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Namon Hoggle, 81, Accused in a Civil Rights Killing, Is Dead Namon Hoggle, 81, Accused in a Civil Rights Killing, Is Dead
(35 minutes later)
Namon O’Neal Hoggle, the last surviving defendant accused of bludgeoning a minister to death in 1965 — a killing that galvanized the civil rights movement in the South and helped embolden Congress to bar racial discrimination in voting — died on Aug. 30 in Selma, Ala. He was 81.Namon O’Neal Hoggle, the last surviving defendant accused of bludgeoning a minister to death in 1965 — a killing that galvanized the civil rights movement in the South and helped embolden Congress to bar racial discrimination in voting — died on Aug. 30 in Selma, Ala. He was 81.
His family confirmed the death, but did not give a cause. His family confirmed the death but did not give a cause.
Mr. Hoggle — who, with his brother and a third defendant, was acquitted by an all-white jury in the killing — was remembered in the paid obituary submitted by his family to The Montgomery Advertiser only as “one of the oldest car dealers in Selma.” The list of honorary pallbearers included the county sheriff and a judge. Mr. Hoggle was remembered in a paid obituary submitted to The Montgomery Advertiser by his family only as “one of the oldest car dealers in Selma.” A list of honorary pallbearers included the county sheriff and a judge.
But history recalls him as one of three white men charged in the beating of the Rev. James J. Reeb, a white Unitarian Universalist minister from Boston, who, a few hours before, had joined the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in trying a voting rights march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, about 50 miles west of Montgomery. But history recalls him as one of three white men, including his brother, acquitted by an all-white jury in the beating of the Rev. James J. Reeb, a white Unitarian Universalist minister from Boston, who, a few hours before, had joined the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in trying a voting rights march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, about 50 miles west of Montgomery.
Mr. Reeb, a 38-year-old father of four, had been unsettled by television images of scores of black marchers being beaten by state troopers on March 7, which became known as Bloody Sunday, and responded to Dr. King’s appeal for support. Mr. Reeb, a 38-year-old father of four, had responded to Dr. King’s appeal for support after being unsettled by television images of scores of black marchers being beaten by state troopers on March 7, 1965, which became known as Bloody Sunday.
That Tuesday, Mr. Reeb and two other white ministers had finished dinner at Walker’s Cafe, a haven for civil rights workers in the black section of Selma, and wandered into a white stretch of Washington Street at dusk. There, several men attacked them, screaming, “You want to know what it’s like to be a real nigger?”That Tuesday, Mr. Reeb and two other white ministers had finished dinner at Walker’s Cafe, a haven for civil rights workers in the black section of Selma, and wandered into a white stretch of Washington Street at dusk. There, several men attacked them, screaming, “You want to know what it’s like to be a real nigger?”
Mr. Reeb was struck with a club, pipe or bat that fractured his skull. He was driven three hours to a Birmingham hospital, where he died two days later. Mr. Reeb was struck with a club, pipe or bat, which fractured his skull. He was driven three hours to a Birmingham hospital, where he died two days later.
Only a few weeks before, a black civil rights worker, Jimmie Lee Jackson, 26, had been fatally shot by a state trooper. But Mr. Reeb’s slaying reverberated beyond the South more than Mr. Jackson’s because he was a minister, and because he was white. (Ten days later, another white Unitarian civil rights advocate, Viola Liuzzo of Detroit, was gunned down on an Alabama highway.) Only a few weeks before, a black civil rights worker, Jimmie Lee Jackson, 26, had been fatally shot by an Alabama state trooper. But Mr. Reeb’s slaying reverberated beyond the South more than Mr. Jackson’s because he was a minister, and because he was white. (Ten days later, another white Unitarian civil rights advocate, Viola Liuzzo of Detroit, was gunned down on an Alabama highway.)
“James Reeb was murdered by the indifference of every minister of the Gospel who has remained silent behind the safe security of stained-glass windows,” Dr. King declared in a eulogy on March 15. “Yes, he was even murdered by the cowardice of every Negro who tacitly accepts the evil system of segregation, who stands on the sidelines in the midst of a mighty struggle for justice.”“James Reeb was murdered by the indifference of every minister of the Gospel who has remained silent behind the safe security of stained-glass windows,” Dr. King declared in a eulogy on March 15. “Yes, he was even murdered by the cowardice of every Negro who tacitly accepts the evil system of segregation, who stands on the sidelines in the midst of a mighty struggle for justice.”
That night, President Lyndon B. Johnson invoked the attack in appealing to a joint session of Congress to approve a voting rights act.That night, President Lyndon B. Johnson invoked the attack in appealing to a joint session of Congress to approve a voting rights act.
“At times, history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man’s unending search for freedom,” the president said. “So it was last week in Selma, Alabama.”“At times, history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man’s unending search for freedom,” the president said. “So it was last week in Selma, Alabama.”
The day after Mr. Reeb was attacked, William S. Hoggle, 36, a car salesman, and Elmer L. Cook, 41, who managed a novelty company, were arrested. Namon Hoggle, an auto mechanic at the time, surrendered the next day. The day after Mr. Reeb was attacked, William S. Hoggle, 36, a car salesman, and Elmer L. Cook, 41, who managed a novelty company, were arrested. Namon Hoggle, a 30-year-old auto mechanic at the time, surrendered the next day.
Namon O’Neal Hoggle was born on Oct. 15, 1934, in Greensboro, Ala., the son of Oscar and Pearl Hoggle. He moved to Selma in 1953. He was known as Duck, although his sister would not say whether the nickname was inspired by the waterfowl or the evasive maneuver. Namon O’Neal Hoggle was born on Oct. 15, 1934, in Greensboro, Ala., the son of Oscar and Pearl Hoggle. He moved to Selma in 1953. He was known as Duck.
His wife, the former Ann Barnett, died in 2007. He is survived by his daughters, Anita Posey, Wanda Lolley and Kim Cosby; a stepdaughter, Michele Sudduth; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Bettie Elmore; a brother, Bobby; and Susie Burnside, who was described in the family obituary as a longtime friend.His wife, the former Ann Barnett, died in 2007. He is survived by his daughters, Anita Posey, Wanda Lolley and Kim Cosby; a stepdaughter, Michele Sudduth; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Bettie Elmore; a brother, Bobby; and Susie Burnside, who was described in the family obituary as a longtime friend.
When he was arrested in 1965, Mr. Hoggle had never had a serious run-in with the law.When he was arrested in 1965, Mr. Hoggle had never had a serious run-in with the law.
In his charge to the grand jury, Judge James A. Hare complained that “many self-appointed saints took it upon themselves to come here and help us solve our problems.” The prosecutor described the case as weak, but added, “If I hadn’t indicted them, what would you newspaper people have said?” In his charge to the grand jury, Judge James A. Hare , apparently referring to the white ministers, complained that “many self-appointed saints took it upon themselves to come here and help us solve our problems.” The prosecutor described the case as weak, but told a reporter, “If I hadn’t indicted them, what would you newspaper people have said?”
Mr. Reeb’s companions during the attack — the Rev. Clark Olsen, 32, of Berkeley, Calif., and the Rev. Orloff Miller, 25, of Hingham, Mass. — identified Mr. Cook, but said only that the Hoggle brothers “resembled” their assailants.Mr. Reeb’s companions during the attack — the Rev. Clark Olsen, 32, of Berkeley, Calif., and the Rev. Orloff Miller, 25, of Hingham, Mass. — identified Mr. Cook, but said only that the Hoggle brothers “resembled” their assailants.
A waitress said Namon Hoggle had been nearby with the other two men. Another witness said he had been at a different coffee shop. The defense argued that Mr. Reeb had died of injuries suffered on his way to the hospital, or of neglect, so that he would become a civil rights martyr.A waitress said Namon Hoggle had been nearby with the other two men. Another witness said he had been at a different coffee shop. The defense argued that Mr. Reeb had died of injuries suffered on his way to the hospital, or of neglect, so that he would become a civil rights martyr.
One potential witness, who was also charged in the attack but not tried, refused to testify. Another witness was declared mentally incompetent, and two others had left the state.One potential witness, who was also charged in the attack but not tried, refused to testify. Another witness was declared mentally incompetent, and two others had left the state.
After deliberating for 97 minutes, interrupted only by a brief, unexplained visit from the sheriff, the jury acquitted all three defendants. Richmond M. Flowers, the Alabama attorney general, said local prosecutors had swept the case “under the rug.”After deliberating for 97 minutes, interrupted only by a brief, unexplained visit from the sheriff, the jury acquitted all three defendants. Richmond M. Flowers, the Alabama attorney general, said local prosecutors had swept the case “under the rug.”
In an interview last week, Michael Jackson, the Dallas County, Ala., district attorney, said, “It’s unfortunate that Reverend Reeb’s case is another in a long line of civil rights cases that will be left unresolved.”In an interview last week, Michael Jackson, the Dallas County, Ala., district attorney, said, “It’s unfortunate that Reverend Reeb’s case is another in a long line of civil rights cases that will be left unresolved.”
After his acquittal, Namon Hoggle operated Bama Motors. Its location, Jefferson Davis Avenue, was later renamed J. L. Chestnut Jr. Boulevard to honor Selma’s first black lawyer, who laid the groundwork for the Selma-to-Montgomery march in 1965. Occasionally, civil rights groups have unsuccessfully sought to organize boycotts of the company, which is run by Mr. Hoggle’s grandson and has its share of black customers. After his acquittal, Namon Hoggle operated Bama Motors. Its location, Jefferson Davis Avenue, was later renamed J. L. Chestnut Jr. Boulevard to honor Selma’s first black lawyer, who laid the groundwork for the Selma-to-Montgomery march in 1965. Civil rights groups have unsuccessfully sought to organize boycotts of the dealership, which is run by Mr. Hoggle’s grandson and has its share of black customers.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reopened the case but closed it again in 2011 without pursuing charges, saying that “the man whom we believe is responsible, Elmer Cook, is deceased” and that Namon Hoggle, the only survivor implicated, had been tried and acquitted in state court. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reopened the case but closed it again in 2011 without pursuing charges, saying that “the man whom we believe is responsible, Elmer Cook, is deceased” and that Namon Hoggle, the only survivor implicated, had been tried and acquitted in state court. William Hoggle apparently died in 1996.
In 1998, Mr. Olsen returned to Selma, where, he told CNN, he encountered “ghosts in the sense of my experience of utter terror, and ghosts in the sense of justice not done, and good ghosts in the sense of the progress made.” Mr. Olsen, accompanied by his daughter, a television producer, made a return visit to Selma in 1998 and
He and his daughter, a television producer, tried to interview Mr. Hoggle, but he slammed the door on them. there tried to interview Mr. Hoggle, but he slammed the door on them, he said.
“I hope they found something in their soul that said what they did was wrong, and that they found some way to make some amends for it,” Mr. Olsen said of the defendants. “I hope they found something in their soul that said what they did was wrong, and that they found some way to make some amends for it,” Mr. Olsen said of the defendants in an interview with CNN.
Anne Reeb was 6 when her mother told her that her father “had been hurt badly enough so that he wasn’t coming home.” She is now active in Sojourn to the Past, which acquaints students with the civil rights movement, and returned to Selma in 1990 for the 25th anniversary of the march. She did not seek out Mr. Hoggle. Anne Reeb was 6 when her mother told her that her father “had been hurt badly enough so that he wasn’t coming home.” Ms. Reeb is now active in Sojourn to the Past, which acquaints students with the civil rights movement, and returned to Selma in 1990 for the 25th anniversary of the march. She did not seek out Mr. Hoggle.
“We never felt like we wanted to go down the path of confronting him or having hard feelings,” she said in an interview on Friday. “Knowing that he passed away sort of closes that last chapter.”“We never felt like we wanted to go down the path of confronting him or having hard feelings,” she said in an interview on Friday. “Knowing that he passed away sort of closes that last chapter.”
“My father and many of the foot soldiers of the civil rights movement went down South in the spirit of love,” Ms. Reeb continued. “That’s been the focus for my family, and that’s where my father’s heart was when he left Boston for Selma.” She added: “My father and many of the foot soldiers of the civil rights movement went down South in the spirit of love. That’s been the focus for my family, and that’s where my father’s heart was when he left Boston for Selma.”