The double lynching of Anderson Carter and his nephew Jasper Newton on February 27, 1894, stands as a grim reminder of the often brutal realities of frontier justice in the American West. Accused of the murder of a wealthy cattleman, Hunter Wilson, the pair were shot to death by a vigilante mob within the confines of the Mountain Home (Baxter County), Arkansas jail. This case, rife with accusations, confessions, and escapes, highlights the complexities of law enforcement and the volatile nature of public sentiment in the late 19th century.
The Murder of Hunter Wilson and the Ensuing Investigation
The story begins with the robbery and murder of Hunter Wilson near the Missouri state line in Baxter County on December 18, 1893. Wilson’s wife, also shot during the attack, miraculously survived. Suspicion initially fell upon several individuals, but only J. W. McAninch, Wilson’s business partner in the cattle trade, remained incarcerated due to the widow Wilson’s compelling testimony.
During McAninch’s evidentiary hearing, Anderson Carter, his son Bart Carter, and nephew Jasper Newton (allegedly an alias for Bud Montgomery of Clay County, a man with a reputation for horse thievery and wanted for murder) provided testimony implicating McAninch. Despite counter-evidence presented by McAninch’s attorney, Jerry South, linking a boot print at the crime scene to Bart Carter, McAninch remained in jail.
The Confession of Bart Carter and the Discovery of Stolen Money
The narrative takes a dramatic turn when, on February 22, 1894, South secured the arrest of the Carters and Newton. Two days later, under the promise of leniency and freedom from the Mountain Home jail, Bart Carter confessed. He implicated his father, Anderson Carter, as the mastermind behind the robbery, claiming he was coerced into participating with Newton under threat of death. Anderson Carter had fabricated an alibi of turkey hunting with a neighbor, Dow Bryant.
Bart Carter detailed how he and Newton, masked and armed, entered Wilson’s home on the fateful night of December 18, 1893. Newton fatally shot Wilson, then fired upon his fleeing wife. The younger Carter then led authorities to the stolen money: $355 in gold buried near his father’s house and $365 in currency hidden within a quinine bottle in the family stable.
The Lynching and its Aftermath
On the evening of February 27, 1894, a mob, estimated to number between 150 and 500 individuals, stormed the Mountain Home jail. Despite Sheriff W. F. Eaton’s pleas, they overpowered the guards and forced entry. Anderson Carter and Newton were brutally shot multiple times, their pleas for mercy ignored. The coroner’s report attributed their deaths to “gun shot wounds from the hands of unknown persons, acting as a mob or unlawful posse.” Both men were buried in an unmarked grave in the paupers’ section of the Mountain Home Cemetery. Public opinion, as reflected in the Arkansas Gazette, leaned towards the belief that justice, albeit “informally,” had been served.
Following the lynching, McAninch was released, and Dow Bryant, Anderson Carter’s alibi witness, reportedly suffered a mental breakdown. Despite a reward offered by Governor William Fishback for the capture of the lynch mob members, no arrests were ever made.
The Escape of Bart Carter and the Lingering Questions
Despite his confession and the promise of leniency, Bart Carter was tried, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to hang in October 1894. However, on October 22, 1894, a masked group facilitated his escape from jail. Speculation arose that this group was the same mob responsible for the lynching of his father and uncle. Public sentiment seemingly favored Carter’s escape, and efforts to recapture him appeared minimal.
The Mountain Home lynching underscores the prevalence of vigilante justice in the late 19th century. The case raises numerous questions about due process, the influence of public opinion on law enforcement, and the complexities of guilt and innocence in a frontier setting. The lack of accountability for the mob’s actions further emphasizes the challenges faced in maintaining order in a society grappling with rapid change and often violent conflict.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Violence and Unanswered Questions
The 1894 Mountain Home lynching serves as a stark example of frontier justice and the challenges faced by legal authorities in maintaining order. The violence and unanswered questions surrounding the deaths of Anderson Carter, Jasper Newton, and Hunter Wilson remain a dark chapter in Arkansas history. The case underscores the fragility of the rule of law in a frontier environment and the potential for mob violence to supersede formal legal processes. This incident leaves behind a legacy of violence and a reminder of the complexities of achieving justice in a rapidly changing society.
