Eastland in Eastland County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Last Mob Lynching in the State of Texas
Photographed By Duane Hall, January 22, 2018
1. Last Mob Lynching in the State of Texas Marker
Inscription.
Last Mob Lynching in the State of Texas. . At this site, on Tuesday night, Nov. 19, 1929, Marshall Ratliff was hung from a utility pole guy wire until dead before a crowd of about 1,500 people. Ratliff was also known as the Santa Claus Robber for his dressing as Santa Claus and leading a gang of four to rob the 1st Nat’l Bank of Cisco on Dec. 23, 1927. He and his gang murdered 2 people during this robbery. Several were wounded and 6 ultimately died as a result of this robbery. Ratliff had been tried for his crimes and was serving time in Huntsville Prison when he was brought back to Eastland County, Oct. 24, 1929. He tried to escape on Nov. 18, 1929 and mortally wounded the jailer, Uncle Tom Jones. During this futile attempt, the next day an angry mob stormed the jail and drug the nude Ratliff from his second story cell to this present site. The first rope broke with his weight and another was quickly brought to the scene whereupon he was allowed to hang for about 30 minutes until declared dead by the Justice of the Peace. Word of Ratliff’s hanging was promptly sent to Jones, the wounded jailer, who then died within hours.
At this site, on Tuesday night, Nov. 19, 1929, Marshall Ratliff was hung from a utility pole guy wire until dead before a crowd of about 1,500 people. Ratliff was also known as the Santa Claus Robber for his dressing as Santa Claus and leading a gang of four to rob the 1st Nat’l Bank of Cisco on Dec. 23, 1927. He and his gang murdered 2 people during this robbery. Several were wounded and 6 ultimately died as a result of this robbery. Ratliff had been tried for his crimes and was serving time in Huntsville Prison when he was brought back to Eastland County, Oct. 24, 1929. He tried to escape on Nov. 18, 1929 and mortally wounded the jailer, Uncle Tom Jones. During this futile attempt, the next day an angry mob stormed the jail and drug the nude Ratliff from his second story cell to this present site. The first rope broke with his weight and another was quickly brought to the scene whereupon he was allowed to hang for about 30 minutes until declared dead by the Justice of the Peace. Word of Ratliff’s hanging was promptly sent to Jones, the wounded jailer, who then died within hours.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is November 19, 1929.
Location. 32° 24.15′ N, 98° 49.189′ W. Marker is in Eastland, Texas, in Eastland County. Marker
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is at the intersection of W. White Street and N. Mulberry Street, on the right when traveling east on W. White Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Eastland TX 76448, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Santa Claus Bank Robbery. From the Texas State Historical Association’s “Handbook of Texas Online”. (Submitted on February 1, 2018.)
Photographed By Duane Hall, January 22, 2018
2. Site of Last Mob Lynching in the State of Texas
At southeast corner of W. White St and N. Mulberry St
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2018, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 719 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 1, 2018, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
