The suspects are identified as Jimmy ONeal Lewis and Cedric Tennessee. A black businessman was burned to death in tiny Ferriday, La., in 1964. He was killed when the shop burned down in 1964. FERRIDAY, La. Nelson investigated rumors that police officers possibly committed the arson; according to Della Mae Smith, "Deputy Frank DeLaughter had organized the arson" and local police had set the home ablaze. "He gave up," and authorities were able to place him under arrest, he said. Once arrested himself on a false claim and held in the local jail for two weeks, Whatley said a primary function of the Ferriday Deacons was to protest the unlawful arrests of local black men. All rights reserved. Whatley said Deacons held meetings at Mercy Seat Baptist Church, where shoe shop owner Frank Morris had served as an usher, as well as Mount Olive Baptist Church and St. Charles Catholic Church. These men had long been outraged by one horrid memory the 1964 arson murder of Ferriday shoe shop owner Frank Morris.No one was ever arrested for the killing. Who would you like to see as our next U.S. president? Harp and colleagues also found a "slightly scorched" suitcase filled with fourteen and a half pints of bourbon. Atcheson, who was familiar with the Deacons for Defense and Justice, later told FBI agent Don McGorty that Ferriday resident Victor Graham had contacted the Jonesboro Deacons and that a month later, in August 1965, the Ferriday chapter was formed. [2] Scarborough, while under investigation for both Jackson's and Morris's murders, denied any involvement, stating that "every time something happens to a Negro it is immediately blamed on white people. We believe there had been some type of verbal altercation from maybe an ongoing dispute. Donnie Sanders III, 24, is charged with second-degree murder. Copyright 2019 WLBT. [2], The FBI reopened the Frank Morris investigation in 2007, as part of the Civil Rights Era Cold Case Initiative. Ferriday Police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide that happened Wednesday afternoon. Donnie. Jeff Davis 8: The True Story of the 'Murder in the Bayou' Killings All games are FREE. The sheriffs office said the incident happened on June 23 in the Ferriday area in northeast Louisiana. Some members of local law enforcement, including Concordia Parish Sheriff Department deputies Frank DeLaughter and Bill Ogden, were members of the Silver Dollar Group. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. Two white CORE members, who practiced the non-violent approach championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were beaten. We worked into the night (Sunday). Warrant issued in Ferriday killing - Hanna Newspapers Duncan and a few other young, armed Deacons piled into his brothers canary yellow Pontiac to rescue Lewis, who also received help from a white bondsman from New Orleans. hide caption. FERRIDAY, La. When Lewis was released after serving two weeks, Whatley and Antonne Duncan were part of a Deacon team organized to get him home safely. Failure to solve Ku Klux Klan-linked murder prompts anger, 47 years on The group was largely found in Mississippi and Louisiana, and was named for their practice of identifying themselves by carrying a silver dollar. "We don't really know what the motive is," Ard said. According to investigators, on the night of the murder Frederick McCray Jr. gave a ride to the two suspects. His daily tasks included repairing shoes and saddles, selling jewellery, hats, and clothing, and dyeing purses. The group is also suspected in the disappearance and murder of an African American employee of the Shamrock Motel, Joseph Edwards. The 2020 Ferriday crime rate rose by 14% compared to 2019. The project reporters have already produced information in high-profile cases that prosecutors have used to build criminal cases against killers and conspirators who had walked free for more than 40 years. The expiry of the grand jury looking into the civil rights era murder of Frank Morris in the small town of Ferriday, Louisiana, has prompted expressions of anger and frustration from those . In October 2008, Congress passed the Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, to provide the Department of Justice and FBI millions of dollars to investigate these cases. [according to whom?] [2], By the fall of 1967, E.D. Morace, Tommie Lee Jones, Thor Lee Torgersen, and James Lee Scarborough were the primary suspects in the murder of Frank Morris. There were two children, ages 1 and 7, in the Ernests home when the killing occurred, but they were unharmed and eventually went to a neighbors home for help, Ard said. [2] All four men were questioned and denied any involvement in the arson and murder. This went on month after month while I was in this school system.. Battered and ostracized while he attended Ferriday High, Whatley would go on to serve in Vietnam. The investigation revealed new allegations that local police officers were tampering with the investigation by threatening witnesses. Frank Morris fathered one child, and had two grandchildren. 0. Virginia online court records do not list an attorney for Theriot. To date, every civil rights murder case that has been reopened and successfully prosecuted was the direct result of an investigation initiated by a journalist. We do feel this is isolated to those individuals and we dont feel the community is in any danger at this point.. The Deacons were unlike any such group before or since. In the last 5 years Ferriday has seen decreasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. Cold Case: James Ford Seale: A sheriff's election, nine deaths and a silver dollar, Cold Case: Who killed Joseph Edwards? If they can summon the moral fortitude and courage to contact the FBI and tell us what they know, they will be heroes who will change history. These men had long been outraged by one horrid memory - the 1964 arson murder of Ferriday shoe shop owner Frank Morris. Ferriday police responded to shots fired at approximately noon Sunday and found a man deceased with gunshot wounds upon their arrival. In addition to each member owning his own weapon, the agent wrote, the unit allegedly possessed three semi-automatic carbines and two walkie-talkies used when patrolling. Frank Morris (in the apron and visor) is seen standing in front of his shoe shop in Ferriday, La., in the 1950s. Louisiana State University Press, 2016. Delaughter lied about his location during the arson, claiming that he was out of the jurisdiction on a non-emergency call. He told the FBI in 1965 that though he was not a member, Deacons had sought his advice and counsel. CPSO officials said the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide and there are no suspects at large. Now, 46 years later, Stanley Nelson, the editor of the Concordia Sentinel newspaper, says he has found information that may implicate a man as a member of a Klan "wrecking crew," which is said by sources Nelson has interviewed to be responsible for burning down the shop. He was able to escape the shop but sustained burns on 100% of his body. FERRIDAY, La. There have been allegations of witness intimidation, evidence tampering, and involvement by local law enforcement. "So, this is a monster.". COREs main task was to test whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were being implemented, and for this their workers suffered in Ferriday. Wed walk nights with rifles on our shoulders like you would see in some foreign countries, Whatley said. Whatley contacted COREs central office after the attack, sparking an FBI investigation. The FBI concluded the investigation in 2016 when investigators determined there was insufficient evidence to charge any individual with any federal crimes; furthermore, important witnesses, suspects, and informants were dead. [2], Stanley Nelson, an award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist, published Devils Walking: Klan Murders along the Mississippi in the 1960s, after a series of articles in the Concordia Sentinel. Theriots grandmother was worried he would be headed her way and asked Richmond County, Virginia, sheriff's deputies to go to her home, Sheriff Stephan Smith has said. Louisiana family seeks answers in cold case disappearance, murder Morris opened Frank's Shoes Service in the late 1930s, in his hometown of Ferriday, Louisiana. [2] Morace requested that Klan members from Mississippi "give him a beating". Police investigating Labor Day homicide in Ferriday - NewsBreak On 50th anniversary of Ferriday civil rights killing - Louisiana Voice The FBI opened a full investigation into his murder due to its civil rights implications, as Jackson was treasurer of the local chapter of the NAACP. (KNOE) - Authorities are investigating what they believe to be a murder-suicide in Concordia Parish. Two WHARBOM informants also reported information regarding the murder of Morris, and the FBI reopened the Morris investigation in August 1967. A local black teacher claimed that after the arson, a rumor was spreading that Morris was facilitating interracial liaisons. The 2020 crime rate in Ferriday, LA is 192 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.3 times smaller than the U.S. average. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Police investigating Labor Day homicide in Ferriday. At the time of his death, Morris owned the land his shop was on, and he was seen as an honest man who paid his bills on time. FERRIDAY, La. A handful of members throughout the state also served as deacons within their churches, while others made their livings as teachers, construction workers, farm hands and general laborers. [according to whom?] 2021-09-07. The suspects then drove the body to an old food plant, where they hid it under plywood and garbage. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Natchez pastry chef Molly Manning Robertson in bake off for last spot in Spring Baking Championship finale, VIDEO: Funeral procession for long-time sheriff Tommy Ferrell passes by Adams County Sheriffs Office, Calm, focused and ready: The role of an ER nurse, A Team Sport: Emergency medicine, first-responders share common goal of saving lives, 2023, Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper. "[6][pageneeded], Ferriday locals thought highly of Morris, who was a community-centric man who gave many young black men their first paying job; Morris also hosted a radio gospel program. [2] After one of the subjects lit a match, the shop caught fire; Morris was still present in the building. Lewis later told the Concordia Sentinel that it was a dreaded thing for a black man to be placed into a police car and taken to jail. That continues today, and even now.. We were able to get a dying declaration from the dad before he expired, Webre said. Nelson published the story Wednesday morning outlining the the allegations against Spencer. UPDATE: Joint investigation leads to arrest of Ferriday man involved in CONCORDIA PARISH, La. Frank Morris (in the apron and visor) is seen standing in front of his shoe shop in Ferriday, La., in the 1950s. FERRIDAY, La. NATCHEZ, Miss. Webre said that Theirots wounded father called 911 to report the shootings in Ascension Parish. The group killed an African American man, Frank Morris, by arson in Ferriday, Louisiana, and is suspected in two car bombings of NAACP leaders in Natchez, Mississippi, George Metcalfe and Wharlest Jackson. Part 2:In Bogalusa, the Deacons fought violence with violence. (KTVE/KARD) On Tuesday August 17 shortly after 2:00 a.m., troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a fatal crash on . A Louisiana man accused of shooting to death five people, including his parents, at two locations last week has confessed to the killings, but the motive is still unknown, authorities said. All rights reserved. Frank Morris (in the apron and visor) is seen standing in front of his shoe shop in Ferriday, La., in the 1950s. The suspect had been living with the Ernest family for a couple of weeks before the killings, Ard has said. Whatley also was at a great risk for Klan attacks because CORE workers were housed in his grandmothers home, where he also lived. As far as why this happened, that motive is still unclear," Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre said at the news conference. One unique feature of the Ferriday Deacons was that they had what Whatley called the Junior Deacons League, composed of a half dozen teenagers. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Concordia Parish authorities investigating suspected murder-suicide - KNOE The sheriff's office said the suspect allegedly pointed a gun out the window of his vehicle causing deputies to seek cover, and that he was ordered to drop his weapon and was arrested without incident. Theriots parents, Keith and Elizabeth Theriot, were killed at their home in Ascension Parish and Keith Theriot gave information to investigators before he died that pointed to his son as the suspect, the sheriff of that parish has said. "We are actively, as we speak involved in this investigation. On May 20, 2005, the decomposed body of 28-year-old Loretta Lynn Chaisson Lewis was fished out of a canal on the outskirts of Jennings, in the Jefferson Davis Parish of southwest Louisiana. FERRIDAY, La. FERRIDAY, La. Ferriday, La. These men had long been outraged by one horrid memory the 1964 arson murder of Ferriday shoe shop owner Frank Morris. He had previously dedicated songs to white women on his radio show and would lean into their cars and occasionally sit in their passenger seats. When he saw one of the perpetrators fleeing the scene, he instinctively raised his gun and pulled the trigger, only to hear an empty click. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Friday morning. The sheriff's office says the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide and that there . Nelson is a member of the Civil Rights Cold Case Project, a group of journalists, filmmakers, law schools and other organizations created in 2008 by Paperny Films in Canada and the Center for Investigative Reporting in Berkeley, Calif. With the help of FBI documents Nelson received through Freedom of Information requests and from the Syracuse College of Law Cold Case Justice Initiative, and extensive interviews with those who knew Morris or about the case, he was able to piece together the story, ultimately naming a person suspected of being involved: Arthur Leonard Spencer, 71, of Rayville, La. Police say the couple was at the woman's mother house at the time. "Weve got a better picture on how this happened," the sheriff said of the five killings. All games are FREE. In December 1964, Frank Morris' shoe shop was set ablaze in the middle of the night. Come nightfall, hed study his lessons by a spotlight illuminating his grandmothers lawn while keeping watch for violent Klansmen enraged over his involvement in the civil rights movement. McCray drove the suspects to a location around Bayou Drive in Ferriday, where the suspects pulled out a gun and shot him. [citation needed], Ferriday is located in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, across the Mississippi River from Adams County, Mississippi. The Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office (CPSO) is leading the investigation into the shooting at 106 Gremillion Street. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Representatives of the non-violent Congress of Racial Equality flocked to Ferriday, deemed an outlaw town by the U.S. Justice Departments head civil rights attorney, John Doar. (KTVE/KARD) On Wednesday September 15, officers with the Ferriday Police Department arrested 19-year-old Denzel Washington for 2nd Degree Murder. Officials had said that Theriot was believed to have been Summers boyfriend, but her family strongly denies that they were dating. In 1965, Klansmen had bombed the home of Whatleys neighbor, Robert L. Buck Lewis Jr., who had raced outside with a shotgun to defend his family against the perpetrators. [4] Multiple disappearances and murders in the Natchez, Mississippi, area were connected to both the KKK and the SDG. Ferriday teen arrested for 2nd Degree Murder - myarklamiss.com Read full article on original website. In an interview with Nelson, Spencer denies those allegations. Part 1:A half-century ago in Jonesboro, armed black men fought back. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office was called to the home at around 8:47 a.m. that morning, he said. Ferridays population of more than 4,500 residents was roughly half black and half white in the mid-1960s, a time when black citizens quietly celebrated civil rights wins and white supremacists desperately tried to halt legislative and social change. [5] Jackson had recently been promoted to a position never before held by an African American. Lets do it intellectually not forcefully, Whatley said. They were identified as 65-year-old Mark Clark and 49-year-old Donna R. Clark, both of Ferriday. They were identified as 65-year-old Mark Clark and 49-year-old Donna R. Clark, both of Ferriday. Morris, in particular, is featured in this text. [2] The FBI had received information that local law enforcement officials had been involved. Harp described Morris as an alcoholic and had two confrontations with him during 19631965, as well as a small argument outside of the courthouse. DOJ names suspects; closes 1964 case, "Americas | US man in 1964 race attack charge", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Silver_Dollar_Group&oldid=1151221382, Racially motivated violence against African Americans, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 April 2023, at 17:09. Although acknowledging he was hesitant, Judge John Reeves recused himself Thursday from conducting a hearing for a convicted Ferriday murderer who has spent the past 10 years in the Louisiana State Penitentiary. There have been allegations of witness intimidation, evidence tampering, and involvement by local law enforcement. This page was last edited on 3 April 2023, at 04:13. The preliminary investigation concluded that Morris had not been involved in any racially motivated activities. Despite the damage the bomb caused to his home and the threat it posed to his family, Lewis was handcuffed by Ferriday police and charged with aggravated assault, according to FBI and CORE documents. Morris, a black man who had operated a business with a devoted interracial clientele for 30 years, had become a role model for young black men, many of whom got their first jobs as children helping Morris around his shop. Who would you like to see as our next U.S. president? ", Courtesy of the Concordia Sentinel and William Brown, Concorida Sentinel: Rayville Man Implicated In Morris Case, Concordia Sentinel: Feds Vow To Solve Morris Murder, Civil Rights Cold Case Project: Frank Morris Case, Civil Rights Cold Case Project: Frank Morris Case Archives, 2010 Report: Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007. Authorities in Louisiana will seek to extradite Theriot from Virginia, Webre said. So when there was a problem, there was a way of communicating to them what was going on.. The following day Morris's shop was attacked. [2] This witness also received death threats, and his home was fired upon on multiple occasions. Our sincere condolences are offered to his family, friends, and coworkers.. In Ferriday, La., an 'outlaw town,' the Deacons took a stand [5], Following the bombing, the FBI launched operation "WHARBOM"[5] and placed multiple informants within Klan groups surrounding Natchez. He was targeted by the SDG. CPSO says upon arrival, they found two bodies with fatal gunshot wounds. Published: Sep. 11, 2019 at 7:15 PM PDT. The Silver Dollar Group (SDG) was a violent and exceptionally militant Klan offshoot that operated in Adams County between 1964 and 1967. The victim, identified as Grant Dunbar, 24, was found dead at a residence in the area of Fifth Street and Georgia Avenue in Ferriday, said Ferriday Police Chief Sam King. Once their mission was complete, members quietly returned to their modest lives. One night in January 1966 as Whatley slept, his first cousin and fellow Deacon, Joe Davis, fell asleep during his shift to guard the Whatley home. Carl Ray Thompson, then 26, spotted his cousin's two-toned. 4/23/2021 7:14 AM PT. Solving A 1964 Cold Case: Mystery Of Frank Morris : NPR The sheriffs office says the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide and that there are no suspects at large. In his first year of teaching at Morgantown, Mr. McCray was named the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year. According to authorities, McCray was a teacher in Natchez with two degrees. They quickly gave chase, pursuing the yellow Pontiac for several miles before Duncan watched their headlights start fading away. FERRIDAY, La. The Deacons connection to churches inspired the groups name. "We dont know if we will ever have a motive exactly why this happened.". Sons of KKK members haunted by sins of their fathers - The Daily Advertiser The sheriff said Theriot is cooperating with the investigation. Dakota Theriot was taken into custody in Virginia after killing five people in Louisiana on Jan. 27, 2019. Cynthia Deitle, the chief of the FBI's civil rights unit, sent the Concordia Sentinel newspaper an e-mail with this response: "I am convinced that there are individuals alive today who know who killed Mr. Morris. According to police, the man shot his girlfriend and then shot himself. Warrants have been signed for a Ferriday man who allegedly shot and killed another Ferriday man early Saturday morning in Ferriday. [2] Three new subjects were identified, but the investigators did not uncover any credible physical evidence supporting the allegations. The Deacons believed that arming themselves was the only way to hold off the Klan and protect their homes, neighborhoods and the white and black civil rights workers who came from across the country to help achieve equality. Silver Dollar Group - Wikipedia CONCORDIA PARISH, La. "Cold Case: Morris' Granddaughter Says FBI $10,000 Reward Gives Her New Hope". Morris was interviewed three times; however, he was heavily medicated. Law officials said deputies responded to a report of a. Frank Morris was a 51-year-old black businessman in Ferriday who ran a shoe shop and repair store, where he served both black and white customers. Investigators say the people involved were 19 and 20-years . Morris opened the front door of the shop, where he was met by two men in their thirties, one of whom was armed with a shotgun. By Sabrina Simms Robertson. "We just know what he did. Courtesy of the Concordia Sentinel and William Brown [1][pageneeded] The shop was also his residence. Their assistance was invaluable and their response in working this case with us, he said. Morris, a black man who had . Ferriday police chief: Two arrests made in Sunday afternoon killing in Authorities say they have given full confessions and are both charged with murder. Ferriday Police investigating suspected murder-suicide, West Monroe man arrested after allegedly raping adopted daughter, Monroe duo arrested for alleged sex trafficking of minor, 10-year-old shot during argument, Marion man arrested, 2 Winnfield residents arrested following death of 3 year old, One lucky winner in Arkansas is about to become $2.338M richer, La. No subscription required to play. Authorities in Concordia Parish say they are investigating the murder of a man recently named Teacher of the Year. No one was ever arrested for the killing. In February1968, the second investigation was closed when the FBI determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge any of the suspects. King thanked Concordia Parish Sheriffs Office and its deputies who worked jointly with Ferriday Police in this investigation, he said. Ard said that investigators believe Theriot had been living with the Ernest family for two weeks, and that the killings happened a short time after Theriot rode with Billy Ernest to drop his wife off at work and they returned to the home. The Deacons came to life solely to protect their communities and others victimized by Klansmen and police.
