What Really Happened to the Men Accused of Killing Johnnie Mae Chappell?

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAAFT0SNND.html

EDITOR'S NOTE - This is part II of a two-part serial narrative about a 1964 race killing that continues to haunt the lives of those who investigated it, and those who loved the victim.
By DEBORAH HASTINGS

AP National Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Sheriff's detective Lee Cody had never seen anyone who wanted to confess as badly as J.W. Rich.

The young man appeared plenty upset, Cody thought. It seemed he couldn't talk fast enough.

The interrogation began at 1 a.m. on Aug. 11, 1964, according to the court reporter's transcript. Cody's partner, Donald Coleman, asked the questions.

"Have you been mistreated in any manner since your arrest?"

"No, sir."

"Are you making this statement of your own free will?"

"Yes, sir."

"Have you been threatened?"

"No, sir."

Rich said four men - all white, all age 22 except for 19-year-old Elmer Kato - had been drinking beer and driving around, listening to the radio describe race riots downtown, where black men and women were setting fires and throwing bricks.

Someone said, "Let's get a nigger," Rich said. Kato drove across the 20th Street Expressway, headed toward Pickettville.

more...this is a really long article, but it is worth reading. The first installment was great too. This writer Deborah Hastings seems to really have it on the ball. Note to mods. I have posted more than a few paragraphs because they were so short. Mostly just questions and answers. If you wish, just post here that you want me to shorten it up, and I will edit it down some more. Thanks.

Don

[liberalhistorian]

1. I'm bookmarking this so

I can read it later; it looks interesting, thanks!

[NNN0LHI]

2. It is really worth it

AP comes out with some really good stuff sometimes. This is an example of one of those times. It is pretty powerful stuff. Glad you got to read it.

Don

[DoctorMyEyes]

3. Thank you

for posting this.

I don't know if you've seen Spike Lees documentary "Four Little Girls", but it was a heartbreaker, and shows their families still grieving.

People like to pretend that America is "beautiful" and chalk things like this up to abberations and isolated incidents, but they were not. How can we ever fix anything if we're in constant denial about our own history?

Here's a link to a site that displays graphics of 81 postcards - that's right - POSTCARDS of lynchings in America.
http://www.musarium.com/withoutsanctuary/main.html

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. I hadn't heard about this in a while

Thanks Don...very well done.

[NNN0LHI]

5. Hey everyone. I will kick this one once because...

...in fact, this is more important than the "Presidential looks" thread. Really.

Don

[Isome]

6. hhhmph!

As pronounced as it is to me, perhaps it's still worth mentioning that though time has passed and allegedly changed the attitudes of this nation's citizens, Johnnie Mae & her family cannot get justice. And, neither Coleman nor Cody are heralded for their courage and integrity when they could have easily hidden behind the flaccid defense of being "men of their time".

AP also did an expose on the land stolen from Black families (mostly rural) since the era of slavery and up to today. If people want an education about why Blacks insist on decrying ongoing racism (even though non-blacks can't see it) they should dive in to it. It should help.

[DoctorMyEyes]

7. kick

:kick: