Mose Gibson
Burglar and Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
California, United States
TIME PERIOD
1908-1920
VICTIMS
7 confirmed
Mose Gibson, an American burglar and serial killer, was active from 1908 until his capture in 1920, committing at least seven murders across multiple states including Louisiana, Florida, Arizona, and California. Born in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, in 1883, Gibson's criminal activities escalated after a series of imprisonments, with his first conviction occurring in 1904. He was ultimately arrested for a double murder and the killing of rancher Roy Trapp, for which he was convicted and sentenced to death. Gibson was executed by hanging on September 24, 1920, at San Quentin State Prison, although questions regarding the validity of his confession persist, suggesting it may have been coerced by authorities. Significant evidence includes his own confessions and the testimonies of witnesses, but the legitimacy of these confessions remains a point of contention in the case.
Mose Gibson's guilt in the murders for which he was convicted has been questioned, with some believing that his confession was coerced by law enforcement. There are theories that he may have been wrongfully convicted due to a lack of substantial evidence linking him to the crimes. Additionally, speculation exists that his criminal activities spanned beyond the confirmed murders, possibly involving more victims across multiple states.
The Tragic Tale of Mose Gibson: A Life of Crime and Controversy
Early Life and Descent into Crime
Born in 1883 in the rural landscapes of Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Mose Gibson's early years remain a mystery. His life took a fateful turn when, in January 1904, he found himself behind bars in a Baton Rouge prison for an undisclosed crime. Mose claimed that his brush with the law was a case of being "innocently railroaded to a southern penitentiary," where he was exposed to criminal influences. Yet, former district attorney William C. Barnette painted a different picture. Before 1907, Gibson, known by his alias "Monk," was tried for ambushing and shooting at another black man. Barnette, seeing Gibson as a valuable farmhand, provided him with legal counsel. Nonetheless, Gibson was found guilty and sent to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, eventually leaving the state for Florida after serving his sentence.
Over the next decade, Gibson's criminal activities expanded. He engaged in countless burglaries and robberies, allegedly committing thousands of such crimes and several murders. One audacious night in June 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska, saw him arrested for burglary, only to escape and commit another robbery with manacles still hanging from his wrists.
Gibson's incarceration history is as varied as his crimes, with stints in penitentiaries across Louisiana, Ohio, Florida, and Texas. His escapes from Florida in 1917 and Texas in 1919 added to his notoriety. An oil company manager named Harris would later recount a harrowing encounter where Gibson, after an argument, returned with a gun and fired at him, leaving a flesh wound.
A String of Murders
Gibson's confessions included a chilling list of ten murders, though later sources adjusted this number to seven. His trail of death began with Joseph (or James) Isadore Rivet, a restaurateur in Addis, Louisiana, who was murdered on December 24, 1908. Witness Joe Clark testified that Rivet sent Gibson on an errand that night, only for Rivet to be found brutally killed by morning. The crime scene hinted at robbery, with Rivet's trunk found rifled through in a nearby field.
In November 1910, two more victims fell in Louisiana: a sugar mill watchman and a storekeeper. Nearly a decade later, in November 1919, a woman in Orange City, Florida, met a similar fate, with authorities suspecting Gibson's involvement. Another woman, Laura Marshall, was mentioned in newspapers, although details of her case remain elusive.
June 6, 1920, marked the slaughter of Jacob Erhardt and his wife in Phoenix, Arizona. Gibson, under the alias Henry Watson, had recently been detained for importing alcohol but was soon released. In Phoenix, he broke into the Erhardt home with a miner's hammer, killing the couple in a brutal attack. Their son, Jacob Jr., discovered the scene, and although authorities pursued leads involving two men in a striped Ford, investigations later indicated a single assailant. Despite detaining 150 suspects and offering a substantial reward, the case remained unsolved until Gibson's confession.
The killing spree culminated in Fullerton, California, on July 15, 1920, with the murder of rancher Roy G. Trapp. Gibson, intoxicated with wood alcohol, entered Trapp's home intending to rob it. Awakened by the intrusion, Trapp engaged in a deadly struggle, ultimately succumbing to Gibson's violent assault.
Arrest and Trial
Gibson's capture was the result of sharp-eyed telegraph operator Fred Lewis in Drake, who, recognizing Gibson from a Los Angeles newspaper description, alerted authorities. Despite a scuffle, police apprehended Gibson in Topock.
During his trial, Gibson initially remained silent, only breaking his reticence to confess to the murder of Roy Trapp. His trial lasted a mere three hours, concluding with a death sentence by hanging. His confessions linked him to the Erhardt murders, though he was never formally charged. He spent his final days in San Quentin, praying and reading the Bible, before his execution on September 24, 1920.
Controversial Confessions and Execution
Gibson's guilt was questioned by many, including contemporary media. Fingerprint evidence did not match, and witnesses described suspects with lighter complexions. Despite these inconsistencies, authorities relied on Gibson's confessions.
Before his execution, the Housewives' Union No. 1 from Palo Alto petitioned Governor Stephens for clemency, drawing parallels to James P. Watson, a bigamist spared from execution. However, their appeal fell on deaf ears, and Gibson's life ended on the gallows, leaving behind a legacy shrouded in doubt and debate.
Sources
For more detailed information, you can refer to the original Wikipedia article on Mose Gibson here.
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First Murder Committed
Mose Gibson kills restaurateur J. R. Rivet in Louisiana.
Multiple Murders in Louisiana
Gibson kills a sugar mill watchman and a storekeeper in Louisiana.
Murder in Florida
Gibson confesses to killing a woman in Orange City, Florida.
Erhardt Couple Murdered
Gibson kills Jacob and his wife in Phoenix, Arizona.
Roy Trapp Murdered
Gibson kills rancher Roy Trapp in Fullerton, California.
Gibson Arrested
Mose Gibson is arrested in Topock, Arizona, after being identified as the suspect.
Trial and Sentencing
Gibson is sentenced to death after a three-hour trial for the murder of Roy Trapp.
Execution
Mose Gibson is executed by hanging in San Quentin State Prison.
Mose Gibson, an American burglar and serial killer, was active from 1908 until his capture in 1920, committing at least seven murders across multiple states including Louisiana, Florida, Arizona, and California. Born in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, in 1883, Gibson's criminal activities escalated after a series of imprisonments, with his first conviction occurring in 1904. He was ultimately arrested for a double murder and the killing of rancher Roy Trapp, for which he was convicted and sentenced to death. Gibson was executed by hanging on September 24, 1920, at San Quentin State Prison, although questions regarding the validity of his confession persist, suggesting it may have been coerced by authorities. Significant evidence includes his own confessions and the testimonies of witnesses, but the legitimacy of these confessions remains a point of contention in the case.
Mose Gibson's guilt in the murders for which he was convicted has been questioned, with some believing that his confession was coerced by law enforcement. There are theories that he may have been wrongfully convicted due to a lack of substantial evidence linking him to the crimes. Additionally, speculation exists that his criminal activities spanned beyond the confirmed murders, possibly involving more victims across multiple states.
The Tragic Tale of Mose Gibson: A Life of Crime and Controversy
Early Life and Descent into Crime
Born in 1883 in the rural landscapes of Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Mose Gibson's early years remain a mystery. His life took a fateful turn when, in January 1904, he found himself behind bars in a Baton Rouge prison for an undisclosed crime. Mose claimed that his brush with the law was a case of being "innocently railroaded to a southern penitentiary," where he was exposed to criminal influences. Yet, former district attorney William C. Barnette painted a different picture. Before 1907, Gibson, known by his alias "Monk," was tried for ambushing and shooting at another black man. Barnette, seeing Gibson as a valuable farmhand, provided him with legal counsel. Nonetheless, Gibson was found guilty and sent to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, eventually leaving the state for Florida after serving his sentence.
Over the next decade, Gibson's criminal activities expanded. He engaged in countless burglaries and robberies, allegedly committing thousands of such crimes and several murders. One audacious night in June 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska, saw him arrested for burglary, only to escape and commit another robbery with manacles still hanging from his wrists.
Gibson's incarceration history is as varied as his crimes, with stints in penitentiaries across Louisiana, Ohio, Florida, and Texas. His escapes from Florida in 1917 and Texas in 1919 added to his notoriety. An oil company manager named Harris would later recount a harrowing encounter where Gibson, after an argument, returned with a gun and fired at him, leaving a flesh wound.
A String of Murders
Gibson's confessions included a chilling list of ten murders, though later sources adjusted this number to seven. His trail of death began with Joseph (or James) Isadore Rivet, a restaurateur in Addis, Louisiana, who was murdered on December 24, 1908. Witness Joe Clark testified that Rivet sent Gibson on an errand that night, only for Rivet to be found brutally killed by morning. The crime scene hinted at robbery, with Rivet's trunk found rifled through in a nearby field.
In November 1910, two more victims fell in Louisiana: a sugar mill watchman and a storekeeper. Nearly a decade later, in November 1919, a woman in Orange City, Florida, met a similar fate, with authorities suspecting Gibson's involvement. Another woman, Laura Marshall, was mentioned in newspapers, although details of her case remain elusive.
June 6, 1920, marked the slaughter of Jacob Erhardt and his wife in Phoenix, Arizona. Gibson, under the alias Henry Watson, had recently been detained for importing alcohol but was soon released. In Phoenix, he broke into the Erhardt home with a miner's hammer, killing the couple in a brutal attack. Their son, Jacob Jr., discovered the scene, and although authorities pursued leads involving two men in a striped Ford, investigations later indicated a single assailant. Despite detaining 150 suspects and offering a substantial reward, the case remained unsolved until Gibson's confession.
The killing spree culminated in Fullerton, California, on July 15, 1920, with the murder of rancher Roy G. Trapp. Gibson, intoxicated with wood alcohol, entered Trapp's home intending to rob it. Awakened by the intrusion, Trapp engaged in a deadly struggle, ultimately succumbing to Gibson's violent assault.
Arrest and Trial
Gibson's capture was the result of sharp-eyed telegraph operator Fred Lewis in Drake, who, recognizing Gibson from a Los Angeles newspaper description, alerted authorities. Despite a scuffle, police apprehended Gibson in Topock.
During his trial, Gibson initially remained silent, only breaking his reticence to confess to the murder of Roy Trapp. His trial lasted a mere three hours, concluding with a death sentence by hanging. His confessions linked him to the Erhardt murders, though he was never formally charged. He spent his final days in San Quentin, praying and reading the Bible, before his execution on September 24, 1920.
Controversial Confessions and Execution
Gibson's guilt was questioned by many, including contemporary media. Fingerprint evidence did not match, and witnesses described suspects with lighter complexions. Despite these inconsistencies, authorities relied on Gibson's confessions.
Before his execution, the Housewives' Union No. 1 from Palo Alto petitioned Governor Stephens for clemency, drawing parallels to James P. Watson, a bigamist spared from execution. However, their appeal fell on deaf ears, and Gibson's life ended on the gallows, leaving behind a legacy shrouded in doubt and debate.
Sources
For more detailed information, you can refer to the original Wikipedia article on Mose Gibson here.
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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First Murder Committed
Mose Gibson kills restaurateur J. R. Rivet in Louisiana.
Multiple Murders in Louisiana
Gibson kills a sugar mill watchman and a storekeeper in Louisiana.
Murder in Florida
Gibson confesses to killing a woman in Orange City, Florida.
Erhardt Couple Murdered
Gibson kills Jacob and his wife in Phoenix, Arizona.
Roy Trapp Murdered
Gibson kills rancher Roy Trapp in Fullerton, California.
Gibson Arrested
Mose Gibson is arrested in Topock, Arizona, after being identified as the suspect.
Trial and Sentencing
Gibson is sentenced to death after a three-hour trial for the murder of Roy Trapp.
Execution
Mose Gibson is executed by hanging in San Quentin State Prison.