Roy Mitchell

Case identification

Roy Mitchell was executed by hanging on July 30, 1923.

Timeline

• May 7, 1922 — William Driskell, a cotton buyer and part-time deputy constable in Waco, Texas, was axed to death in his own garage; he was robbed of his pistol, his watch, and a ring.
• May 25, 1922 — Harvey Bolton, 21 years old, was parking with his girlfriend outside Waco when a black man emerged from nearby bushes and brandished a pistol; the gunman shot Bolton three times, killed him instantly, dragged the woman out, and raped her on the ground.
• May 26, 1922 — The woman fingered Jesse Thomas as her rapist; Jesse Thomas was shot to death by the young woman’s father; his body was carried downtown and publicly burned by a lynch mob.
• November 20, 1922 — Grady Skipworth, 19 years old, was parked near “Lover’s Leap” in Cameron Park with his girlfriend, Naomi Boucher; a black man rushed at their car from the darkness, killed Skipworth with a shotgun blast to the head, dragged his body out of the car, and tossed it over the cliff; the killer wrestled Naomi from the vehicle and pushed her over the precipice, but a tree broke her fall and she survived with only superficial injuries.
• January 10, 1923 — A black gunman leaped onto the running board of a car passing through Cameron Park, jabbed a shotgun through the passenger’s window, and was knocked to the ground without firing a shot; a checkered cap was left behind and delivered to police as evidence.
• January 20, 1923 — W.E. Holt and Ethel Denecamp were parked five miles from Waco when a gunman materialized out of the shadows; Holt was killed with a shot to the head, Denecamp was beaten to death, and her body was dumped in a nearby field; the car was recovered in Waco next morning and abandoned by the killer on a city street.
• January 30, 1923 — Roy Mitchell was arrested on a gambling charge; detectives searched his home and found William Driskell’s handgun and holster, as well as a watch fob stolen from Grady Skipworth.
• March 1923 — Roy Mitchell recanting his confession was before trial; the murder trial began and Mitchell was convicted on all counts and sentenced to die.
• July 30, 1923 — Roy Mitchell was hanged.

Background

William Driskell was a cotton buyer and part-time deputy constable in Waco, Texas. After investigators had no clues in the killing of William Driskell, they were getting nowhere when the killer struck again.

The offence

Roy Mitchell was associated with five murders based on his confession and the evidence found after his arrest, including killings involving an ax, the attack on couples near “Lover’s Leap,” and at least one rape.

Murder of William Driskell (May 7, 1922)

William Driskell was axed to death in his own garage in Waco, Texas. He was robbed of his pistol, his watch, and a ring.

Killing of Harvey Bolton and rape of Bolton’s girlfriend (May 25, 1922)

Harvey Bolton, 21 years old, was parking with his girlfriend outside Waco when a black man emerged from some nearby bushes, brandishing a pistol. The gunman shot Bolton three times, killing him instantly, then dragged the woman out and raped her on the ground.

Lynching and death of Jesse Thomas (May 26, 1922)

The next day, the victim fingered Jesse Thomas as her rapist. Jesse Thomas was shot to death by the young woman’s father; his body was carried downtown and publicly burned by a lynch mob. The young woman’s identification was described as a mistake, influenced by hysteria and a conviction that “all blacks look alike.”

Killing of Grady Skipworth and attack on Naomi Boucher (November 20, 1922)

On November 20, 19-year-old Grady Skipworth was parked near “Lover’s Leap,” in Cameron Park, with his girlfriend, Naomi Boucher. A black man rushed at their car from the darkness, killed Skipworth with a shotgun blast to the head, dragged his body out of the car, and tossed it over the cliff. The killer returned, wrestled Naomi from the vehicle, and pushed her over the precipice. A tree broke her fall, and she survived with only superficial injuries.

Attempt with shotgun and cap evidence (January 10, 1923)

On January 10, 1923, a black gunman leaped onto the running board of a car passing through Cameron Park and jabbed a shotgun through the passenger’s window. He was knocked to the ground without firing a shot. He left behind a checkered cap that was delivered to police as evidence. Nearly three weeks elapsed before its owner was identified.

Killing of W.E. Holt and Ethel Denecamp (January 20, 1923)

On January 20, W.E. Holt and Ethel Denecamp were parked five miles from Waco when a gunman materialized out of the shadows. Holt was killed with a shot to the head, Denecamp was beaten to death, and her body was dumped in a nearby field. Their car was recovered in Waco next morning, abandoned by the killer on a city street.

Investigation

Investigators initially had no clues in the May 7, 1922 killing of William Driskell, and were getting nowhere. A witness identified the checkered cap’s owner as 30-year-old Roy Mitchell, a Louisiana native currently living in Waco.

Arrest

Roy Mitchell was arrested on January 30, on a gambling charge. A search of his home turned up William Driskell’s handgun and holster, along with a watch fob stolen from Grady Skipworth.

Trial

After three days in jail, Roy Mitchell confessed to five murders. He recanted the statement before his trial in March 1923. He was convicted on all counts and sentenced to die, and the trial ended with the last Texas hanging.

Quotations from individuals connected with the case

Michael Newton—An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers—Hunting Humans said the trial ended with last Texas hanging.

Dr. Patricia Wallace, a professor of history, said:

"Goodbye everybody."

Bob Davis, a Waco resident, said:

"There was considerable doubt about whether he had a fair trial because of the prominence of the Ku Klux Klan in town," Wallace said.
"There was some controversy about the speed of the trial and on whether he was innocent," Bob Davis said.
"He could have been innocent, but it's been said that Mitchell was good friends with the police chief, so I think he was probably guilty."
"If Mitchell hadn't been guilty, the police chief probably would have done something to stop the hanging."
"In those days, there were a lot of innocent black men hanged," Davis said.
"It was unfortunate, but it happened."

Kent Keeth, associate professor and director of the Texas Collection, said:

"The Mitchell trial has been the subject of many books pertaining to the history of Waco, according to Kent Keeth, associate professor and director of the Texas Collection."

Sentencing

Roy Mitchell was sentenced to die.

Outcome

Roy Mitchell was hanged on July 30, 1923, before a cheering crowd of 8,000 spectators. Another estimate described that 5,000 to 7,000 people came to see the event on July 30, 1923. His last words were:

Aftermath

The case was described as involving controversy about whether Mitchell had a fair trial, including the prominence of the Ku Klux Klan in town and the speed of the trial and whether Mitchell was innocent. The hanging took place behind the Waco jail, located on Sixth Street next to the courthouse. Mitchell’s trial and hanging were later the subject of many books pertaining to the history of Waco, and a piece of the rope used to hang Mitchell was said to have been seen by Bob Davis many times.

Other details

Roy Mitchell was described as a black man and as a Louisiana native living in Waco. He was 30 years old at the time his owner was identified and was arrested on a gambling charge. He recanted his confession before trial in March 1923. The case listing described motive as “CE/Sex” and noted “M.O.: Killed constable with an ax; attacked couples in lover's lane; at least one rape.” The case listing also described disposition as “Hanged July 30, 1923.”