Lynching of Joseph Marshall & Anderson Reed
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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 03, 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 corpse 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.”