Devils Walking: Klan Murders along the Mississippi in the 1960s

by Stanley Nelson, Hank Klibanoff (Afterword), Greg Iles (Foreword)

After midnight on December 10, 1964, in Ferriday, Louisiana, African American Frank Morris awoke to the sound of breaking glass. Outside his home and shoe shop, standing behind the shattered window, Klansmen tossed a lit match inside the store, now doused in gasoline, and instantly set the building ablaze. A shotgun pointed to Morris s head blocked his escape from the flames. Four days later Morris died, though he managed in his last hours to describe his attackers to the FBI. Frank Morris s death was one of several Klan murders that terrorized residents of northeast Louisiana and Mississippi, as the perpetrators continued to elude prosecution during this brutal era in American history.

In Devils Walking: Klan Murders along the Mississippi in the 1960s, Pulitzer Prize finalist and journalist Stanley Nelson details his investigation alongside renewed FBI attention into these cold cases, as he uncovers the names of the Klan s key members as well as systemized corruption and coordinated deception by those charged with protecting all citizens.

Devils Walking recounts the little-known facts and haunting stories that came to light from Nelson s hundreds of interviews with both witnesses and suspects. His research points to the development of a particularly virulent local faction of the Klan who used terror and violence to stop integration and end the advancement of civil rights. Secretly led by the savage and cunning factory worker Red Glover, these Klansmen a handpicked group that included local police officers and sheriff s deputies discarded Klan robes for civilian clothes and formed the underground Silver Dollar Group, carrying a silver dollar as a sign of unity. Their eight known victims, mostly African American men, ranged in age from nineteen to sixty-seven and included one Klansman seeking redemption for his past actions.

Following the 2007 FBI reopening of unsolved civil rights era cases, Nelson s articles in the Concordia Sentinel prompted the first grand jury hearing for these crimes. By unmasking those responsible for these atrocities and giving a voice to the victims families, Devils Walking demonstrates the importance of confronting and addressing the traumatic legacy of racism.

"

Genres: History, True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Race

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2016

About the author

Stanley Nelson is senior staff writer for Chickasaw Press and a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. He joined the Chickasaw Press staff in 2010, after spending thirty years as a manager, editor, and columnist for newspapers and other media-related enterprises in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arkansas. He is the author of Toli: Chickasaw Stickball Then and Now, which was released by Chickasaw Press in 2016. His work has appeared in The Journal of Chickasaw History and Culture and Chokma: Chickasaw Magazine, and he has contributed text for a number of other Chickasaw Press titles. He studied journalism at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Nelson lives in Ada, Oklahoma.

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read! It was well-written and I think its because the author, Stanley Nelson, is a credentialed journalist. The subject is a dark one—cold cases filed out away by the FBI due to lack of evidence and connection. This was a history and investigative narrative proving the old claim that "No One is Above the Law."

The South in the 1960s saw expansion of the Civil Rights movement, Northern civil rights workers coming unto the South to push their efforts, the LBJ administration's hard push for equality, and the old guard KKK's murderous resistance that came to a flashpoint. The Klan saw violence as the last resort in Mississippi & Louisiana to combat the soon coming federal laws of Civil Rights aims at desegregation.

The Ku Klux Klan had factions in both Realms of Mississippi & Louisiana and inner tensions existed as they always existed within the KKK. In this location however, there existed the Silver Dollar Group (SDG), which operated as a klan within a klan. They were a non-sanctioned group that operated without permission from the different klaverns (local charters) nor their respective Grand Cyclops (charter president).

The Silver Dollar Group was made of about 50-60 hardcore KKK psychopaths who were secretly recruited from among the KKK rank-and-file. These men were assembled into secretive hit squads known as wrecking crews (pg 22), which launched arson, house & church bombings, kidnapping, beating & whipping, and first-degree homicide. Beginning in 1964, the splinter group had about 20 die-hard Klansmen that were responsible for eight grizzly murders from 1964-67.

Nelson did an excellent job of explaining the Klan history of the area, the members & affiliates, the deep-seeded Klan infiltration into the Sheriff's department & city police, and various members turning into secret FBI informants. These murders were never pinned on anyone unitl 2007 when these cases were reopened. Nelson explained this was because

Jim Ingram, the legendary FBI agent involved in many major Mississippi cases, from the Neshoba County murders, known as the Mississippi Burning, said that SDG Klansman informants would "only lead you to a certain point and stop there." More importantly, there was a line of incrimination involving murder that no SDG Klansman would ever cross. pg 185

The book was based on newspaper articles and lots of interviews by witnesses & suspects. I was intrigued the entire time and finished feeling I had learned something of value. Overall this was a great book and I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in American history and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Thanks!

[Dele Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devils Walking by Stanley Nelson (non-fiction) If you are a fan of novelist Greg Iles and have read his Natchez Trilogy, you will recognize where the basis for his books came from. Iles had said this books were based on actual events but chose to fictionalize them. Nelson published his book after Iles had published book number three, giving Devils Walking an even more of an OMG this was all true when you read his book.

Stanley Nelson is an editor for The Concordia Sentinal. These are Klan murders that happened in his backyard. He did the investigations for these stories for his newspaper. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his work.

Devils Walking explores Klan murders that were commited in the Natchez,Mississippi and Ferriday Louisiana area. As you are reading the book and his read Iles' books you see exactly where his story came from. Most every one and every event is there. Only the JFK Assassination isn't dealt with. The book leaves the reader with a sense of "how can fellow human beings do this to each other". I would highly recommend this book to any one, especially if you want a look into racism and the Klan in the deep South.

[Russell Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating account of Klan activity in the 1960's Mississippi and Louisiana. Mr. Nelson seems to have done exhaustive research to produce this work.
Since Greg Iles recent trilogy,Mississippi Burning, is largely based on this research I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is or has read these.
Perhaps more important is the feeling that many of us thought that the days depicted here were well behind us. I have included it in my current events bookshelf because we are seeing a resurgence in this sort of hate and bigotry. How often do we have to have lessons repeated?

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was inspired to read this book by Greg Iles' Natchez Burning. It is definitely true that truth is sadder than fiction. This novel gives a clear account of tragic, maddening murders happening in an indifferent society not so removed geographically or temporarily from where I live today. Although all of the disparate facts can get a little confusing at times, the theme is absolutely clear: while making so much progress, we have so long to go in treating black lives as if they matter. An important read, especially for those in and from the Miss-Lou area.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book after Greg Iles mentioned that the author Stanley Nelson is the basis for a character in his Penn Cage books. The real life details are chilling; I salute the author and investigation heroes who risked much to expose the perpetrators and cover-ups of these extremely disturbing crimes.

[Rae Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was inspired to read this book by Greg Iles books. Although his books are noted as fiction, you can see from this book where his books were born. It is tragic to read what was taking place in the south not that many years ago...

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Greg Iles? Wonder where he gets his Natchez stories? This books is the real life version of a Greg Iles novel. Written by editor of Concordia LA newspaper editor the true story of the horrors in Louisiana and Southwest Mississippi during the 60s Civil Rights activity in those areas of the country. This was where I grew up so there was a personal interest. It also was part of my continued interest in this part of my interest in the civil rights movement. Highly recommend but not for those who dislike violence. This is not a gory book by any means but it's hard to believe that devils truly walked the earth and they were so close to me.

[suzie marshall beekman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you!

As an adult I was floored to see the secrets and lies that were rampant in the Franklin County community. This and the Thomas Moore/David Ridden documentaries peaked my interest in the community I once called home. I have been researching this case for over 15 yesrs. Thank you for trying to answer some of the questions I've had for years. This should be required reading for any child living in the area. When it came to civil rights movement in the local schools we were taught nothing about the events which happened in our area, imagine my surprise when I went to college and found out about this history. Again thank you for publishing this work.

[Adamdaigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very meticulous reporting here from Stanley Nelson -- the kind that makes you wonder how worse off we'd be as a country we didn't have watchdog journalists. It's intense reading, the kind that made me put it down for the rest of the day so I can process it.

Those guys were the worst form of domestic terrorists, and it's a damn shame every one of them but one (who all but got away with his, really) were never held responsible.

Ben Chester White deserved better. Wharlest Jackson deserved better. Dammit, they all deserved better.

[Sandra Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley Nelson and I are from the same neck-of-the-woods...and both worked for weekly newspapers at the same time. I left the business but Stanley has thrived in it through the years. He is a journalists's journalist...the highest praise that can be bestowed. He has labored long and hard to produce this fascinating book...do yourself a favor and buy it today.

[Claude Faulkenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lived in Concordia Parish during the mid '70's ...I couldn't pass this up. I met and knew some of these people personally. Stanley Nelson does an amazing job documenting the underbelly of corruption and hate that filled those times in Louisiana and Mississippi. Murder, Hate, Larger than Life individuals, all included.

[Barbara Bonneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took some excellent research to write this nonfictional account of Klan crimes of the sixties in the Ferriday, Louisiana and the Natchez, Mississippi area, written by journalist, Stanley Nelson. Greg Isles based his fictional trilogy, Natchez burning on his account, as reported by the Concordia Sentinel. The reality is hair-raising and I could not read it as quickly as I would a fictional novel. I grew up in Ferriday and remember, as a child does, the horrific crime that killed Frank Morris and left a cold case that Stanley Nelson's research helped to reopen. Although no one can bring back the past, the author does a fair job, as only a writer can, of rendering justice to the families concerned.

[Lisa Cater · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book about my community. It's difficult to believe such evil was here but the book was very well written. I would be interested in any other book by Mr. Nelson as the book was an easy read. Being familiar with the area and having heard some of the names just enhanced this reader's curiosity.

[Jacque Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading history, but this was hard for me to get through. I read it after reading Greg Iles' trilogy, so it was interesting to see the intersection of fiction and fact. It added depth to my view of the Civil Rights battles, since I grew up in Southern California and didn't see the struggles they had in the South.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is true reporting by a real writer who has lived his story. I can't praise this book enough. This isn't 'True Crime'. This is someone devoting their life to a story. The story is so outrageous and evil that it overwhelms all imagination. People are doing unto others things I had never conceived before. This is terrorism. This book documents its acts and then retribution.

[Steve Sanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is by no means unbiased as Stanley Nelson is my first cousin. But this IS a gripping, horrifying tale that our country needs to hear right about now...

[Tristin Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very tough read. I found myself flipping back pages constantly to keep track of names and people. Very informative though

[George Stenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exceptional book. It shows what can he accomplished by a journalist that is entirely focused. I loved the way that he formed alliances with several colleges to work on these could cases and bring some type of resolution to many of them. A very important read.

[Sheri Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent work of true journalism.

[Nicola]

It reads well, but I'm totally tapped out on bad, sad, mad horror for a bit and have had to put it aside.