The Lynching of Joseph Marshall and Anderson Reed
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
In 1868, a German man by the name of Mr. Lutka, who lived in the American Bottoms near Venice, was murdered in his home. Two men - Joseph Marshall and Anderson Reed - were charged with the horrible crime. Mrs. Lutka, apparently at home at the time of the murder, identified the two men. Anderson Reed escaped, but Joseph Marshall was caught. Instead of being taken to jail and given a fair trial, he was taken by a mob, who tied him to a wagon and dragged him over the ground until dead. In February 1870, Anderson Reed was arrested in St. Louis. The Governor of Illinois issued a requisition to bring him to Edwardsville, Illinois, for trial. However, he was placed in the jail at Venice, under the charge of Justice Robinson. The news spread that Reed was in Venice. Justice Robinson placed Reed in a wagon to take him to Edwardsville, but instead of taking precautions and having more men with him, he started off alone with the prisoner. The wagon was stopped by a mob of men, who took charge of Reed and shot him to death.
THE LYNCHING OF ANDERSON REED AND JOE MARSHALL
Source:
Edwardsville Intelligencer, March 3, 1870
About two years
ago, a German by the name of Lutka, who lived in the American
Bottoms near Venice, was murdered in his own house, and the
horrible charge was laid to two negroes, one of whom was caught
and lynched by being tied behind a wagon by the neck, and
dragged over the ground until he was dead. His accomplice,
Anderson Reed, escaped, and until Saturday, February 12, he
successfully eluded the authorities. He was arrested in St.
Louis, and a requisition was obtained from the Governor of this
State [Illinois] to bring him over into this State for trial. On
February 21 he was brought over, but instead of bringing the man
directly to Edwardsville, he was detained in Venice, and placed
in confinement at Justice Robinson’s office. What transpired
afterwards we clip from the St. Louis Republican:
“The
news that Reed was in town spread very quickly through the
country, and very evident symptoms of excitement were
observable, and threats of lynch law were freely made.
Notwithstanding these indications, on the afternoon of the
following day, constable Lammert started in a light wagon with
the Reed, and no other companion, to drive to Edwardsville – a
distance of twenty-five miles. In view of the circumstances and
feeling then existing, this act of the Constable shows a very
curious conception of his duty. He should have taken every
precaution to preserve his prisoner; instead of which he exposes
him to the lynchers in the most favorable way for their design.
The result was, as might have been plainly foretold, when about
three and a half miles from Venice on the Alton Road, he was
stopped by two men, who jumped into the wagon and demanded the
prisoner. Reed was thrown from the wagon. A crowd of men
gathered and surrounded the culprit, but offered no violence to
the Constable, who, deeming discretion the better part of valor,
offered no resistance. The lynchers immediately set about their
murderous work. They put a long rope around Reed’s neck, so that
men could hold the ends at each side, and yet be at some
distance away, while a number of executioners in front poured a
volley of bullets into the body of the half-strangled victim,
who fell dead instantly. The corpse was then taken and thrown
over a fence, but a few minutes afterwards, a wagon was driven
up and the body was tumbled into it, when the vehicle drove off,
and nothing further is known. It is supposed the corps was
rudely interred at some point in the woods nearby.
A man
named Sil Brewington states that he met the constable coming
back towards Venice, shortly after the killing of Reed; that he
was crying and much agitated; and said that his prisoner had
been taken from him and killed. Mr. Lammert denies anything like
complicity with the lynchers, but his action in the matter looks
decidedly bad for him, for if he realized his responsibility as
an officer of the law, he should have taken quite a different
course to protect his prisoner. Mr. Lammert is the same officer
who had charge of the other negro, Marshall, when he was
lynched.
Before we dismiss this case, we may say there at
least can be no doubt as to the guilt of Anderson Reed. Mrs.
Lutka positively identified him as the companion of Joe
Marshall, in the murder of her husband.”