On New Years Day, 1923, following a holiday sermon, Rev. James W. H. Eason was shot in New Orleans outside of a church. According to a Bureau of Investigation source, Marcus Garvey announced the shooting of Eason, his chief rival, at Liberty Hall in New York just one hour after it occurred in New Orleans.i
Garvey soon issued a public statement about the shooting of Eason:
“We have absolutely no connection with the murder of J. W. H. Eason, and the statement that Eason was a star witness against me is without foundation, for there is nothing the man could have said would injure me. I have paid but little attention to the charge of using the mails to defraud, in that I know the whole affair to be a “frame up” among jealous negroes who have been trying for some time to embarrass me.”
Garvey followed with a telegram to Attorney General Harry Daugherty:
“On behalf of 2,500,000 loyal citizens, members of the Universal Improvement Association…we protest against…officers of your department, who are being instigated to act against the Universal Negro Improvement Association by rival negro organizations, namely, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a group of Socialists; Friends of Negro Freedom, a red Socialist organization; and the African Blood Brotherhood, representatives of the Bolsheviki of Russia.”ii
At the Bureau, J. Edgar Hoover had suspected Garvey of ordering Eason’s murder to silence his rival. Prosecution against Garvey was ruled out in New Orleans by local authorities who feared the expense of such an undertaking.
Hoover’s inability to see Garvey prosecuted for murder was a source of lifelong frustration. The Eason murder shaped and influenced Hoover’s future counterintelligence directives, he would no longer play by the rules, the ends would justify the means.
Numerous delays and continuances, mostly stemming from lack of an available judge, stalled the start of the mail fraud trial against Garvey and the scheduling of witnesses. Agent James Amos recorded the difficulty the delays presented to the prosecution.
“Agents are having great difficulty in holding the witnesses for the Government and one of our principal witnesses has been shot by, we think, some of GARVEY’S fanatics, and if this case drags on much longer, we will have no witnesses left for the Government.”iii
Agent Mortimer Davis also wrote a memorandum on the shooting of Eason. Davis had interviewed Eason several weeks earlier. “His remarks were of importance and interest, and he was looked upon as one of the Government’s leading witnesses in the case.”
One of the potential witnesses Davis was speaking with told him about the announcement at Liberty Hall of Eason’s death. “Garvey must have had news of the affair within an hour of its occurrence. It is also alleged that Garvey, upon hearing of it, stated, “that’s the way they treat them in the West!”iv
An editor of the Negro Advocate was in New Orleans and was granted a bedside interview with the dying minister. From his deathbed, Eason described his shooting.
“As I was leaving the Church being greeted by my many friends, my assailants fired point blank in the crowd. I fell. Some of my friends, as far as I can remember made an attempt to catch the assailants but they fired back at their pursuers as they made their escape. I was then rushed to the hospital where I became unconscious until just a while ago.”v
Eason then gave a statement to police at Charity Hospital where he had been taken after the shooting.
“After the services…while walking out…when a shot struck the pavement I turned around to see where the shooting was coming from, I was shot in the back, first and turning around I was struck in the forehead and knocked me down….3 men followed me and one man did the shooting.”vi
The intense investigation of James Eason’s murder gave Marcus Garvey a case of wanderlust. Joseph Tucker reported Garvey was planning a year-long world tour and made a statement he would leave in February.
“The statement adds, that Garvey will speak for five months in all the principal cities of the United States to white and colored audiences, one month in the Dominion of Canada, two months in South and Central America, one month in the West Indies, two months in England Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Germany, one month in Africa, one month in Australia and one month in Japan.”
“According to his secretary, Miss Enid Lamos, the various branches of the Universal Negro Improvement Association are being requested to immediately arrange for Garvey’s appearance before the branches.”vii
George Shanton, the Special Agent in Charge in New Orleans, sent a memorandum to William Burns and J. Edgar Hoover with information about alleged killers of Eason, Constantine Frederick Dyer and William Shakespeare. Although they fled from the scene, six witnesses were able to identity the two men.
“Our investigation up to date discloses that the suspected murderers had nickel plated badges marked “JUSTICE—UNIVERSAL NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION’” on them, and from testimony of witnesses taken here today, it appears as though we are going to dig up much information on this GARVEY organization.”viii
The New York Amsterdam News reported: “Both Dyer and Shakespeare have denied the attack, but declared they were glad of it as they said Eason richly deserved what he got. Eason, said one of them, was a sorehead. The Association made him what he was. When he was expelled because of misconduct he went up and down the country preaching against Marcus Garvey who is doing great good for our race. Someone who evidently though it was time to stop his lies took a crack at him. I don’t blame the one that did it. Eason richly deserved what he got.”ix
James Amos learned more about the killing. “Agent has also received some very valuable information…that on the night the REV. EASON was shot, a few minutes after the shooting took place, a telegram was sent to MRS. GARVEY, stating that the work had been done.”x
Amos next heard that $250 for a defense fund for Dyer and Shakespeare had been created by Garvey. Amos was then called to the office of the Messenger by Chandler Owen to receive a group letter to the Attorney General from Owen, A. Phillip Randolph and William Pickens.
“As the chief law enforcement officer of the Nation, we wish to call to your attention to a heretofore unconsidered menace to harmonious race relationships. There are in our midst certain Negro criminals and potential murderers, both foreign and American born, who are moved and actuated by intense hatred against the white race. These undesirables continually proclaim that all white people are enemies to the Negro. They have become so fanatical that they have threatened and attempted the death of their opponents, actually assassinating in one instance.”
“The movement known as the Universal Negro Improvement Association has done much to stimulate the violent temper of this dangerous element. Its president and moving spirit is one Marcus Garvey, a Negro from Jamaica, British West Indies, not a citizen of the United States, and an unscrupulous demagogue who has ceaselessly and assiduously sought to spread among Negroes distrust and hatred of all white people.”
“The U. N. I. A. is composed chiefly of the most primitive and ignorant element of West Indian and American Negroes. The so-called respectable element of the movement are largely ministers without churches, physicians without patients, lawyers without clients, and publishers without readers, who are usually in search of “easy money.” In short, this organization is composed in the main of Negro sharks and ignorant Negro fanatics.”xi
“Marcus Garvey is intolerant of free speech when it is exercised in criticism of him and his movement, seeking to prevent such by threats and violence.”
“Several weeks ago the Garvey division in Philadelphia caused such a disturbance in the Salem Baptist church where Attorney J. Austin Norris…and the Rev. J. W. H. Eason, were speaking against Garvey that the police disbanded the meeting to prevent a riot and bloodshed. Reports state the street in front of the church was blocked by Garveyites who insulted and knocked down pedestrians who were on their way to the meeting.”xii
“In Chicago, after seeking to break up an Anti-Garvey meeting, a Garvey supporter shot a policeman who sought to prevent him from attacking the speaker as he left the building.”
“In New York last August during a series of meetings conducted by the Friends of Negro Freedom to expose Garvey’s schemes and methods, the speakers were threatened with death. Scores of Garveyites came into the meetings with the avowed intention of breaking them up. This they were prevented from doing by the stern determination on the part of the leaders, the activity of the New York police and the great mass of West Indians and Americans who clearly showed that they would not permit any cowardly ruffians to break up their meetings.”
“On January 1, this year, just after having made an address scoring Garvey in New Orleans, the Rev. J. W. H. Eason, former “American Leader” of the Garvey movement, who had fallen out with Garvey and was to be the chief witness against him in the Federal Government’s case, was waylaid and assassinated, it is reported in the press, by the Garveyites.”xiii
“Inasmuch, however, as the assassination of Mr. Eason removes a federal witness, we suggest that the Federal Government probe into the facts and ascertain whether Eason was assassinated as the result of an interstate conspiracy emanating from New York.”
“For the above reasons we advocate that the Attorney General use his full influence completely to extirpate this vicious movement.”xiv
Two weeks after the shooting in New Orleans, the Negro World had an obituary article on the death of James Eason. The article, devoid of details of the crime, did not carry on the traitor theme but was instead a short obituary, noting Eason’ recent departure as the American Leader. Gone was the vitriol against Eason.
“So far no details of the occurrence have been obtainable…it appears that Mr. Eason was invited to lecture on the emancipation of the Negro….Just how the shooting occurred or the cause of it could not be learned.”
“Mr. Eason was a very fine speaker and was popular with a large section of his fellow citizens both in this State and in other States where he had been domiciled. The news of his death will come as somewhat of a shock to those who know him, as he was in the prime of life and vigorous manhood.”xv
However, a second article in the same edition was less conciliatory. The article explained that Eason was dismissed from the U.N.I.A. “for plotting and consorting with enemies, and for conduct unbecoming a gentleman.”
“From information gathered, the man was killed over an alleged woman affair. It is alleged he got mixed up in the domestic affairs of the usual crowd of women whom he frequented, and chiefly on which conduct he was disgraced and dismissed.”
“The usual enemy crowd of the association is endeavoring to fasten his death upon the organization, and the indiscriminate man himself, true to his character, lied up to the time of his death in endeavoring to make out that he was killed by someone associated with the Universal Negro Improvement Association.”
“All those who knew the man intimately are not surprised at the news, but cannot but pity him for his sad end.”
“Men who claim to be race leaders ought at least to so live as to make their lives an example to others.”xvi
A Bureau agent in the New Orleans office sent a memorandum to J. Edgar Hoover. The report summarized information obtained from several witnesses. One witness, W. Thomas, was close to Eason on the night of the killing and the memo relates his story.
“EASON made several addresses in the different negro churches, and on each occasion five or six GARVEYITES, mostly JAMAICAN NEGROES, would follow him; that DYER, who shot EASON on the night of January 1st, was among these, and he lectured here for fifteen days, and that this was a common occurrence noticed by all; that on one occasion a GARVEYITE interrupted and threatened him while on the platform, but was put out of the church. He stated that on the night EASON was killed, that he saw about six of these GARVEYITES together at the church where EASON had lectured, and among them were DYER and SHAKESPEARE…that THOMAS, who is the Division head of the Legion, was also there; that EASON came out of the church with him, and at the time he was shot was probably forty or fifty feet in front; that he recognized DYER as the negro who had shot EASON, DYER being with SHAKESPEARE, and both of them hurried away after the shot was fired; that both of these negroes rushed by him in an effort to get close to EASON after they had come out of the church and that he could positively identify the two as being the murderers of EASON.”xvii
On January 18, the police raided the U.N.I.A. headquarters in New Orleans. Aiding the police was a Bureau agent who was given all the correspondence seized in the raid. William Phillips, the local Executive Secretary of the organization, was taken to the police station and questioned.
Phillips stated that Ramus came to him in November with a letter of introduction signed by Garvey. Phillips said “that RAMUS came to his office nearly every day and talked about organizing a POLICE and SECRET SERVICE DEPARTMENT.”
Phillips wrote to Garvey about Esau Ramus “requesting him to advise him just what he desired done” as the “local branch refused to authorize a local police Department” but Garvey never replied.xviii
Ramus went ahead and organized a local U.N.I.A. police force to the dismay of Phillips. “After this occasion, he wrote MARCUS GARVEY a personal letter to ascertain his wishes as to the connection of this SECRET SERVICE DEPARTMENT to the organization, but he never received an answer.”xix
“Sunday, Dec. 30th, RAMUS came to his office, and told him that DR. EASON was in town, and that he intended to put stink bombs in church….and that the last time RAMUS come to his office, he spoke about EASON’S DEATH, and RAMUS made the remark “IT WAS AN EASY MATTER,” meaning the murder.”xx
Despite presure from the Bureau of Investigation, Ramus was never prosecuted for his purported role in murder of Eason. Dyer and Shakespeare were convicted and imprisoned for the shooting death of Eason, however the pair were granted a retrial on appeal and acquitted at a new trial.
Marcus Garvey was widely suspected of ordering the killing but was never charged for Eason’s death.
Excerpted from GARVEY: The Case Against the Provisional President of Africa which is available in print and ebook from Amazon.
iFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 56, January 6, 1923
iiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 38, January 1923
iiiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 55, January 6, 1923
ivFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 57, January 6, 1923
vFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 59, January 6, 1923
viFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 79, January 16, 1923
viiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-6B, p. 35, January 6, 1923 (erroneously 1922)
viiiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 65, January 13, 1923 George R. Shanton(1868-1930) Special Agent in Charge of New Orleans field office at the time of the Eason murder.Constantine Frederick Dyer(b. 1880)Imprisoned for shooting James Eason. William Shakespeare(b. 1893)Imprisoned for shooting James Eason.
ixFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 75, January 15, 1923
xFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 66, January 13, 1923
xiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 72, January 15, 1923
xiiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 73, January 15, 1923 J. Austin Norris(1890-1976) An attorney and publisher, Norris formed the Universal Negro Alliance in opposition to the U.N.I.A.
xiiiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 74, January 15, 1923 The final draft of the letter submitted to the Attorney General contained additional details about the murder. “Rev. Eason identified two of the men as Frederick Dyer, 42, a longshoreman, and William Shakespeare, 29, a painter. Both of them are prominent members of the U.N.I.A. in New Orleans, one wearing a badge as chief of police and the other as chief of the Fire Department of the ‘African Republic.’ Dr. Eason’s dying words, identifying the men whom he know from long acquaintance in the movement were: “I had been speaking at Bethany and was on my way home when three men rushed out at from from an alley. I saw their faces and (pointing at Dyer and Shakespeare) I am positive that these two men here are two of the three.” (See Negro World, p. 2, May 26, 1923 for full text of letter.)
xivFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 75, January 15, 1923
xv“J. W. H. Eason Shot Fatally in New Orleans by Man,” Negro World, p. 5, January 13, 1923 The phrase “vigorous manhood” was a veiled reference to rumors of Garvey supporters that Eason was a womanizer.
xvi“Eason, At One Time Connected With the U.N.I.A. Shot and Killed in New Orleans,” Negro World, p. 10, January 13, 1923
xviiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 83, January 16, 1923
xviiiFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 105, January 22, 1923
xixFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 106, January 22, 1923 Esau Ramos (aka John Jeffries) was suspected of shooting Eason but was not prosecuted.
xxFBI Vault, 190-1781-6-3A, p. 107, January 22, 1923
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