Freestone County, Texas
History of 1920s


Negro Uprising Threatened at Kirvin  *1*

        STATE RANGERS SENT THERE TO RESTORE ORDER
Armed Men Lie in Wait for Band Reported Marching From Corsicana.
                 By Associated Press. 

  AUSTIN, May 8. — Governor Neff has ordered two detachments of state rangers to 
proceed to Fairfield, the county seat of Freestone county, to prevent an uprising 
of negroes which Sheriff Mayo of Freestone county said was imminent. The sheriff 
requested that the rangers be sent immediately and explained that the negroes of 
the county were plotting to avenge the burning of three negroes at Kirven Saturday 
morning. 
  One detachment of rangers under Captain Frank Hamilton will leave from Austin 
and a second detachment will be sent from Fort Worth. The information was given 
out by the governor’s secretary, who said that the Rangers were being sent to 
work in connection with Sheriff Mayo in suppressing any uprising or trouble,
and not to investigate the lynching.

                  Situation Critical.
  The situation in Freestone county is becoming- critical according to a telephone 
message received by Adjutant General Barton from a deputy sheriff of Freestone 
county. The adjutant general replied that a sufficient force of rangers was being 
sent to handle the situation. Last night citizens of Kirven reinforced by 150 
armed men from Wortham, lay in wait expecting an attack from 300 negroes reported 
en route from Corsicana with the expressed intention of “wiping out Kirven” in 
reprisal for the burning of three negroes there Saturday. The burned (negroes 
were accused of the assault and murder of a 17-year-old white girl. Another 
assembly of about 300 negroes, from the country surrounding Kirven dispersed 
Sunday afternoon without giving any reason for gathering. The negroes were unarmed.

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               BROTHER OF BURNED NEGRO FOUND HANGED *1*
  His Remarks Led to Belief He Was Connected With Girl’s Murder.
  
FORT WORTH, May 8. — The body of a negro, Tom Cornish, brother of John Cornish, one 
of the three negroes burned at Kirven Saturday morning, was found hanging to a 
tree between Kirven and Fairfield this morning. It is said that Tom Cornish had 
been making certain statements which led people to believe that he was connected 
with the assault and murder of Miss Eula Ousley. Sheriff Mayo of Freestone county
said this morning that his office knew nothing of the hanging of the negro other 
than notification had been received that the body of the negro was hanging to a 
tree, whereupon officers were set out and cut it down.

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                 HAD ANOTHER NAME. *1*
                  By Associated Press.
                
CORSICANA, May 8. — The negro found hanging to the tree this morning between Kirven 
and, Fairfield was known as Shadrack Green, according to information received 
here from Freestone county. Several shots were fired into the body. On the surface 
everything is quiet in the community, it is stated.

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SOURCES:

*1* = RANGER DAILY TIMES newspaper of Ranger, Texas, MAY 8, 1922, front page.