Joe Simmons (Execution of)

Joe Simmons was an African American man hanged at Augusta (Woodruff County) on October 21, 1887, for murdering a storekeeper, though he denied committing the crime.

On December 2, 1886, R. W. Byrd, a “druggist and grocery merchant” at Gray’s Station in Woodruff County, was working in his store. Byrd, “a young man with no enemies and many friends,” was struck in the head with a railroad coupling pin, “the victim’s head being smashed.” Joe Simmons and James Smith (also referred to as James Simmons), both local Black men, “are suspected of the crime, as they were the last persons seen in the store, and are now missing.”

Authorities suspected that robbery was the motive for the killing, “but the assassins were frightened away before their designs were accomplished.” Governor Simon P. Hughes offered a $200 reward for the capture of Simmons and Smith.

Smith does not appear in any other news accounts, but Simmons was captured at some point. While Simmons admitted being present when Byrd was killed, he claimed that a man named Casey Brown had actually delivered the fatal blow. At Augusta on August 27, 1887, he “had his trial, and was found guilty of murder in the first degree.” He was sentenced to hang on October 21.

The Arkansas Gazette reported that Simmons “paid the penalty of his crimes this morning at 10:38 o’clock” when he was hanged at Augusta. His neck broke in the fall, and he was declared dead eleven minutes later. The newspaper added that “he died game, denying to the last that he struck the blow that killed Byrd.”

For additional information:
“All Over Arkansas.” Arkansas Gazette, September 6, 1887, p. 3.

“Augusta.” Arkansas Gazette, August 28, 1887, p. 3.

“Augusta.” Arkansas Gazette, October 23, 1887, p. 3.

“Brained with a Coupling Pin.” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 3, 1886, p. 3.

“Hanged Protesting Innocence.” Fort Worth Daily Gazette, October 23, 1887, p. 1.

“Local Brevities.” Arkansas Democrat, December 6, 1886, p. 4.

“Murder and Robbery.” Arkansas Democrat, December 6, 1886, p. 2.

Mark K. Christ
Central Arkansas Library System