Will Lockett
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Lexington, Kentucky
TIME PERIOD
1912-1920
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Petrie Kimbrough, known as Will Lockett, was an American serial killer responsible for the murders of four victims, including a 10-year-old girl, Geneva Hardman, between 1912 and 1920 across Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana. The murder of Hardman occurred on February 4, 1920, in Fayette County, Kentucky, where her belongings were discovered near a cornfield, leading to Lockett's arrest. He confessed to the murders and was executed by electrocution on March 11, 1920, at the Kentucky State Penitentiary. The case gained notoriety not only for Lockett's heinous crimes but also for the violent riots that ensued when a mob attempted to lynch him, prompting the intervention of the National Guard and U.S. Army, resulting in multiple fatalities and the declaration of martial law in the area. Significant evidence included Lockett's confessions and the circumstances surrounding the discovery of Hardman's belongings, which were pivotal in linking him to the crime.
Will Lockett is believed to have committed his murders due to a combination of psychological issues and a troubled upbringing. Some speculate that his violent behavior was influenced by societal factors, including racial tensions and the environment of his time. Additionally, theories suggest that the extreme measures taken by authorities to protect him from lynching highlight the racial dynamics at play in his case, raising questions about justice and race relations in early 20th-century America.
The Tragic Tale of Will Lockett: A Chronicle of Murder and Mayhem
A Notorious Life
Petrie Kimbrough, born in May 1888 in Pembroke, Kentucky, would become infamously known as Will Lockett, a name that echoed fear across the United States between 1912 and 1920. This was an era when Lockett's heinous crimes spanned across three states—Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. His gruesome legacy included the murders of three women and one young girl. Each crime left a scar on communities and shattered lives. His reign of terror ended with his execution for the brutal murder of a 10-year-old schoolgirl named Geneva Hardman. Yet, before his execution, Lockett confessed to three other murders, solidifying his place in the annals of American criminal history.
The Early Murders
Lockett's dark journey began in either 1912 or 1913 with the murder of Clara Miller Rogers, a 25-year-old white woman, near the train tracks in Carmi, Illinois. This brutal act set the tone for the violence that followed. In 1917, Lockett attacked Eliza Morman, a 25-year-old black woman, in Evansville, Indiana. He choked, raped, and beat her, leaving her for dead. Despite these heinous acts, Lockett managed to evade justice and enlisted in the army at Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. There, he continued his spree of violence by raping and strangling Sallie Anderson Kraft, a 55-year-old black woman.
The Murder of Geneva Hardman
The tragic murder of Geneva Hardman on February 4, 1920, would become the final chapter in Lockett's spree. Geneva, a young schoolgirl from Lexington, Kentucky, vanished on her way to school. Her school satchel and cap were discovered by a farmer named Speed Collins near a cornfield in southern Fayette County. Collins, suspecting a student had lost them, took the items to Geneva's school. Her teacher, Mrs. Anna Young, recognized them immediately and sent students to Geneva's home. Her mother had not seen her since that morning.
Upon retracing Geneva's steps, Collins, along with Claude B. Elkin and Thomas Foley, followed the tracks of a large man leading to a gruesome discovery. Geneva's body was found behind a fodder stock, partially covered, with blood-stained ground and a large rock nearby. A hair ribbon lay in the mud—a silent testament to her violent end.
The Manhunt and Capture
The shocking crime ignited a massive manhunt. Captain Volney G. Mullikin and his deputies, aided by bloodhounds, traced the killer's footsteps to the town of Keene in Jessamine County. Despite the presence of schoolchildren and a nearby resident, Bettie McClubbing, no one had heard a struggle. The breakthrough came when James Woolfolk revealed that he had offered a ride to Will Lockett, a known burglar and bootlegger, who had become a WWI veteran and supported himself as a day laborer.
The trail led to Nicholasville, where a farmer, Will Hughes, spotted a mud-covered black man walking along the pike. A search party sighted the suspect but he managed to evade capture until Dr. W. T. Collette and Deputy Sheriff W. C. White apprehended him near Dixontown. Lockett, initially feigning innocence as "Will Hamilton," eventually confessed under interrogation to Assistant Chief Ernest Thompson and Det. Dudley Veal. He admitted attacking Geneva with the intent to rape her, ultimately killing her with a rock.
The Lexington Riots
The arrest of Lockett set off a powder keg of racial tension in Lexington. Governor Edwin P. Morrow, determined to prevent a lynching, dispatched the Kentucky National Guard. Despite this, on February 9, 1920, a lynch mob of 5,000 to 10,000 people attempted to storm the courthouse. The mob's fury was met with force as the National Guard and police opened fire, wounding over 50 rioters and killing six, including five mob members and one bystander.
The violence escalated, leading Governor Morrow to request federal assistance. Brigadier General Francis C. Marshall arrived with 1,200 soldiers, tanks, and machine guns, imposing martial law in Lexington. This unprecedented show of military might dispersed the mob and restored order, albeit temporarily.
Martial Law and Aftermath
To quell further unrest, General Marshall shut down communications within a 100-mile radius and enforced citywide censorship. He organized patrols to safeguard key areas, including the local armory and black districts. Efforts were made to indict riot instigators, but the grand jury eventually decided against pursuing charges to avoid further inflaming tensions.
Trial and Execution
In court, Kimbrough, using his alias Lockett, confessed to the murder of Geneva Hardman. He expressed remorse, stating, "I know I do not deserve mercy, but I am sorry I committed the crime and I would give anything if the little girl could be brought back to life." Despite his defense citing his honorable military discharge, the jury sentenced him to death. On March 11, 1920, Lockett faced the electric chair. Witnesses reported that he showed little emotion as the switch was flipped, ending his life in mere seconds.
Legacy
The case of Will Lockett is a chilling reminder of the era's racial tensions and the lengths to which authorities went to uphold the rule of law. It was a time when the justice system, despite its flaws, sought to prevent mob rule, albeit through extreme measures. The story of Lockett's crimes and the ensuing chaos remains a significant chapter in America's turbulent history.
Sources
For more detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Will Lockett.
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First Murder Committed
Will Lockett murders Clara Miller Rogers near train tracks in Illinois.
Second Murder Committed
Lockett chokes, rapes, and beats Eliza Morman in Indiana.
Third Murder Committed
Lockett rapes and strangles Sallie Anderson Kraft in Kentucky.
Murder of Geneva Hardman
10-year-old Geneva Hardman is murdered by Lockett in Fayette County.
Lynching Attempt
A mob of 5,000-10,000 attempts to lynch Lockett; police and National Guard open fire.
Martial Law Declared
Brigadier General Marshall declares martial law to control the mob violence.
Trial Begins
Lockett pleads guilty to the murder of Geneva Hardman and admits to three others.
Execution of Will Lockett
Will Lockett is executed by electrocution at Kentucky State Penitentiary.
Petrie Kimbrough, known as Will Lockett, was an American serial killer responsible for the murders of four victims, including a 10-year-old girl, Geneva Hardman, between 1912 and 1920 across Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana. The murder of Hardman occurred on February 4, 1920, in Fayette County, Kentucky, where her belongings were discovered near a cornfield, leading to Lockett's arrest. He confessed to the murders and was executed by electrocution on March 11, 1920, at the Kentucky State Penitentiary. The case gained notoriety not only for Lockett's heinous crimes but also for the violent riots that ensued when a mob attempted to lynch him, prompting the intervention of the National Guard and U.S. Army, resulting in multiple fatalities and the declaration of martial law in the area. Significant evidence included Lockett's confessions and the circumstances surrounding the discovery of Hardman's belongings, which were pivotal in linking him to the crime.
Will Lockett is believed to have committed his murders due to a combination of psychological issues and a troubled upbringing. Some speculate that his violent behavior was influenced by societal factors, including racial tensions and the environment of his time. Additionally, theories suggest that the extreme measures taken by authorities to protect him from lynching highlight the racial dynamics at play in his case, raising questions about justice and race relations in early 20th-century America.
The Tragic Tale of Will Lockett: A Chronicle of Murder and Mayhem
A Notorious Life
Petrie Kimbrough, born in May 1888 in Pembroke, Kentucky, would become infamously known as Will Lockett, a name that echoed fear across the United States between 1912 and 1920. This was an era when Lockett's heinous crimes spanned across three states—Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. His gruesome legacy included the murders of three women and one young girl. Each crime left a scar on communities and shattered lives. His reign of terror ended with his execution for the brutal murder of a 10-year-old schoolgirl named Geneva Hardman. Yet, before his execution, Lockett confessed to three other murders, solidifying his place in the annals of American criminal history.
The Early Murders
Lockett's dark journey began in either 1912 or 1913 with the murder of Clara Miller Rogers, a 25-year-old white woman, near the train tracks in Carmi, Illinois. This brutal act set the tone for the violence that followed. In 1917, Lockett attacked Eliza Morman, a 25-year-old black woman, in Evansville, Indiana. He choked, raped, and beat her, leaving her for dead. Despite these heinous acts, Lockett managed to evade justice and enlisted in the army at Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. There, he continued his spree of violence by raping and strangling Sallie Anderson Kraft, a 55-year-old black woman.
The Murder of Geneva Hardman
The tragic murder of Geneva Hardman on February 4, 1920, would become the final chapter in Lockett's spree. Geneva, a young schoolgirl from Lexington, Kentucky, vanished on her way to school. Her school satchel and cap were discovered by a farmer named Speed Collins near a cornfield in southern Fayette County. Collins, suspecting a student had lost them, took the items to Geneva's school. Her teacher, Mrs. Anna Young, recognized them immediately and sent students to Geneva's home. Her mother had not seen her since that morning.
Upon retracing Geneva's steps, Collins, along with Claude B. Elkin and Thomas Foley, followed the tracks of a large man leading to a gruesome discovery. Geneva's body was found behind a fodder stock, partially covered, with blood-stained ground and a large rock nearby. A hair ribbon lay in the mud—a silent testament to her violent end.
The Manhunt and Capture
The shocking crime ignited a massive manhunt. Captain Volney G. Mullikin and his deputies, aided by bloodhounds, traced the killer's footsteps to the town of Keene in Jessamine County. Despite the presence of schoolchildren and a nearby resident, Bettie McClubbing, no one had heard a struggle. The breakthrough came when James Woolfolk revealed that he had offered a ride to Will Lockett, a known burglar and bootlegger, who had become a WWI veteran and supported himself as a day laborer.
The trail led to Nicholasville, where a farmer, Will Hughes, spotted a mud-covered black man walking along the pike. A search party sighted the suspect but he managed to evade capture until Dr. W. T. Collette and Deputy Sheriff W. C. White apprehended him near Dixontown. Lockett, initially feigning innocence as "Will Hamilton," eventually confessed under interrogation to Assistant Chief Ernest Thompson and Det. Dudley Veal. He admitted attacking Geneva with the intent to rape her, ultimately killing her with a rock.
The Lexington Riots
The arrest of Lockett set off a powder keg of racial tension in Lexington. Governor Edwin P. Morrow, determined to prevent a lynching, dispatched the Kentucky National Guard. Despite this, on February 9, 1920, a lynch mob of 5,000 to 10,000 people attempted to storm the courthouse. The mob's fury was met with force as the National Guard and police opened fire, wounding over 50 rioters and killing six, including five mob members and one bystander.
The violence escalated, leading Governor Morrow to request federal assistance. Brigadier General Francis C. Marshall arrived with 1,200 soldiers, tanks, and machine guns, imposing martial law in Lexington. This unprecedented show of military might dispersed the mob and restored order, albeit temporarily.
Martial Law and Aftermath
To quell further unrest, General Marshall shut down communications within a 100-mile radius and enforced citywide censorship. He organized patrols to safeguard key areas, including the local armory and black districts. Efforts were made to indict riot instigators, but the grand jury eventually decided against pursuing charges to avoid further inflaming tensions.
Trial and Execution
In court, Kimbrough, using his alias Lockett, confessed to the murder of Geneva Hardman. He expressed remorse, stating, "I know I do not deserve mercy, but I am sorry I committed the crime and I would give anything if the little girl could be brought back to life." Despite his defense citing his honorable military discharge, the jury sentenced him to death. On March 11, 1920, Lockett faced the electric chair. Witnesses reported that he showed little emotion as the switch was flipped, ending his life in mere seconds.
Legacy
The case of Will Lockett is a chilling reminder of the era's racial tensions and the lengths to which authorities went to uphold the rule of law. It was a time when the justice system, despite its flaws, sought to prevent mob rule, albeit through extreme measures. The story of Lockett's crimes and the ensuing chaos remains a significant chapter in America's turbulent history.
Sources
For more detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Will Lockett.
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
Loading comments...
First Murder Committed
Will Lockett murders Clara Miller Rogers near train tracks in Illinois.
Second Murder Committed
Lockett chokes, rapes, and beats Eliza Morman in Indiana.
Third Murder Committed
Lockett rapes and strangles Sallie Anderson Kraft in Kentucky.
Murder of Geneva Hardman
10-year-old Geneva Hardman is murdered by Lockett in Fayette County.
Lynching Attempt
A mob of 5,000-10,000 attempts to lynch Lockett; police and National Guard open fire.
Martial Law Declared
Brigadier General Marshall declares martial law to control the mob violence.
Trial Begins
Lockett pleads guilty to the murder of Geneva Hardman and admits to three others.
Execution of Will Lockett
Will Lockett is executed by electrocution at Kentucky State Penitentiary.