort by Duckett. The negro escaped at the time but was captured, taken to the place where he had killed Stockton, and after making a confession he was lynched. After the lynching it was learned that Duckett had frequently tried to get the negroes in the county to join him in a race war against the whites. A few hours after he had killed Stockton he passed several negroes at a farm house and told them he had killed one white man, and if they would follow him he would kill more. It is now believed that the negroes had banded for a race war.

Among those who have fallen victims to the wrath of the whites are Edward Goodwin, Dan King, Joe Jones, Ben Jones, Moses Jones and still another whose name could not be obtained. The last three named were brothers, were intimate with the assassin of Stockton, and it was discovered that they were leading a scheme to avenge their comrade's death. The assault was provoked by the unearthing of plots that the followers of General Duckett bad concocted, and when the revelation was made the citizens began their search for the principals. All of the victims that have fallen before the whites were pursued singly over the country, and met their fate at different times and in different localities.

TEN DIE IN RACE WAR

Negroes Are Run Down by Mob of

Whites for Plotting Revenue.

A war of extermination is on between the whites and negroes in Little River County in the extreme southwest corner of Arkansas, and seven of the latter are known to be dead. Many other negroes are missing.

The wholesale lynching is the result of the murder of James A. Stockton, a planter, last Saturday by a big negro called "General" Duckett. After hiding for some time Duckett gave himself up and was being taken toward Richmond, the county seat, when he was taken by a mob and lynched. He confessed to a carefully laid plan by the negroes to precipitate a race war, and told of many whites who were marked for execution. It was learned from Duckett that there were twenty three negroes in the plot, and their names were given. Several parties of white men started out to execute speedy vengeance on the plotters. The negroes became panic-stricken and fled in all directions.

Willis Boyd, C. C. Reed and Minor Wilson, three negroes, were taken from an officer and lynched near Silver City, in Yazoo County, Miss. They were the ring leaders in a race encounter at the Midnight plantation. After being shot to death their bodies were cut down and thrown into the Yazoo river.