New Book by WOODY MAGLINGER III
DARK DAYS IN THE OHIO VALLEY: THREE WESTERN KENTUCKY LYNCHINGS, 1884-1911
New Book by WOODY MAGLINGER III
Owensboro, KY - July 13, 1884
Hawesville, KY - Sept. 26, 1897
Hawesville, KY - Sept. 26, 1897
Without warning, the Ohio River ferry bell pierced the humid, pitch-black midnight air. Just then, several gangs of masked men on horseback galloped into town, converging upon Daviess County’s courthouse square from all directions and intent upon seizing Dick May. As the armed, shadowy figures dismounted and approached the side gate of the jailer's residence, Jailer William Lucas loaded his shotgun, determined not to surrender his prisoner nor see his community abandon the rule of law....
Hawesville, KY - Sept. 26, 1897
Hawesville, KY - Sept. 26, 1897
Hawesville, KY - Sept. 26, 1897
As the late Sunday afternoon sun sank behind Lover’s Leap ridge, more than 500 men, women and children crowded the downtown streets and surrounding hillsides. A chaotic scene soon erupted, as angry townspeople overwhelmed the tiny Hancock County jail to retrieve Raymond Bushrod and drag him across the street to the courthouse lawn. There, at the foot of a mighty poplar tree, the trembling, condemned man was asked to confess to his alleged crime….
Livermore, KY - April 20, 1911
Hawesville, KY - Sept. 26, 1897
Livermore, KY - April 20, 1911
As night fell across Green River country, the mob assembled in front of the modest riverfront opera house became increasingly agitated. Sometime around 7:30, they surged against the building’s doors to reach Will Potter, who had been hidden there by local police. The doors flung open and flooded the darkened theater with moonlight from the street. The morbid melodrama that would be staged next would soon capture the imagination—and conscience—of citizens across America and beyond….
About THE AUTHOR
Woody Maglinger III
Woodrow Wilson (Woody) Maglinger III joined Kentucky's largest pubic relations firm, RunSwitch PR, as a Senior Account Director in December 2019, following a career of nearly two decades in state and local government.
Woody is a graduate of the University of Kentucky (BA in History/Political Science) and Western Kentucky University (MA in History). One of his passions is Kentucky history, having taught courses courses at Western Kentucky University-Owensboro and Kentucky Wesleyan College.