Memorial Unveiled Near The Eatontown Location Of The Lynching Of Samuel "Mingo Jack" Johnson In 1888.

On a grassy area overlooking Wampum Lake in Eatontown, people gathered this past Sunday afternoon to dedicate a memorial marker and plaque that reads:

Samuel “Mingo Jack” Johnson lynched without a fair trail at the former site of Eatontown Lockup, midnight on March 5, 1886.  New Jersey’s only documented 19th century lynching.

Speakers included James Stone whose interest in what happened on the night of March 5, 1886  led to his writing of a book called The Murder of Mingo Jack: New Jersey’s Only Nineteenth Century Lynching.

 Stone spoke of the events on that day in March 126 years ago.   He told of how a young woman was raped earlier in the day and how her attacker had asked her “do you know Mingo Jack?”  

Mr. Johnson who was known as “Mingo Jack” was taken into custody and put in the Eatontown lock-up on West St. The lockup was located within about 200 feet of where the monument was placed recalling the events of that night.

Despite fears relayed to the guard at the lock-up that Mr. Johnson might be harmed, the guard left for the night leaving Mr. Johnson alone. Stone described how a group of between 12 and 20 men which had been drinking at a local tavern, around midnight broke into the lock-up, viciously beat Mr. Jackson and than hanged him.

Mr. Stone said the later inquest into Mr. Johnson's murder was a “farce” in which large quantities of liquor were consumed by participants. Even so, much doubt was cast upon whether Mr. Jackson was guilty when the victim’s description of her assailants clothing did not come close to matching the clothes that Mr. Jackson had been wearing that day.  

Two other men later on separate occasions confessed to the crime.  Stone noted that " If a non biased trial had been held (non biased is the key word) I certainly believe that Mr. Johnson would have been exonerated." 

As time and the years went by, Mr. Johnson's murder/lynching was not spoken about much anymore by local residents. Amazingly, many people who grew up in Eatontown in the 20th century had no knowledge of what the current Mayor would describe “as a low point in the history of Eatontown.”  

Sunday's dedication and events were organized by The Mingo Jack Remembrance Committee. Mr. Stone spoke of how the group came into being and how the committee raised the funds to purchase the monument which was placed in the park. Members include Sondra Thompson (Committee Chairperson), Inice Hennessy, Rodney Jackson, Alden Small, Sr., James Stone, Carolyn Storey-Hodge, Rose Terry, Sonny Thornton and the Paranormal Rangers. Honorary Members are Congregation Shaare Tefilah, Eatontown Councilman Meir Araman and Council President Anthony Talerico Jr.  

Other speakers included Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo, Council President Anthony Talerico, Jr. and Tara L. Christiansen of the Monmouth County Archives.  The Benediction was given by Rev. Benjamin A. Evans, Sr. Pastor of Mr. Zion A.M.E. Church, Eatontown, NJ. Also present were Eatontown Councilmen Dennis Connelly, Meir Araman and Mark Regan.   

Mayor Tarantolo noted that Mr. Jackson’s civil rights which were granted by God were taken away that night from him when the security at the jail failed. The Mayor went on to apologize to the spirit of Mr. Johnson, his wife, his family and his descendants. He noted the apology was for the actions taken that night and asked that forgiveness be given. Mr. Talerico said that while there are still questions as to who actually committed the terrible crime, there is not a doubt that a man was lynched without a trial. 

I asked myself what I took away from Sunday and what will I will remember?  When I see the memorial years from now, I will think of the words of people who spoke on Sunday and remember the dedication of people who served on the committee. I will remember the looks on their faces and realize how important it was to them that what happened in Eatontown to Mr. Samuel Johnson on that night 126 years ago is never again forgotten.

A great source of information is James Stones book which may be purchased at: https://www.createspace.com/3873191

You can also go to this link to see a video (3 parts) called The Ghost of Mingo Jack. This was done a group called The Paranormal Rangers.  The documentary tells the story what happened and searches for his ghost. It also features the group of local residents who were working towards getting the marker placed at the site where this tragic event occurred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsTbKFWFwaM&list=PL00E1EA1B7E118901&feature=plcp