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Story
August 26, 1901
The Evening Times
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
In Dallas, Texas, Judge E. G. Bower fines Black man Mason Davis $100 for insulting a white woman, expressing regret over the mild penalty and wishing for corporal punishment, amid references to vigilante justice like the burning of Ab Wilder.
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THE PENALTY TOO MILD.
A Texas Judge Wishes He Could Have a Negro Whipped.
DALLAS, Tex., Aug. 26.-Judge E. G. Bower, of the Corporation Court, Saturday fined Mason Davis, a negro, $100, the limit of the law, for insulting a white woman. He expressed from the bench his regret that he could not inflict a more severe punishment.
Davis and another negro stood on the sidewalk of Ervay Street, and as the white women walked along Davis addressed improper remarks to them and compelled the women to walk to the edge of the curb to pass them. A white witness of the scene called a policeman and Davis was arrested. His companion escaped. In passing sentence on Davis Judge Bower said:
"They have instituted some new proceedings up in Grayson County for negroes who insult white women. I am not prepared to say but that justice was carried out in the burning at the stake of Ab Wilder. The crime toward which you are tending, as shown by your actions, is one which, in the unwritten law of this country, is punishable either by hanging or burning. I fine you $100. I wish it were in my power to give you 50 lashes on your back."
A Texas Judge Wishes He Could Have a Negro Whipped.
DALLAS, Tex., Aug. 26.-Judge E. G. Bower, of the Corporation Court, Saturday fined Mason Davis, a negro, $100, the limit of the law, for insulting a white woman. He expressed from the bench his regret that he could not inflict a more severe punishment.
Davis and another negro stood on the sidewalk of Ervay Street, and as the white women walked along Davis addressed improper remarks to them and compelled the women to walk to the edge of the curb to pass them. A white witness of the scene called a policeman and Davis was arrested. His companion escaped. In passing sentence on Davis Judge Bower said:
"They have instituted some new proceedings up in Grayson County for negroes who insult white women. I am not prepared to say but that justice was carried out in the burning at the stake of Ab Wilder. The crime toward which you are tending, as shown by your actions, is one which, in the unwritten law of this country, is punishable either by hanging or burning. I fine you $100. I wish it were in my power to give you 50 lashes on your back."
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Racial Insult
Court Fine
Judge Punishment
Texas Judiciary
Negro Arrest
What entities or persons were involved?
Judge E. G. Bower
Mason Davis
Ab Wilder
Where did it happen?
Dallas, Tex., Ervay Street
Story Details
Key Persons
Judge E. G. Bower
Mason Davis
Ab Wilder
Location
Dallas, Tex., Ervay Street
Event Date
Aug. 26
Story Details
Judge E. G. Bower fines Negro Mason Davis $100, the legal maximum, for insulting a white woman on Ervay Street by making improper remarks, forcing her to the curb. The judge regrets inability to impose whipping, references burning of Ab Wilder in Grayson County as potential justice for such crimes.