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. 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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

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. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Townsend Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Connellee - Majestic Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Rip (within shouting distance of this marker); Camp Salmon / Texas Civil War Frontier Defense (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Eastland County World War I Memorial (about

Site of Last Mob Lynching in the State of Texas image. Click for full size.

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

600 feet away); Eastland County Courthouse (about 700 feet away); Eastland (about 700 feet away); Early Banking in Eastland (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eastland.

Also see . . . Santa Claus Bank Robbery. From the Texas State Historical Association’s “Handbook of Texas Online”. (Submitted on February 1, 2018.)

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 1,960 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 1, 2018, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.