Twenty one years ago, Chuck Offenburger and I had ringside seats for a rare and fascinating journalistic forum: the now late George “Lefty” Mills, the legendary Des Moines Register reporter, the late Bob Beck, the former publisher of Centerville’s Daily Iowegian, a towering figure in journalism and Republican politics for decades, and my uncle, James B.
My beloved first editor, Irving Leibowitz, covered this outrage in a full chapter of his book, "My Indiana." The arrest and jailing of the repellent D.C. Stephenson didn't end the Klan in Indiana. It was estimated one third of the white men in Indiana were in the Klan. Leibo's paper, the Indianapolis Times, won the Pulitzer in 1928 for exposing the Klan, years before he arrived as editor, but the Klan remained active through the early 1950s. The murderer D.C. Stephenson, "I am the law in Indiana," was paroled from jail by Gov. Henry Schricker, broke parole, was re-jailed and got a second parole on Christmas Eve 1956 by Gov. George Craig. He was re-arrested five years later for trying to abduct a 16-year-old girl in Missouri. He paid a $300 fine and was paroled from a four-month jail sentence on condition he leave Missouri. He returned to southern Indiana with his fourth wife and died in 1966.
Excellent column! I’ve heard stories of the Klan’s incursion into Iowa in the 1920s, and how my Catholic forebears were affected by it and responded to it. Your column helped me understand the historical moment better. I’ll be getting the book to learn more. Thank you!
My beloved first editor, Irving Leibowitz, covered this outrage in a full chapter of his book, "My Indiana." The arrest and jailing of the repellent D.C. Stephenson didn't end the Klan in Indiana. It was estimated one third of the white men in Indiana were in the Klan. Leibo's paper, the Indianapolis Times, won the Pulitzer in 1928 for exposing the Klan, years before he arrived as editor, but the Klan remained active through the early 1950s. The murderer D.C. Stephenson, "I am the law in Indiana," was paroled from jail by Gov. Henry Schricker, broke parole, was re-jailed and got a second parole on Christmas Eve 1956 by Gov. George Craig. He was re-arrested five years later for trying to abduct a 16-year-old girl in Missouri. He paid a $300 fine and was paroled from a four-month jail sentence on condition he leave Missouri. He returned to southern Indiana with his fourth wife and died in 1966.
Whoa. This is an interesting addition to the story!
I have heard stories from Mary Swander about how the klan attacked her relatives. Thank goodness for Ms. Oberholtzer
Thank you
Excellent column! I’ve heard stories of the Klan’s incursion into Iowa in the 1920s, and how my Catholic forebears were affected by it and responded to it. Your column helped me understand the historical moment better. I’ll be getting the book to learn more. Thank you!
Glad to read your glowing review as 'A Fever in the Heartland' tops my current stack of books to read. Thank you!
Fascinating! Thanks!