The Murder of Geneva Hardman and Lexington's Mob Riot of 1920 - (True Crime) by Peter Brackney (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In 1920, ten-year-old Geneva Hardman was murdered on her way to school, just outside Lexington. Both civil authorities and a growing lynch mob sought Will Lockett, a black army veteran, as the suspect. The vigilantes remained one step behind the lawmen, and a grieving family erred on the side of justice versus vengeance. During the short trial, tensions spilled over and shots were fired outside the courthouse, leading to a declaration of martial law. Six people died in what civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois described as the Second Battle of Lexington. Join author Peter Brackney and delve into this century-old story of murder and mayhem.

Review Quotes

The book provides a powerful wealth of black/white photos, measured commentary, and adds illuminating facts about a legion of individuals connected to the murder case and mob event taking place a hundred years ago, but the author writes so that the reader feels like it happened only yesterday. Kentucky Forward