In 1930, three joy‐riding black youths robbed a young
white couple parked on Lovers’ Lane. One of the youths
shot the white man four times while his girlfriend claimed
that one of the three raped her.
Local law enforcement quickly located the three, interrogated
them and locked them up in the county jail. The next day,
the white man succumbed to his wounds. That night a mob of
angry white‐folks stormed the jail and removed all
three suspects. They lynched two of the teens and
inexplicably returned the third suspect to the jail.
County and state prosecutors began a crusade to locate,
prosecute and convict the mob members who hung the two.
However, they discovered the whole town had difficulty
remembering details. This story also tracks the trial and
subsequent life of the surviving sixteen‐year old.
About The Author
James Ferrell – Entrepreneur, Executive & Author
Jim’s interest in the history of his hometown Marion, Indiana began when he was a teenager. Late in his career he began returning to Marion to research the events in this book.
He discovered that this seemingly idyllic small town that he loved had a history of bigotry, violence and racial prejudice. This knowledge inspired Jim to write this history.
Key People in the book
Mary Ball
Engaged to Claude Deeter
Abe Smith
Convicted Thief
Harley Hardin
Grant County Prosecutor
Claude Deeter
Factory Worker
Tom Shipp
Owner of car used in robberies
Drysdale Brannon
Newspaper Reporter
James Cameron
Shoe‐shiner
Jake Campbell
Grant County Sheriff
James Ogden
Indiana Attorney General
Author Interview
Reviews
Amazon.com
WDIJ
A dark time in any towns history
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
The book was well researched and written in an easy
to read style, unlike most nonfiction books. The
research was was unbiased and occasionally presented
conflicting information, which the author
identified. The subject matter is controversial at
any time, but approached with openness and candor.
Amazon Customer
History of a Dark Event
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very well‐written and researched. A very dark
event in the history of Marion, Indiana — my
hometown — and due to the racial strife it
caused hampered the city’s growth for decades.
Nevertheless, it’s always hard to try and
apply social values of today to past generations of
nearly 100 years ago.
Dick Crichton
Best Read In A Long Time
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am excited to recommend this picture of a rough
time in our American story. A solid presentation of
the facts of the crime. Well researched and an
engaging read worth your time!
OnlineBookClub.org
On the evening of August 6, 1930, a young couple went for a
drive around the streets of Marion, Indiana. While parked at
the Lover’s Lane, three African‐American
teenagers stealthily approached their car. Armed with a
revolver, they took what little cash the couple had, shot
the white man, and raped his female companion. This incident
elicited a virulent reaction among the local people. The
following night, a vengeful mob of white men and women
stormed the Grant County Jail in which the perpetrators were
held and took it upon themselves to exact justice.
Rape, Revolvers, and Ropes by James Ferrell is a historical
account of the brutal lynching of two black teenagers in
1930 after their involvement in the murder and rape of two
white individuals. Motivated by curiosity and will to
uncover the truth, the author spent seventeen years studying
and compiling newspaper articles, old photographs, and court
records to make accurate documentation of these events.
I liked that the author didn’t shy away from the
details. There are vivid descriptions of violence, obsolete
derogatory terms, and sensitive photographs that evoke
feelings of pain, rage, and horror. Another favorable aspect
of this book is the arrangement. In the prologue, the author
prepares the reader on what to expect and how they may react
in response to the sensitive contents. He also reassures
that unfiltered contents are necessary to present the past
as it was, raw and honest. I loved the tone of the author in
this prologue. There are also a few pages narrating his
experience while researching and acquiring resources that
interestingly felt like I was following a protagonist in a
movie. Each chapter has a proper title, and there are
photographs of the places from which the events took place
to better aid one’s imagination. Moreover, the book
has a reference section, which is a great thing in case
anyone might need further clarification or research.
The author also did an amazing job of examining race
relations in this small town in the 1930s. Symbols of racism
in newspaper ads and direct quotes from people in this era
will give you a sense of how blatant and prevalent racism is
at the time. The sheer reality of it all is appalling.
The subject matter is a very controversial one. Without
carefully reading the material, one may see things in black
and white and miss the gray areas in the narrative. Only
upon thorough reading and much contemplation did I find
these gray areas. With that, I appreciated the
author’s impartiality by presenting conflicting
testimonies, challenging readers to develop their own
opinions.
Since there is nothing I dislike about this book, my rating
would be 4 out of 4 stars. I did not award it a lower rating
because it is well‐executed and
well‐researched. It also appeared to be
professionally edited because I found no errors in it. The
author writes in a clear, engaging tone. In the height of
all the tension, I was so engrossed it almost felt like I
was reading a novel rather than a non‐fiction book.
All in all, this has been a compelling,
thought‐provoking read. I recommend this to anyone
interested in history, as this would make a good reference
material. Readers sensitive to graphic violence should
proceed with caution. There is a photograph of two young men
hanging from a tree that isn’t for the faint of heart.
Naturally, I would not advise kids to read this book.
4 out of 4 stars