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This Day in Arkansas History

March 10, 1914

Judge Jeptha Evans originally scheduled the hanging of John Arthur Tillman. The date was the anniversary of the victim’s murder, but attempts to appeal the sentence postponed the hanging until July. Meanwhile, state law mandated that all future criminals sentenced to death would be executed by electric chair rather than by hanging. While this law had been passed by the state legislature in February 1913, it could not be implemented until the “execution room” had been constructed at the state penitentiary in Little Rock, which had not yet been completed by November 1. Tillman was the last person executed by hanging in the state of Arkansas. Accused of murdering a girlfriend, Tillman insisted upon his innocence to the day of his death.

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Fort Smith Gallows

This reconstruction of the 1886 gallows located at the Fort Smith National Historic Site was built in the early 1980s. Located on the site of the original gallows, it replaced a previous gallows built on another site in 1957. The reconstruction design was based on the one surviving photograph and accounts in the local newspapers. Archaeological digs at the original site did not uncover any helpful evidence of the 1886 gallows.

 

This reconstruction of the 1886 gallows located at the Fort Smith National Historic Site was built in the early 1980s. Located on the site of the original gallows, it replaced a previous gallows built on another site in 1957. The reconstruction design was based on the one surviving photograph and accounts in the local newspapers. Archaeological digs at the original site did not uncover any helpful evidence of the 1886 gallows.

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Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Older white man short hair and beard wearing glasses suit and striped tie standing in front of microphone at lectern indoors looking on Tom W. Dillard Historians and Historic Organizations Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal Book cover "My Life Bill Clinton" with portrait white man with graying hair smiling wool jacket collar upturned Bill Clinton Executive Branch, Governors white man in embroidered black shirt and white woman in turtleneck and white jacket smiling in front of trees "Tony and Susan Alamo Tony Alamo sings Mister DJ" Tony Alamo Criminal Activities, Religious Figures Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock White woman in green dress with arms crossed Sarah Huckabee Sanders Executive Branch White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers African-American woman in turban and hoop earrings behind orchid Maya Angelou Poetry Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation Portrait Italian American man in stylish suit tie wavy hair intimidating glare droopy right eyelid Charles "Lucky" Luciano Criminal Activities "The Truth About the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" newspaper clipping Ku Klux Klan Early Twentieth Century, Parties and Interest Groups
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White man with long beard wearing hoodie with hood up holding box standing at convention booth in between tables with shelving and other boxes spread around with banners in background one in middle with text "Troll Lord Games" Troll Lord Games Businesses, Hobbies Aerial view of multiple buildings and streets University of Arkansas Four-Year: Colleges and Universities "Lonoke County Arkansas" hanging copper stele among others of the same kind Lynching Criminal Activities White man in suit speaking at a lectern with mixed group of men and women behind him LGBTQ+ Movement Political Movements, Sexual Orientation Postcard "We all want the freedom to make decisions that affect our lives" Initiatives and Referenda Laws and Court Cases one-story house with green and white metal awning over porch Lustron Houses Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites Three-story building on street with trees and parking lot Arkansas Education Association Educational Organizations and Programs small waterfall in middle of dense green forest River Designations Environmental Issues and Controversies, Physical Geography Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation airplane hangar labeled "Drake Field Fayetteville" with military airplane and helicopter Museums Educational Organizations and Programs, Museums and Historic Sites Old white man playing a fiddle on stage with old white woman and white guitarists Arkansas Folk Festival Festivals and Events, Folklife Projects and Folklorists Magazine cover featuring a city scene and a fisherman Batesville Daily Guard Businesses, Newspapers and Magazines Multitiered castle like monument with engraved top and base panels Batesville Confederate Monument Cemeteries and Memorials Expedition from Batesville after Freeman's Command Civil War Multistory brick buildings on street with parked cars lined up in front of them and people on street corner Batesville Independence Older African-American man in suit and tie speaking before two microphones with assorted people behind him Lucious Christopher Bates Editors and Publishers, World War II to Faubus Era

About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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