1883 Wesley Posey riot

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The 1883 Wesley Posey riot was an attempted lynching which took place at the Jefferson County Courthouse in December 1883.

Wesley Posey was accused of attempting to rape a 4-year-old neighbor, Lucy Broyles, in the vicinity of Grace's Gap. It was widely rumored immediately after the report that a mob had already hanged Posey in vengeance for the act. In fact, Acting Jefferson County Sheriff R. H. Hagood had arrested him and was holding him at the Jefferson County Jail adjoining the courthouse at 3rd Avenue North at 21st Street. Posey appeared at an arraignment hearing on December 5 and entered a plea of not guilty. His trial was set for Friday, December 7.

On the evening of the 5th, a mob gathered at the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 20th Street and proceeded toward the jail. Among the leaders of the group seeking to enter and murder Posey were D. W. Austin, William Austin, Henry Lamb, Henry Sanders, Jeff Sims, Thomas Tate, J. P. Davis, Ed Bow, Robert McDaniel, A. J. Tomlin, George Wells and Ed Zuber. Tate was admitted by Sheriff Hagood and told him that, "he might as well surrender Posey to the crowd as they were going to have him one way or the other." Hagood locked the door and warned the mob not to pursue violence, but the did break in and searched the building to no avail. As a precaution, the Sheriff had already taken the prisoner to be guarded at an isolated spot in the woods north of Stouts Road, from which he was later moved to a cedar glade about two miles from the home of Frank Barton.

Hagood also contacted Governor Edward O'Neal to activate the state militia. Five companies, including the Birmingham Rifles and Warrior Guards, restored order at the courthouse and secured the accused until he could be tried.

The Jefferson County Circuit Court being already in session, agreed to hasten a trial, which commenced on the morning of Wednesday December 12. Solicitor Thomas Coleman prosecuted the case for the state. The judge appointed Mitchell Porter, Rufus Cobb and Robert Pearson to represent the accused. He dismissed Pearson's motion for a change of venue on the grounds that peace had been restored, and a jury was empaneled, consisting of W. J. Vann, L. G. Bass, R. W. Owen, F. R. McDonald, J. M. Huey, J. E. Fields, James Eubank, S. B. Copeland, J. M. Franklin, F. M. Robertson, J. B. Ellard and Felix Montgomery.

Broyles' parents both testified against Posey, who had lived near their home "off and on about two years" and had been run off by Mr Broyles on prior occasions for "constantly creating disturbances among his men." Lucy was present in court, but, "could not be induced to talk." Acting sheriff Hagood and policeman T. Z. Hagood also testified, saying that after being secreted to safety in the woods, they had both heard Posey admit guilt. After a recess, deputy Nathaniel Hawkins testified that after Posey had been moved, Frank Barton had appeared and asked Posey if he were not guilty, to which the suspect answered that he was, in both their hearing. With that testimony, and an evaluation of bodily evidence, including suspected symptoms of venereal disease from physicians A. T. Henley and Sam Cross, the prosecution rested its case. The defense called A. J. Tomlin, who also testified to hearing Posey confess. Dr Mortimer Jordan Jr told the jury that in his opinion, the bodily evidence as reported to the court was inconclusive. Posey's sister, Louisa, testified that she had seen Lucy Broyles at their house, and later saw her brother at the Broyles' gate.

With no further witnesses to call, Coleman made his closing arguments, followed by Cobb and Porter for the defense. The jury went into chambers at 5:00, and returned a verdict of guilty at 7:00.

Posey was found guilty at trial, and sentenced to be hanged.

In 1884 the Supreme Court of Alabama heard an appeal of a writ of error entered on Posey's behalf by his trial attorneys. The Supreme Court found cause for the trial court to review the question of venue as it related to the formation of an impartial jury. The Circuit Court agreed to the change of venue and a new trial was held in Montgomery County.

Posey died in jail before that hearing took place, rendering the proceeding moot.

The leaders of the mob were brought to trial for unlawful assembly, unlawful entry, and conspiracy to commit murder in August 1884. Mitchell Porter and A. S. Hawkins argued for the state. William H. Smith, D. D. Smith, Tipton Bradford, R. H. Sterret, H. A. Sharp, and J. H. Weatherly represented the defendants. All were acquitted.

References

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