DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Reuben Gaines' memoir, undated

Transcribe
Translate

Page 27

PAGE 27 Buxton. 
never will be. " Tell me what brought on this sudden change??" "Well it goes like this: Mr. Jackson does not need a wife and what he wants is a companion". My mother said Oh, Oh, Oh? - Aunt Angie said that is what I said too. Tommie Gibbons about 190 lbs. was from a respectable family of God fearing and law abiding people; but at 21 years of age he figured erroneously that the world owed him a living and if the world would not remit freely he would use force to gain his objective. I had already tested him and believe me that right arm of his had as much strength as a full grown Gorilla. When he walked up beside somebody in the dark and placed that right arm around their adams apple they were only to glad to get free and untangled even with less money; he was not the only one that was implicated in this vicious sort of racket for there were three or four others. They all used the same method except one who was too small but he made up the difference by using his father shot gun to overcome his diminitive size; but one night he made one gross error by holding up his father who reconixed him immediately. His friends at the clu explained that when his father was through repramanding him he would have fit easily into any rat or mouse hole. One nite Tommie Gibbons sized up a well dressed white man that looked as if he were loaded down back of the business buildings where some of the prostitutes were present so he stronged arm Mr. Pugh and robbed him of several gold pieces but htis time Mr. Pugh reconized his assiliant and had him arrested. The Trial was held in the Oskaloosa Court House and Tommie was represented by the lawyer George H. Woodson. He knew this viole young outlaw for what he really was but he used every knowledgable trick to clear him. He had already briefed Tommie what to do when he got to the word "Mr. Pugh". Tommie was to nudge his wife Ella and she was supposed to pinch Eva, her baby. in order to get the sympathy of the Jury. "Gentlemen of the Jur Tom Gibbons, his father reared a respectable family and it a God fearing man and law abiding citizen that has sparred no effort in bringing up a happy and peacefu family". Gentle, this young man who is brought before you today is one of the finest young men in our community, this man accused of robbery was with his young wife of less than one year and a six month old child could not have been present at midnight as set forth in the complaint." Midnight being black; also Tommie Gibbons is black; also a few theives of black nationality visited that are quite often so it had to be a case of mistaken identity". In his summation he said: "Gentlemen of The Jury this innocent young man has enough Sunday School Cards to shingle this Court House. His descriptive eulogy of this young man was so perfect that all Woodson had to do now was to add a pair of heavenly wings. Up to this time the key word (Mr. Pugh) had not been spoken but was soon to come so that Ella was to pinch, Eva her baby to get the Jury's sympathy. 
Lawer Woodson said, in his summation, and I quote: Gentlemen of the Jury how

Saving...

PAGE 27 Buxton. never will be. " Tell me what brought on this sudden change??" "Well it goes like this: Mr. Jackson does not need a wife and what he wants is a companion". My mother said Oh, Oh, Oh? - Aunt Angie said that is what I said too. Tommie Gibbons about 190 lbs. was from a respectable family of God fearing and law abiding people; but at 21 years of age he figured erroneously that the world owed him a living and if the world would not remit freely he would use force to gain his objective. I had already tested him and believe me that right arm of his had as much strength as a full grown Gorilla. When he walked up beside somebody in the dark and placed that right arm around their adams apple they were only to glad to get free and untangled even with less money; he was not the only one that was implicated in this vicious sort of racket for there were three or four others. They all used the same method except one who was too small but he made up the difference by using his father shot gun to overcome his diminitive size; but one night he made one gross error by holding up his father who reconixed him immediately. His friends at the clu explained that when his father was through repramanding him he would have fit easily into any rat or mouse hole. One nite Tommie Gibbons sized up a well dressed white man that looked as if he were loaded down back of the business buildings where some of the prostitutes were present so he stronged arm Mr. Pugh and robbed him of several gold pieces but htis time Mr. Pugh reconized his assiliant and had him arrested. The Trial was held in the Oskaloosa Court House and Tommie was represented by the lawyer George H. Woodson. He knew this viole young outlaw for what he really was but he used every knowledgable trick to clear him. He had already briefed Tommie what to do when he got to the word "Mr. Pugh". Tommie was to nudge his wife Ella and she was supposed to pinch Eva, her baby. in order to get the sympathy of the Jury. "Gentlemen of the Jur Tom Gibbons, his father reared a respectable family and it a God fearing man and law abiding citizen that has sparred no effort in bringing up a happy and peacefu family". Gentle, this young man who is brought before you today is one of the finest young men in our community, this man accused of robbery was with his young wife of less than one year and a six month old child could not have been present at midnight as set forth in the complaint." Midnight being black; also Tommie Gibbons is black; also a few theives of black nationality visited that are quite often so it had to be a case of mistaken identity". In his summation he said: "Gentlemen of The Jury this innocent young man has enough Sunday School Cards to shingle this Court House. His descriptive eulogy of this young man was so perfect that all Woodson had to do now was to add a pair of heavenly wings. Up to this time the key word (Mr. Pugh) had not been spoken but was soon to come so that Ella was to pinch, Eva her baby to get the Jury's sympathy. Lawer Woodson said, in his summation, and I quote: Gentlemen of the Jury how