Young Brothers Massacre
Law Enforcement Massacre Case
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Brookline, Missouri
TIME PERIOD
January 2, 1932
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
On January 2, 1932, a violent confrontation known as the Young Brothers massacre occurred outside a farmhouse near Brookline, Missouri, resulting in the deaths of six law enforcement officers. The incident unfolded when Sheriff Marcell Hendrix and a posse attempted to arrest Harry and Jennings Young, notorious for their involvement in an extensive auto theft ring and linked to the murder of City Marshal Mark Noe in 1929. During the attempted arrest, officers were met with gunfire from inside the house, where the Young brothers were believed to be hiding, leading to a chaotic shootout that left multiple officers dead. As of 2024, the site of the massacre has been demolished, marking a significant historical event in law enforcement history due to its tragic loss of life.
The Young Brothers massacre is believed to have been a result of the brothers' escalating criminal activities, particularly their involvement in a large auto theft ring. Many speculate that the confrontation was inevitable due to the brothers' notoriety and the law enforcement's determination to apprehend them after the murder of City Marshal Mark Noe. Some theories suggest that the violence was exacerbated by the tense atmosphere of the "Public Enemy Era," where criminals often engaged in deadly shootouts with law enforcement.
The Young Brothers Massacre: A Tragic Tale of Law and Loss
Prelude to a Catastrophe
January 2, 1932, began like any other day in the tranquil village of Brookline, Missouri, nestled in the Ozarks. However, by afternoon, it would become the site of the deadliest attack on law enforcement officers in the United States during the 20th century, forever etching the Young Brothers massacre into American history.
The Young brothers—Paul, Harry, and Jennings—were no strangers to the law. Known as small-time thieves throughout the 1920s in southwest Missouri, they had all served time in the Missouri State Penitentiary, affectionately nicknamed "Old Jeff," for their crimes of burglary and theft. Jennings and Paul even did stints at Leavenworth for their offenses. Despite their criminal records, local authorities considered them non-violent until a fateful day in 1929.
On June 2, 1929, Harry Young, with an accomplice, murdered Mark Noe, the City Marshal of Republic, Missouri, after Noe attempted to arrest him for drunk driving. Following this, the Young brothers vanished, supposedly living under aliases in Texas while engaging in large-scale auto theft. The FBI later described their operation as one of the largest of its kind at the time. Yet, despite their criminal endeavors, family ties pulled Harry and his brother Jennings, known as "Jinx," back to Missouri by the end of 1931.
A Deadly Encounter
On that fateful January day, Sheriff Marcell Hendrix of Greene County received a tip that Harry and Jennings were at their family's farm near Brookline. Determined to apprehend the fugitives, Hendrix quickly assembled a posse of ten police officers and one civilian. Together, they ventured to the farm, woefully underprepared for what awaited them. Armed only with handguns and carrying minimal ammunition, they approached the farmhouse with caution.
As the officers gathered in the front yard, they called for the brothers to surrender. Silence was their only answer, though Officer Ollie Crosswhite noted the sound of footsteps inside. Attempting to smoke them out, Sheriff Hendrix ordered tear gas into the house, but it proved ineffective. Undeterred, Hendrix and Deputy Sheriff Wiley Mashburn chose a more direct approach, kicking down the back door to storm inside.
The response was immediate and deadly. Gunfire erupted from within the house as Harry and Jennings unleashed a barrage of bullets from a 12-gauge shotgun and a .32-20 rifle. Hendrix and Mashburn fell first, mortally wounded. Chaos ensued as officers outside fired blindly into the windows, desperately trying to suppress the shooters. But the Youngs remained steadfast, pouring deadly fire onto the exposed officers.
In quick succession, officers Tony Oliver, Sid Meadows, and Charles Houser were cut down. Out of ammunition and surrounded by gunfire, the remaining lawmen had no choice but to retreat, leaving behind their fallen comrades. Unbeknownst to them, Officer Crosswhite remained unscathed, crouched behind a storm cellar. His luck ran out when the brothers spotted him. One pinned him down with rifle fire while the other crept up and executed him with a shotgun blast to the head.
As reinforcements scrambled from Springfield, the Young brothers looted the bodies of the slain officers, taking both money and weapons before vanishing into the night.
The Hunt and Its Grim Conclusion
A nationwide manhunt ensued, and the Young brothers were soon traced to a rented room in Houston, Texas. On January 5, Houston police surrounded the building and demanded their surrender. The brothers responded with gunfire, prompting the officers to return fire. After a tense silence, several shots rang out from within, followed by a chilling call: "We're dead—come on in."
Inside, officers found Jennings dead and Harry gravely injured from multiple gunshot wounds. The firearms taken from the fallen Brookline officers lay beside them. The coroner concluded that the brothers had entered a suicide pact, shooting each other to evade capture. Yet, some speculate that the officers might have fired the fatal shots.
Legacy of the Young Brothers Massacre
The Young Brothers massacre left an indelible mark on law enforcement, prompting a shift towards more professional and cautious approaches in armed standoffs, particularly where suspects had a history of violence against police officers. Today, a monument stands in front of the police headquarters and the Greene County Courts building in Springfield, honoring the six officers who gave their lives.
The massacre has since permeated popular culture, inspiring a CD of songs by ChappelLocke publishing and a docudrama titled "Come On In We're Dead," produced by Terminus Pictures in Atlanta and released in August 2018.
Sources
- Young Brothers Massacre near Springfield, Missouri 1932 Paul and Jennings Young kill 6 officers in shoot-out
- Plein, Chad (January 7, 2022). "Ozarks Life Vault: Young Brothers Massacre of 1932". KY3
- Six, Chris (December 9, 2024). "House connected to the 1932 Young Brothers massacre intentionally burned down". KY3
- Young Brothers Massacre
Full text of the Woodside book with photos
Springfield News-Leader articles on the massacre
Stephen's detailed report of the story
Coordinates: 37°11′08″N 93°23′33″W
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City Marshal Murdered
Harry Young murders City Marshal Mark Noe after being stopped for drunk driving.
Young Brothers Massacre
A gun battle occurs between law enforcement and the Young brothers, resulting in the deaths of six officers.
Brothers Found Dead
Houston police discover Jennings Young dead and Harry Young mortally wounded in a bathroom after a standoff.
National Manhunt Begins
A manhunt is launched for the Young brothers following the massacre, leading to their discovery in Houston.
Law Enforcement Changes
The massacre prompts law enforcement to adopt more cautious approaches to armed standoffs.
Site Demolished
The property where the Young Brothers massacre occurred is demolished.
On January 2, 1932, a violent confrontation known as the Young Brothers massacre occurred outside a farmhouse near Brookline, Missouri, resulting in the deaths of six law enforcement officers. The incident unfolded when Sheriff Marcell Hendrix and a posse attempted to arrest Harry and Jennings Young, notorious for their involvement in an extensive auto theft ring and linked to the murder of City Marshal Mark Noe in 1929. During the attempted arrest, officers were met with gunfire from inside the house, where the Young brothers were believed to be hiding, leading to a chaotic shootout that left multiple officers dead. As of 2024, the site of the massacre has been demolished, marking a significant historical event in law enforcement history due to its tragic loss of life.
The Young Brothers massacre is believed to have been a result of the brothers' escalating criminal activities, particularly their involvement in a large auto theft ring. Many speculate that the confrontation was inevitable due to the brothers' notoriety and the law enforcement's determination to apprehend them after the murder of City Marshal Mark Noe. Some theories suggest that the violence was exacerbated by the tense atmosphere of the "Public Enemy Era," where criminals often engaged in deadly shootouts with law enforcement.
The Young Brothers Massacre: A Tragic Tale of Law and Loss
Prelude to a Catastrophe
January 2, 1932, began like any other day in the tranquil village of Brookline, Missouri, nestled in the Ozarks. However, by afternoon, it would become the site of the deadliest attack on law enforcement officers in the United States during the 20th century, forever etching the Young Brothers massacre into American history.
The Young brothers—Paul, Harry, and Jennings—were no strangers to the law. Known as small-time thieves throughout the 1920s in southwest Missouri, they had all served time in the Missouri State Penitentiary, affectionately nicknamed "Old Jeff," for their crimes of burglary and theft. Jennings and Paul even did stints at Leavenworth for their offenses. Despite their criminal records, local authorities considered them non-violent until a fateful day in 1929.
On June 2, 1929, Harry Young, with an accomplice, murdered Mark Noe, the City Marshal of Republic, Missouri, after Noe attempted to arrest him for drunk driving. Following this, the Young brothers vanished, supposedly living under aliases in Texas while engaging in large-scale auto theft. The FBI later described their operation as one of the largest of its kind at the time. Yet, despite their criminal endeavors, family ties pulled Harry and his brother Jennings, known as "Jinx," back to Missouri by the end of 1931.
A Deadly Encounter
On that fateful January day, Sheriff Marcell Hendrix of Greene County received a tip that Harry and Jennings were at their family's farm near Brookline. Determined to apprehend the fugitives, Hendrix quickly assembled a posse of ten police officers and one civilian. Together, they ventured to the farm, woefully underprepared for what awaited them. Armed only with handguns and carrying minimal ammunition, they approached the farmhouse with caution.
As the officers gathered in the front yard, they called for the brothers to surrender. Silence was their only answer, though Officer Ollie Crosswhite noted the sound of footsteps inside. Attempting to smoke them out, Sheriff Hendrix ordered tear gas into the house, but it proved ineffective. Undeterred, Hendrix and Deputy Sheriff Wiley Mashburn chose a more direct approach, kicking down the back door to storm inside.
The response was immediate and deadly. Gunfire erupted from within the house as Harry and Jennings unleashed a barrage of bullets from a 12-gauge shotgun and a .32-20 rifle. Hendrix and Mashburn fell first, mortally wounded. Chaos ensued as officers outside fired blindly into the windows, desperately trying to suppress the shooters. But the Youngs remained steadfast, pouring deadly fire onto the exposed officers.
In quick succession, officers Tony Oliver, Sid Meadows, and Charles Houser were cut down. Out of ammunition and surrounded by gunfire, the remaining lawmen had no choice but to retreat, leaving behind their fallen comrades. Unbeknownst to them, Officer Crosswhite remained unscathed, crouched behind a storm cellar. His luck ran out when the brothers spotted him. One pinned him down with rifle fire while the other crept up and executed him with a shotgun blast to the head.
As reinforcements scrambled from Springfield, the Young brothers looted the bodies of the slain officers, taking both money and weapons before vanishing into the night.
The Hunt and Its Grim Conclusion
A nationwide manhunt ensued, and the Young brothers were soon traced to a rented room in Houston, Texas. On January 5, Houston police surrounded the building and demanded their surrender. The brothers responded with gunfire, prompting the officers to return fire. After a tense silence, several shots rang out from within, followed by a chilling call: "We're dead—come on in."
Inside, officers found Jennings dead and Harry gravely injured from multiple gunshot wounds. The firearms taken from the fallen Brookline officers lay beside them. The coroner concluded that the brothers had entered a suicide pact, shooting each other to evade capture. Yet, some speculate that the officers might have fired the fatal shots.
Legacy of the Young Brothers Massacre
The Young Brothers massacre left an indelible mark on law enforcement, prompting a shift towards more professional and cautious approaches in armed standoffs, particularly where suspects had a history of violence against police officers. Today, a monument stands in front of the police headquarters and the Greene County Courts building in Springfield, honoring the six officers who gave their lives.
The massacre has since permeated popular culture, inspiring a CD of songs by ChappelLocke publishing and a docudrama titled "Come On In We're Dead," produced by Terminus Pictures in Atlanta and released in August 2018.
Sources
- Young Brothers Massacre near Springfield, Missouri 1932 Paul and Jennings Young kill 6 officers in shoot-out
- Plein, Chad (January 7, 2022). "Ozarks Life Vault: Young Brothers Massacre of 1932". KY3
- Six, Chris (December 9, 2024). "House connected to the 1932 Young Brothers massacre intentionally burned down". KY3
- Young Brothers Massacre
Full text of the Woodside book with photos
Springfield News-Leader articles on the massacre
Stephen's detailed report of the story
Coordinates: 37°11′08″N 93°23′33″W
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...
City Marshal Murdered
Harry Young murders City Marshal Mark Noe after being stopped for drunk driving.
Young Brothers Massacre
A gun battle occurs between law enforcement and the Young brothers, resulting in the deaths of six officers.
Brothers Found Dead
Houston police discover Jennings Young dead and Harry Young mortally wounded in a bathroom after a standoff.
National Manhunt Begins
A manhunt is launched for the Young brothers following the massacre, leading to their discovery in Houston.
Law Enforcement Changes
The massacre prompts law enforcement to adopt more cautious approaches to armed standoffs.
Site Demolished
The property where the Young Brothers massacre occurred is demolished.