Headlines in 1901 read “Geo. Shivery, a white man, hanged by mob yesterday”
Newspapers began reporting on March 24th 1901 the events leading up to a mob lynching. On March 23, 1901, at 1:30 a.m. George Shivery was hung by an angry mob from the Black River bridge in Pocahontas, Arkansas for the alleged crime of killing a city marshal.
George Shivery and his wife and four children lived along the Black River. On the evening of March 20th Shivery allegedly shot and killed John Norris, a city marshal.
Shivery had allegedly confronted Marshal Norris regarding the Norris’ attempt to cut loose a raft on the river.
Newspaper reports of the day described the murder as “cold-blooded, atrocious, without provocation.”
Norris was reportedly held in high esteem by the local community, recognized for being a member of the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal order and the father of four children.
George Shivery was quickly arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
The trial was postponed a week by the jury enraging the local community.
An angry mob of an estimated 400-500 people formed on the night of March 22nd, assembling at the jail. Randolph County Sheriff W. R. Russell appealed to the angry mob to allow justice run its course. The mob forced the Sheriff and his guards aside, battering down the doors of the jail.
Shivery was reported to be found crouched in a corner of his cell, he was reported dragged out and marched to the bridge over the Black River.
George Shivery was said to have been given an opportunity to “make peace with god” before he was hung from the bridge at approximately 1:30am on March 23,1901.
Reports from the day say Shivery’s body was left hanging from 1:30am until it was finally taken down around 9:30am. The body was reported to be observed by hundreds of residents.
The Arkansas Gazette stated “No doubt the men who composed this mob will go unpunished, and no matter how much Shivery may have deserved death his execution at the hands of a mob was improper.”