Springfield, Illinois Riot of 1908

”Slim” Humphreys, a neighborhood huckster who guided rioters to the homes of blacks, specifically William Donnegan’s home; and Abe Raymer, a Jewish man who was accused of lynching Donnegan, participating in the Scott Burton lynching, and helping in the destruction of Loper’s restaurant. Yet, Kate Howard never made it to trial; before the trials began, she committed suicide. Therefore, Abe Raymer would be tried first. During Raymer’s trial, witnesses placed him at the Donnegan lynching.

They accused Raymer of slashing Donnegan’s throat and lynching him. Although the testimonies against Raymer were damaging, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. The court’s ruling crippled the prosecution’s case, setting a precedent for the remaining trials. Out of 107 indictments issued by the state, one person was convicted of theft.

The black community was appalled by the outcome of Raymer’s trial and the acquittal of the other rioters, but most white residents, especially the city’s white leadership, viewed the rulings as fair. The jury, unabashed by their decision, believed that they had done the right thing by allowing the rioters to go free. Many jurors expressed their approval of the mob’s work by commenting how something had to be done to keep blacks in their place. Most jurors agreed that if they had convicted the rioters for their actions, Springfield’s blacks would have believed they were as good as white people. The city’s black leadership and community were devastated after realizing there would be no justice for them.

On October 23, 1908, Joe James was executed in front of a crowd of 147 witnesses. In a sense, his death symbolized the final chapter of the riot; however, it also symbolized the birth of increased segregation for Springfield’s black community. Many white Springfield businesses had always practiced segregation, but segregation became a community norm after the riot. Several white businesses and homes that employed blacks fired their black employees. Blacks, who were previously allowed to patronize certain restaurants and theaters, were refused service or were forced to sit in theater balconies, away from white customers. Most blacks were not allowed to purchase homes in certain areas of the city. Some home developments contained specific clauses that disallowed the sale of these properties to blacks. On one hand, some whites were against segregating their places of business or releasing their black employees. On the other hand, serious threats from secret white organizations and other white groups directed at white business owners for employing or selling merchandise to blacks could not be ignored. Out of fear for their lives, these business owners acquiesced to the threats. City officials also felt pressure to obey anonymous threats. Mayor Roy Reece oversaw a city payroll that included an all-black fire department and four black police officers. During the riot, Reece received several intimidating letters urging him to remove all blacks from city employment. Also, several members of the mob had expressed their disgust with Reece for employing blacks. In response to the threats, Reece released the black firefighters from employment. Later, the city’s black officers were removed from duty.