Albert Yeargin (Execution of)

Albert Yeargin was a Black man hanged at Osceola (Mississippi County) on June 17, 1898, for the shooting death of a Black preacher. Yeargin believed that “his daughter had been ruined by the preacher.”

Albert Yeargin (sometimes referred to as A. W. Yerger) lived with his family near Osceola. His wife and daughter were members of preacher Avery Tobin’s congregation, and Yeargin “for some time suspected the colored preacher” of having an improper relationship with his daughter, but because of Tobin’s “diplomatic nature” no trouble was expected among the community.

Early on the morning of January 21, 1898, the two men, both of whom were described as “leaders among their own people,” were working on a levee near Luxora (Mississippi County) and were seen talking for a few minutes before Yeargin abruptly jumped back, with both men reaching into their pockets. Yeargin pulled a pistol and fired seven shots; reportedly, “six of them entered Tobin’s abdomen, and he sank to the ground in a dying condition.”

Yeargin did not attempt to flee as onlookers rushed up to take him into custody. A knife was found near the dying man, and Yeargin claimed he had fired in self-defense. He was jailed in Osceola, and newspaper reports said that “when news of the killing first reached the negroes of Osceola they talked about lynching, but when the motive became known sentiment underwent a complete revulsion and sympathy was expressed for the prisoner.”

Yeargin was arraigned and held for grand jury action. While no account of his trial appears to exist, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to hang on June 17, 1898.

No account of his execution on Saturday, June 17, exists either, though the Osceola Times reported on June 18 that “as the Times goes to press on Friday, the stereotyped details of this legal function is [sic] unavoidably omitted.” The newspaper went on to complain that graphic details of public executions have been “somewhat overdone in the past few years. No good can possibly come out of it.”

In a somewhat strange error, the June 18 issue of the Osceola newspaper stated that Yeargin “paid the penalty of his crime, Friday, June 24th., ’98,” an error repeated in the June 21 Arkansas Democrat, both several days before their reported date of the execution and after the Democrat had previously reported the correct date of June 17, 1898, for the hanging.

For additional information:
“Albert Yeargin Hanged.” Osceola Times, June 18, 1898, p. 5.

“All Over the State.” Arkansas Democrat, June 21, 1898, p. 6.

“Fixed the Preacher.” Osceola Times, January 29, 1898, p. 3.”

“Killed a Negro Preacher.” [Memphis, Tennessee] Commercial Appeal, January 22, 1898, p. 3.

“Six Bullets in Him.” Arkansas Gazette, January 23, 1898, p. 1.

“State News Notes.” Arkansas Democrat, June 14, 1898, p. 4.

Mark K. Christ
Central Arkansas Library System