Green (Slave) Executed for Killing His Master News Article
Entry/Object ID
9999.BHF.274
Scope and Content
Green (Slave)
Fred Slater of the St. Joseph News-Press March 2, 2001 wrote about a slave who was executed for killing his master. That was what was normally done . This was according to "Slavery and Crime in Missouri, 1773-1865" by Harriet C. Frazier, published by McFarland & Company who reported that is what happened to a Northwest Missouri slave (his first name was not listed) named Green. The black youth 18 or 19 had just been sold by his owner, E. C. Whitton to Francis Marion Wright. Green shot and killed Wright. Th first trial was deadlocked and Green was sent to jail in St. Joseph. He escaped but was captured. Tried a second time and was found guilty. He was hanged but managed to get his hands free. He was then hanged again, this time effectively. Green had sold his body to several St. Joseph physicians in return for liquor and various fancy foods. An unusual aspect of slave crime in Missouri is that the state's best lawyers often volunteered to represent slaves in court on various serious charges.
