Joe Pullen
Lynching Victim Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Drew, Mississippi
TIME PERIOD
December 14-15, 1923
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
Joe Pullen, an African-American sharecropper, was lynched by a posse of local white citizens near Drew, Mississippi, on December 15, 1923, following a dispute over a debt with his landlord, W. T. Saunders. The incident escalated when Pullen shot and killed Saunders, prompting a mob to pursue him; during the confrontation, Pullen managed to kill at least two members of the posse and injure several others before he was ultimately killed. The lynching occurred in a context of rising racial violence in the South, with Mississippi experiencing numerous lynchings in the preceding decade. Pullen's resistance during the incident garnered him a folk hero status among the local black population and attention from organizations like the Universal Negro Improvement Association. The case remains significant in discussions of racial violence and resistance in early 20th-century America, although specific details regarding the incident's circumstances and casualties vary across historical accounts.
Joe Pullen is viewed as a folk hero among the local black population due to his resistance against the lynching posse, having killed at least two members and wounded several others before his death. Some believe that his actions represent a significant moment of defiance against the systemic violence faced by African Americans in the South during this period. Additionally, his case is often cited in discussions about the broader context of rising lynchings in Mississippi and the role of community response to racial violence.
The Tragic Story of Joe Pullen: A Fight Against Injustice
A Sharecropper's Stand
In the early 20th century, the rural town of Drew, Mississippi, became the backdrop for a harrowing tale of racial tension and violence that would resonate through history. Joe Pullen, also known as Joe Pullum, was an African-American sharecropper caught in the brutal racial dynamics of the time. Born around 1883, Pullen found himself at the epicenter of a deadly altercation on December 14, 1923, that would make him a symbol of resistance for many in the African-American community.
A Climate of Violence
The period following World War I saw a disturbing increase in lynchings across the American South, with Mississippi alone witnessing the deaths of eighty-six individuals—eighty-three black men, two white men, and one black woman—over the previous decade. The violence was often seasonal, with incidents rising after the harvest season as sharecroppers and landowners settled their accounts. Joe Pullen's story, while steeped in the common theme of tenant-landlord disputes, stood out due to his defiant resistance, making him a folk hero among local blacks and a figure celebrated by the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
The Fateful Confrontation
The events leading to Pullen's death began with a disagreement over a debt with his landlord, W. T. Saunders. On December 14, 1923, Pullen shot Saunders with a .38-caliber revolver, killing him instantly. With his survival instincts kicking in, Pullen armed himself further with a shotgun and fled into the swamps near Drew. His flight triggered a massive manhunt, with a posse of local white citizens pursuing him relentlessly.
The Manhunt
The posse, which reportedly included a thousand men and a machine gun team from Clarksdale, found themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Pullen, leveraging his knowledge of the terrain and sharpshooting skills, managed to elude capture initially, wounding and killing several members of the posse. Contemporary newspaper accounts reported that Pullen was eventually cornered in a drainage ditch, where the posse set a fire to flush him out. By 1 a.m. on December 15, 1923, the posse captured a gravely wounded Pullen. He succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
Conflicting Accounts
The details surrounding the confrontation and subsequent manhunt vary significantly across different accounts. Some sources claim Pullen killed five and wounded nine members of the posse, while local black residents assert he killed thirteen and wounded twenty-six. Among the confirmed casualties were R. L. Methevin and William J. Hess, both of whom died during the altercation. Other members like J. L. (Bud) Doggett, A. L. Manning, and Kenneth Blackwood suffered severe injuries, with Manning dying the next day.
Historical Perspectives
Multiple historians have attempted to piece together the events of that day. Nick Salvatore's interviews in Drew suggest that Saunders might have shot first during a dispute over settlement money. Terrance Finnegan noted that such incidents were common in tenant-landlord relationships, especially when financial disagreements arose. Elizabeth Woodruff's account detailed Pullen's strategic ambushes and the posse's aggressive use of firepower to subdue him. Akinyele Omowale Umoja emphasized the racial tensions, noting that Pullen's defiance became a rallying point for the militant Marcus Garvey organization.
Fannie Lou Hamer's Recollection
Civil rights pioneer Fannie Lou Hamer, just eight years old at the time, recalled the events with vivid detail. She described how Pullen, referred to as "Pulliam," was forced to defend himself after Saunders shot him during a confrontation over unpaid wages. Hamer's account, reflecting the perspective of the local African-American community, suggested that Pullen's bravery left a lasting impression, deterring further white-led violence for a time.
The Aftermath
Following the lynching, racial tensions in Drew intensified. Curfews were strictly enforced against blacks, and in 1924, a Drew sheriff killed several black citizens for violating these curfews. The violence prompted many African-Americans to leave the area, seeking better opportunities in the North. Despite the tragedy, Joe Pullen's resistance resonated with those who learned of his story, particularly among supporters of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, who saw him as a hero deserving of a monument.
Sources
For further exploration of Joe Pullen's story and its broader historical context, please refer to the following resources: Wikipedia Article on Joe Pullen.
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Initial Confrontation
Joe Pullen shoots landlord W.T. Saunders during a dispute over a debt.
Mob Forms
A posse of local white citizens forms to pursue Joe Pullen after he flees.
Gunfight with Posse
Pullen engages in a gunfight with the posse, killing and wounding several members.
Pullen Captured
The posse captures Pullen after setting fire to his hiding place; he is severely injured.
Pullen Lynched
Joe Pullen is lynched by the posse, who display his body and sever his ear.
Aftermath of Lynching
Increased enforcement of curfews against Black citizens in Drew following Pullen's lynching.
Pullen Becomes Folk Hero
Joe Pullen is celebrated as a hero among the local Black population and by the UNIA.
Joe Pullen, an African-American sharecropper, was lynched by a posse of local white citizens near Drew, Mississippi, on December 15, 1923, following a dispute over a debt with his landlord, W. T. Saunders. The incident escalated when Pullen shot and killed Saunders, prompting a mob to pursue him; during the confrontation, Pullen managed to kill at least two members of the posse and injure several others before he was ultimately killed. The lynching occurred in a context of rising racial violence in the South, with Mississippi experiencing numerous lynchings in the preceding decade. Pullen's resistance during the incident garnered him a folk hero status among the local black population and attention from organizations like the Universal Negro Improvement Association. The case remains significant in discussions of racial violence and resistance in early 20th-century America, although specific details regarding the incident's circumstances and casualties vary across historical accounts.
Joe Pullen is viewed as a folk hero among the local black population due to his resistance against the lynching posse, having killed at least two members and wounded several others before his death. Some believe that his actions represent a significant moment of defiance against the systemic violence faced by African Americans in the South during this period. Additionally, his case is often cited in discussions about the broader context of rising lynchings in Mississippi and the role of community response to racial violence.
The Tragic Story of Joe Pullen: A Fight Against Injustice
A Sharecropper's Stand
In the early 20th century, the rural town of Drew, Mississippi, became the backdrop for a harrowing tale of racial tension and violence that would resonate through history. Joe Pullen, also known as Joe Pullum, was an African-American sharecropper caught in the brutal racial dynamics of the time. Born around 1883, Pullen found himself at the epicenter of a deadly altercation on December 14, 1923, that would make him a symbol of resistance for many in the African-American community.
A Climate of Violence
The period following World War I saw a disturbing increase in lynchings across the American South, with Mississippi alone witnessing the deaths of eighty-six individuals—eighty-three black men, two white men, and one black woman—over the previous decade. The violence was often seasonal, with incidents rising after the harvest season as sharecroppers and landowners settled their accounts. Joe Pullen's story, while steeped in the common theme of tenant-landlord disputes, stood out due to his defiant resistance, making him a folk hero among local blacks and a figure celebrated by the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
The Fateful Confrontation
The events leading to Pullen's death began with a disagreement over a debt with his landlord, W. T. Saunders. On December 14, 1923, Pullen shot Saunders with a .38-caliber revolver, killing him instantly. With his survival instincts kicking in, Pullen armed himself further with a shotgun and fled into the swamps near Drew. His flight triggered a massive manhunt, with a posse of local white citizens pursuing him relentlessly.
The Manhunt
The posse, which reportedly included a thousand men and a machine gun team from Clarksdale, found themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Pullen, leveraging his knowledge of the terrain and sharpshooting skills, managed to elude capture initially, wounding and killing several members of the posse. Contemporary newspaper accounts reported that Pullen was eventually cornered in a drainage ditch, where the posse set a fire to flush him out. By 1 a.m. on December 15, 1923, the posse captured a gravely wounded Pullen. He succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
Conflicting Accounts
The details surrounding the confrontation and subsequent manhunt vary significantly across different accounts. Some sources claim Pullen killed five and wounded nine members of the posse, while local black residents assert he killed thirteen and wounded twenty-six. Among the confirmed casualties were R. L. Methevin and William J. Hess, both of whom died during the altercation. Other members like J. L. (Bud) Doggett, A. L. Manning, and Kenneth Blackwood suffered severe injuries, with Manning dying the next day.
Historical Perspectives
Multiple historians have attempted to piece together the events of that day. Nick Salvatore's interviews in Drew suggest that Saunders might have shot first during a dispute over settlement money. Terrance Finnegan noted that such incidents were common in tenant-landlord relationships, especially when financial disagreements arose. Elizabeth Woodruff's account detailed Pullen's strategic ambushes and the posse's aggressive use of firepower to subdue him. Akinyele Omowale Umoja emphasized the racial tensions, noting that Pullen's defiance became a rallying point for the militant Marcus Garvey organization.
Fannie Lou Hamer's Recollection
Civil rights pioneer Fannie Lou Hamer, just eight years old at the time, recalled the events with vivid detail. She described how Pullen, referred to as "Pulliam," was forced to defend himself after Saunders shot him during a confrontation over unpaid wages. Hamer's account, reflecting the perspective of the local African-American community, suggested that Pullen's bravery left a lasting impression, deterring further white-led violence for a time.
The Aftermath
Following the lynching, racial tensions in Drew intensified. Curfews were strictly enforced against blacks, and in 1924, a Drew sheriff killed several black citizens for violating these curfews. The violence prompted many African-Americans to leave the area, seeking better opportunities in the North. Despite the tragedy, Joe Pullen's resistance resonated with those who learned of his story, particularly among supporters of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, who saw him as a hero deserving of a monument.
Sources
For further exploration of Joe Pullen's story and its broader historical context, please refer to the following resources: Wikipedia Article on Joe Pullen.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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Initial Confrontation
Joe Pullen shoots landlord W.T. Saunders during a dispute over a debt.
Mob Forms
A posse of local white citizens forms to pursue Joe Pullen after he flees.
Gunfight with Posse
Pullen engages in a gunfight with the posse, killing and wounding several members.
Pullen Captured
The posse captures Pullen after setting fire to his hiding place; he is severely injured.
Pullen Lynched
Joe Pullen is lynched by the posse, who display his body and sever his ear.
Aftermath of Lynching
Increased enforcement of curfews against Black citizens in Drew following Pullen's lynching.
Pullen Becomes Folk Hero
Joe Pullen is celebrated as a hero among the local Black population and by the UNIA.