One of the Last Lynchings in California | The Kidnap and murder of Brooke Hart | Well, I Never

The wealthy heir to his father's department store, Brooke Hart would never get a chance to take the reigns of his family's empire. In 1933 at just 22 years old, Brooke was kidnapped with his father soon being asked to pay a ransom of $50,000. Little could he have known that the perpetrators had no intention of returning his son and had already murdered him.
Enraged by their callous act of greed and evil, over 15000 residents attacked the jail the killers were held at, dragged them to a local park and lynched them.
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Crime and the Great Depression
01:59 - Brooke and the Hart Family
03:30 - The Disappearance of Brooke Hart
05:00 - The Investigation begins
07:36 - Harold Thurmond and John Holmes are captured
09:50 - Locals Enraged by the Murder
11:20 - A Mob Descends Upon the Jail
12:40 - The Lynchers Get Their Men
14:05 - Outcome and Reaction

[@WellINever]

Thank you to the viewer who recommended we cover this story! If you've a case or story from the past you'd like us to make an episode about, let me know :)

[@nim5398]

Hello your storytelling is so good thank you for all the efforts you and your team put in for the videos! an you please make one on the "burari case"?

[@scurly0792]

I think you should do a video on the steamship "Princess Alice" which was rammed in two and sank in sewage

[@ryanbaker6881]

A lot of history I was not aware of. I lived in San Jose for 10 years well done thank you

[@kennyboy1987]

How about a story about the norwegian serial killer Arnfinn Nesset, a very interesting case

[@nonamenoname1434]

The Dr. Snook murder case from 1929 is interesting. Dr. Snook was a two time 1920 Olympic gold medalist in shooting and was a veterinarian of some renowned (he designed a surgical instrument veterinarians still use during a spay - the Snook hook). He was a professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbus, Ohio. He murdered Theora Hix, a twenty-four year old medical student with whom he was having an affair. The case involves Spanish Fly, marijuana, and irregular (for the time) sex practices. What is especially interesting is that it is not clear how much of the narrative about the case is true and how much Dr. Snook made up. After a media circus trial, Snook was executed in the electric chair only 261 days after the murder.

[@lorraine9242]

Poor young man. He had the right to live his life, get married, and have kids. I bet he would have been a kind philanthropist like his Dad and his brother.

[@nekkoskrilla6750]

Or he could have grown up the complete opposite and enjoyed the company of men. 🤷‍♂️

[@lovingmayberry307]

@@nekkoskrilla6750 Homophobia is usually a cover to disguise latent homosexuality, Nekko.

[@felixdk8727]

he could even become a criminal. Women are so narrowminded and delusional

[@meilingflesa8140]

It was such a senseless crime

[@antoniodelrio1292]

@@nekkoskrilla6750 Like Nekko did

[@marks1638]

Great story and little-known piece of history. A neighbor (from California) was going on about lynchings in the South. When I mentioned this incident (from his town of San Jose) he was shocked, especially when he called his aunt (raised in San Jose) who verified the story. Lynching happens any place where people feel they're not getting justice fast enough. One Indian fellow told me of a dozen lynchings in his city in India during a two-year period in the 90's involving pedophiles, murderers, and a corrupt politician (that one shocked me as I thought politicians never got lynched, just reelected.).

[@jennesis]

Your neighbor is from the worst state in the country. It's no wonder a word like "justice" escapes him.

[@samanthamcgahan2066]

That "re-elected" quip was sadder and truer than most would like ...

[@thaloblue]

The only moral issue I really have with lynching is that the crowd virtually NEVER waits for guilt to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Many colored men were accused of rape or pedophilia. Some of them were in genuine consensual interracial relationships with another adult. I have zero clue how many were guilty because nobody ever bothered to prove anything. They just drew blood for the thrill of it. And that’s exactly why minorities were lynched more often than not. It was a way for the Klan to commit terrorist acts under the guise of “criminal justice.”

[@lindak7499]

My mother and grandmother were shopping downtown when this occurred. From the noise they wondered what was happening and walked over to St. James Park just as the men were being "strung up". She told me it was horrible. I remember that all her life my mother would leave the room if we were watching a western movie and there was going to be a lynching. She had told me that people were so irate that Brooke Hart was already dead when the kidnappers finally asked for the ransom, that that is what pushed them to commit the lynching.

[@philstrachan]

Wow. Amazing story. Your mum was obviously very traumatisedby it.

[@spencersholden]

How old would that make you?

[@lindak7499]

@@spencersholden REALLY, REALLY OLD!!!

[@ToniHunterOne]

That has a ring of absolute truth.

[@mst2628]

They story stated that the mob formed outside of the jail at 9pm & that it was after 12pm before the mob made their way inside. My reason for pointing this out isn't to be rude or dispute the truth of your story. Rather to suggest that perhaps they had been out doing something other than shopping? ( dinning, dancing, visiting friends)

[@Lylo-mj8ek]

My Grangfather was there, after sneaking out of the house with his oldest brother. He said he never seen the culprits being so small in the crowd but he knew when the second man died as the large crowd went almost silent.

[@hi.moriarty]

Interesting. Did he ever mention anything else about the crowd's behavior after it was over?

[@TriniGamerGirl7]

How absolutely pathetic, killing that man for no reason.

[@simonvanderheijden432]

They killed him for money. Like it or not, that's a reason and it happens every day. People bash in other people's head for ten bucks and governments go to war over oil (that's money) and power (power is who controls the money). Deal with it..

[@pultsari9036]

@@simonvanderheijden432 Everybody deals with it in their own way. One manifestation is this lynching depicted in this video, another one is voicing out one's disgust like OP did. Mine is taking satisfaction in the fact that despite expensive lawyers and a plan to abuse loopholes in the law these mofos didn't manage to escape what was coming to them. Your attitude seems more like something akin to nihilism; don't bother to do anything as it happens anyway all over the world. I personally don't understand that approach.

[@racieraquon1782]

@@simonvanderheijden432 I feel like you saying "deal with it" is such a pathetic thing to say. It's like darksouls players who just say "git gud" to players that aren't on their perceived level of skill. You believe yourself superior due to your detachment from the situation, but I think you'd have a different reaction if you didn't have a computer screen to hide behind XD

[@djelalniyazi4090]

@@pultsari9036 yeah you right , just becouse it happens doesnt make it aceptable or right what ,,it happens so tough shit , thats that guys attitute

[@vanessathomas7437]

Especially, when one of the murderer's father could afford to pay a $10,000 Retainer for an attorney! Sounds like the Leopold & Loeb Kidnapping/Murder Case around that time. Spoiled, Rich kids with nothing better to do with their time and their parents' money, than to kill a young boy for, "thrills" and to see what's it like to kill someone. Absolutely degenerate! Yet, many people believe the wealthy have Humanity, Class, and a "proper upbringing". ANYONE can commit atrocities for money, power, possessions, etc. But, oftentimes when the Affluent commit serious crimes, it shows that Money cannot buy Character, Morals, or a Conscience.

[@jettsoma]

My grandmother told us about this when my siblings and I were kids. Her husband was a deputy constable in Santa Clara, so he had to go help with the crowd. My grandmother could hear the crowd from where they lived. She was so scared, because the most my grandfather ever did in that role was serve subpoenas. The sound of the crowd is something she never forgot.

[@averyisaiah1]

The sound of justice?

[@papabear9481]

@@averyisaiah1 I'm probably one of the very few here that can't help but believe that if the America shown in this video was still here, we wouldn't have near the amount of crime that we do now. Over the long decades as punishment for criminals became less and less, more and more criminals became emboldened.

[@HighHolyOne]

@@papabear9481 But the narrator said that after this notorious mob lynching, kidnappings only increased.

[@papabear9481]

@@HighHolyOne The narrator wasn't referring to the next day, or the day after that, he was referring to the progression of time, which correlates with what I said. When a nation's laws that are in place to act as a deterrent against crime and punish those who commit said crimes, becomes weaker and weaker as the decades go by, then of course you are going to have ever increasing crime. That's just a simple truth and it can be evidenced every time we turn on the television, or get on the internet. Sadly, it will only continue getting worse, it's inevitable

[@crazeelazee7524]

@@HighHolyOne They increased despite of the lynching, not because of them. It is almost certain that they would have increased by a larger amount if not for the fear of being lynched.

[@pigpjs]

My grandparents were at the hanging. Grandma was 9 and grandpa was 13. It was a family event to go and see the mob and killing. Both recalled the event fondly and as a happy memory. They also used the term hanging over lynching. One difference in their account vs what was reported in the video was that - according to them - it was the mainly the kids in the crowd that swarmed the men to rip off souvenirs. They both said that the adults encouraged them and let them through. And that the men who tried to grab souvenirs were hit by the other men to "let the kids have a go". My grandma said, the next day at school they compared what they got (if anything). Her brother was very popular because he had ripped hair from one of the men. When my great grandma found out, she made him put holy water, salt, and burn the hair. Worried the hair would bring evil into the house.

[@jenrutherford6690]

God your grandparents were savages among savages.

[@Spillers72]

That is a disgusting story, stomach churning. That's something so shameful I would never mention if I was them. What parents would bring or let their kids attend the murder of other human being? 😢

[@Spillers72]

​@@RaggedRomeo I know, this was 1933 not 1333.

[@jenrutherford6690]

@@Spillers72 I initially had the same reaction and then I thought it's good for humans to be reminded of how evil exists everywhere and we must choose to be be better , it's not necessarily an inate thing .

[@Spillers72]

@@jenrutherford6690 it's an old blood lust within humans, it doesn't remind you of evil but of vengeance and feeds anger and rage. It's a low level of social and spiritual development.

[@kixigvak]

A friend of mine's mom lived in San Jose at the time. She was a young girl and they could hear the noise created by the lynch mob. She said it was terrifying.

[@TruckingVideos]

I've read Swift Justice and it is the most bizarre story. The incompetence of Holmes and Thurmond was breath taking, possible exemplified by the fact that Thurmond bought three concrete blocks from a concrete supplier, (which nearly always dealt in bulk supplies) who of course identified him afterwards, selecting them after lifting them up and down to check they were heavy enough for the task. That alone is enough to show that they intended to murder Brooke Hart from the outset.

[@chubby_cheesecake_cheeks]

They’re so stupid. They thought that they could get away with it but nope, they had to leave traces. 🤦‍♀️ With the information you mentioned, it does mean that they wanted to do him away from the start. I think the money was just an excuse since it kept on getting lower and lower. If I wanted to kidnap someone for ransom I would have even hiked up the ransom money. I would have made sure the victim won’t be able to identify me and anyone else.

[@godmagnus]

Kidnappers usually kill the person they take, so they can't be identified.

[@hi.moriarty]

I shouldn't have laughed, but, ya...not exactly a smart move. It does show intent, though.

[@adriennefoster8613]

I read Harry Farrell's very well researched book, too. I was most disturbed that he found witness reports of the abductors moving Brooke from his Studebaker to the sedan and three other men were involved. That may have had something to do with why Rolf, who I understand was a corrupt mayor and governer, pardoned the lynchers.

[@amycrutcher8891]

Dang this is heartbreaking, hearing what Brooke went through breaks my heart 😞 a young man just wanting to do right by his family and their business

[@LifesPeachy321]

I agree, very heartbreaking! As a mother of two sons in their 20s...it's unimaginable to think about!

[@smokeynedith3555]

Now we know what it means when they say, "The good die young."

[@charlesneely]

In the white mob was probably pissed off because they couldn't find no black man I tell you these race soldiers they are something else they do all this wrong in the world and don't want to apologize for it

[@lorrainemurray4689]

These people are savages plain and simple..

[@williegordon9188]

It's amazing you don't see this kind of outrage when atrocities happens today. A lowlife can abduct a baby or woman ,kill the baby or woman and when they're caught you don't see a mob trying to kill the killer. Were people less civilized in the old days?

[@erroneous6947]

I grew up near Skidmore Missouri. Are you familiar with that incident? Might be worth a video. Town bully was shot by 13 different guns in the middle of Main Street and “nobody saw anything”. Dude was a real pos.

[@theseventhchilde]

Can't remember his name at all, but I remember reading about that one! I don't condone mob justice but in that case it really seemed unavoidable, he kept getting away with things and that was the only way to solve it.

[@lucyludicrous834]

I think I’ve seen a video about this!! I think the man’s name was McElroy? I’d love a video about that on this channel!

[@cavecookie1]

That is a weird story, for sure. In that case, it was pretty clear that everyone was afraid of him, even law enforcement. When all else failed, the last resort was an "extra-judicial" solution. I certainly would never condone vigilantism, but but McElroy represented a real, and present danger...to the whole community, and no one seemed able or willing to stop him.

[@Thejoeb]

As a side note, it was said that the actor Jackie Coogan that played uncle Fester on the Addams family was one of the vigilantes. He was a college friend of Brooke. Apparently he tied or handled the rope they used to string them up. Badass friend.

[@daphnea5447]

Evil.

[@sid2112]

@@daphnea5447 I'd do it for my best friend.

[@austinflores8552]

@@daphnea5447 your backwards

[@cccycling5835]

@@daphnea5447 Are you pro-life or pro-abortion? Because IMO that’s more evil.

[@silencemeviolateme6076]

​@@daphnea5447 boohoo

[@diannagoosey2722]

Just found you and your stories! You have an absolutely beautiful voice for the stories that you tell! Thank you! ❣️

[@WellINever]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying the show :)

[@Miss_Camel]

And very handsome.. just sayin.

[@irenecarhart]

@@Miss_Camel I totally agree with you! He is quite fetching.

[@Miss_Camel]

@@irenecarhart if he starts wearing tortoise shell glasses and tweed blazers with elbow patches, I’m just calling it now, he’ll officially be History Daddy™️

[@vickieadams6648]

True!

[@myTERAexperience]

I always wonder what killers who are lynched and tortured think while begging.... if they then realize what their victims went through... or if it's just a narcissistic feel where they don't even realize they're in the same circumstance. Begging to be unharmed. To live. In fear.

[@mauricedavis2160]

Interesting points to ponder on!!!🙏🤔

[@cht2162]

Psychopaths do not feel or fear. They live in thier own individual worlds.

[@mauricedavis2160]

@@cht2162 Great point, btw are you a Pennsylvanian? I'm a Pittsburgh native...Go Steelers!!!🙏👍😷

[@cadenibz]

@@cht2162 psycopaths think only about themselves, they feel pain and fear, and they like to keep themselves away from that and inflict it on others.

[@katemaloney4296]

Probably the latter.

[@rockpadstudios]

I read a story were a robber shoot 2 people in the head and was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life. He was out in under 15 years and someone saw him shopping at the same store. We don't care about the victims anymore. How can anyone that kills 1st degree ever walk free again?

[@crazeelazee7524]

This is what happens when the justice system is taken over by bourgeoisie-lefties, who preach about how evil police is while living in gated communities guarded by armed security. They care more about the rights of the criminals than the rights of their victims. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if a criminal is let out of prison and he reoffends, whoever gave him a light sentence or let him out on parole should be tried as an accomplice.

[@qworky902]

Woke culture

[@5678sothourn]

@@qworky902 happened long before woke culture. Stop blaming other people for your own sins

[@qworky902]

@5678sothourn that's ridiculous. Woke culture has always existed, causing society to decay for decades now. It's only just in the past few years that leftist has gotten co.pletely out of control.

[@mjanny6330]

@5678sothourn the crimes of a stranger in history isn't the crimes of an entire group.

[@cuba1701]

I’ve lived in the Bay Area the majority of my life, I grew up in Milpitas and San José, but this is the first time I’ve ever heard this story. Thanks for sharing this. I absolutely love your channel. Keep up the great work.

[@MightyMezzo]

Harry Farrell wrote an excellent account of the case, “Swift Justice.” According to it, if the kidnapping case had fallen through, Alameda County would have proceeded with a homicide prosecution. (Evidence at the scene indicated that Brooke Hart was thrown from the Hayward end of the San Mateo Bridge.) While all this was going on, the Federal prosecutor in San Francisco was preparing a case against the kidnappers for extortion using the mails. I say it’s highly unlikely they would have gotten off scot-free. Fun fact: The mob included Brooke Hart’s friend, former child star and future Uncle Fester, Jackie Coogan.

[@forrestgreene1139]

That little tidbit at the end of your post blew my mind. And wow! Jackie Coogan had an amazing life. And seemed to be an OK guy, which is nice for once.

[@CATNAPREAL1188]

@@forrestgreene1139 Hey Forrest, I live in the state of Washington. Did you attend High School in that state ? I think we were classmates ? No, Seriously. LOL. Wouldn't that be WEIRD "If " it really was you and I found you by responding to a You Tube video. Just the thought is Funny.

[@41663]

Right on Fester. I always liked that guy

[@josephtome9600]

Coogan could have just shot them in the back.

[@js5787]

That is very interesting about Jackie Coogan. Thanks for sharing!

[@erniebuchinski3614]

I don't have much sympathy for the murderers and am not particularly bothered by their lynching. However, it is somewhat disconcerting to see how thin the so-called "veneer of civilization" can be under certain conditions. Thank you for the post & I look forward to more of them.

[@nautifella]

That _Veneer_ is an awful lot thinner than you think. Most people don't need much to break it.... especially today.

[@ihatecrackhead]

@@gregh7400 how do you fix the system when one party participates in deep state collusion and voter fraud and then won't prosecute their own party equally, our "victims" can attack your citizens

[@ihatecrackhead]

@@gregh7400 before you say there was no voter fraud, it's all on video a video/audio of election workers discussing election fraud and intention to steal the election for democrat politicians, denying americans voting, elections and a democracy. #power to the evil not the people! context, this discussion is within ear shot of several election workers, all are on board election worker 1: we are 30,000 ballot behind(trump was ahead by 30K at this time) election worker 2: i'm going to vote, it's time take out those boxes and do our thing election supervisor: we can't just have 1000, 2000 votes come thru election worker 2: we asked you to do something about it election worker 1: make an announcement and we'll make a move tomorrow(to fix the actual ballots) election supervisor 1: take out them boxes and get some results(on the election) election worker: you are part of our country(help us steal an election for our self, end this democracy with us) election supervisor 2: listen carefully, you can be heard(why would that be a problem, unless they were discussing election fraud) election supervisor 1: we have an entire evening to wipe this over, sethmon can unlock the voting machines! election supervisor 2: problem is we only have 3 flip machines, and it's impossible to watch the flip machines, we sh9uold just get another, we need 3000 people to stop counting to catch up link 4.... you can then watch CCTV video of them doing EXACTLY as they discussed

[@hotflashfoto]

Based on their own admission, those two murderers got what they deserved. But the lynching to mete it out was wrong. As Ernie Buchinski suggests, the "veneer of civilization" was very thin that night, especially with a Governor refusing to hold to the rule of law. What the lynchers did was patently wrong, both legally and in principle. It is the same mentality that today can be found in Road Rage. What the two murderers did was beyond wrong. As mentioned by Elizabeth Finkler Hanasaki, they would never have gone free.

[@gayprepperz6862]

I have those same ambivalent feelings. No sympathy for the scum bags, but would it have been better to have them put on trial and convicted first? I truly don't don't, and I don't know that it would have provided the family with a better sense of justice, or would it have made their agony all the more exquisite to know the details of their child's suffering. I can't say, and I don't know if there is a right or wrong opinion. As long as they got the right men, then I think justice was served, and only the parents and family can say if it was total satisfaction. I doubt that they could even answer that one with any certainty.

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

I went to the same high school as Brooke. The story was not mentioned even once. By 1979 the story had been forgotten. The book on the event was written thereafter and I read it with interest.

[@lenholloway4390]

I love a story with a happy ending

[@pimpozza]

What a fascinating and horrific tale, beautifully told and presented. Such a grim story.. not wanting to give *spoilers,* but poor Brooke! Frightening what the mob did to the accused.. I guess they felt it was the only way justice could be served.. and they got away with a crime themselves! Thank you, Paul (and to the subscriber who suggested this case)..

[@maycasper2661]

Hard to say crime. I mean, if someone hits you, you hit them back. That's just self defense, not a crime.

[@pimpozza]

@@maycasper2661 I hear what you're saying, May.. but if someone hits, say, your friend and you hit them back, that's no longer self defence. However, I feel no sympathy for such monsters and am glad this bunch got what they deserved!

[@Mrs.TJTaylor]

@@maycasper2661 I don’t think you understand the term “self-defense”. Those two men were locked away in jail cells. Who were they going to “hit”? It was an out and out violent criminal mob bent on avenging their outrage. Call it what it was.

[@cadenibz]

for me, i support the death penalty for people who commit hanous crimes like this, the death penalty should only come to rapists and criminals like this. these people werent gonna get the death penalty. so the people gave them the death penalty. in the end they got what they deserved.

[@memawknowsbest4978]

@@pimpozza There can be self-defense in defense of a third party. It is legal to intervene if you see someone else being attacked. Although I don't feel the actions of a lynch mob can ever really be described as self-defense, especially if the guilty party has already been arrested and is in jail. There have been plenty of lynchings that happened to people who hadn't been arrested for anything. But again, still wrong.

[@stonewolf7850]

I find it very hard to sympathize with the kidnappers, at all. They murdered a decent, hardworking, responsible young man. Neither seemed destitute. They murdered him before even attempting to get ransom, brutally and in cold blood.

[@livingdeadgirl5691]

True. If they really just wanted money they whouldn't kill him. They whould have kept him alive and take the money, and what were they thinking, that ppl whould not want to get their hands on them after they murderd a beloved member of the community?

[@lenwilkinson672]

@@livingdeadgirl5691 They got what they deserved.they gave no mercy to the man they killed.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

@@lenwilkinson672 It was not for a mob to decide their fate. That is what courts are for. Also "“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement."

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

@@Angel-vv9xo It is indeed very easy to say, because my moral compass isn't all warped.

[@g.panitikan1929]

​​​​​@@Quotenwagnerianeroral compass" lol sorry if these savages disrupt the values of your clean and pure morality lol "many people that lived deserved death and many people that died deserved life", well let me get this straight to you "moral man" the young man that they kidnapped and murderered was an innocent person and was a contributor to society and he did not deserve to die while his kidnappers are murderers that killed an innocent person ( it might be that money is not only their motive as they killed their victim first before asking for ransom it is possible that they also want to kill that person) those two kidnappers and murderers certainly do not belong to "people that died that deserve to live", moral man it is not your morality that is shrewed, your MIND is

[@capdatzme19]

I was born and raised in the California bay area and just now learning about this crime story. Truly a tragic story with serious emotional details. Thank you 👏🏼 for sharing a bit of history of my home stomping grounds. Peace 🕊

[@mpg41074]

I discovered this channel a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t stopped watching since. I just love your voice and how you narrate. Looking forward to the next video.

[@markwatts2532]

What they did to cause this guy to drown slowly rather than a quick death is unforgivable. When you think of the thousands of murders today just as evil and no one cares it just shows how we have changed!

[@larissag.9063]

How is it that Holmes' father could afford such a high-priced attorney to save his son's life, especially at that time? Wouldn't that imply he had the funds to support his son to avoid the kidnap/murder scheme in the beginning?

[@catdairy367]

Same thought

[@SVIIVII]

Just goes to show they weren't doing it for money. They killed the poor victim for sport and extorting money was an afterthought.

[@courtneykamens797]

I thought the exact same thing when he said that

[@koolaidblack7697]

His father probably didn't want to support him in his daily life, but was willing to keep his son from going to jail forever. Not that unusual of a thing.

[@fawng8017]

@@SVIIVII how many in the crowd do you think were there because they saw a chance to kill for sport too? They took souvenirs after all

[@ellennewth6305]

I am familiar with this story and it breaks my heart, even now, all these years later. In fact, Brooke was the inspiration for my novel. So terribly sad.

[@johndak1]

I find the Well I Never one of my favorite channels I’m subscribed to. You have the most interesting stories of history and I think you are a wonderful narrator the best on KZbin. I look forward every week to a new episode. Thank you for the great channel and I will keep watching. Sincerely an American fan from across the pond.

[@MrPGC137]

I remember the Hart's Department stores when I was a little kid. Then, several years later, when I read the book "Swift Justice" about this case, I went & visited the actual locations where the lynchings took place. It was an eerie feeling visiting the area (not just because it's kind of a run-down area, either.)

[@Phlowermom]

I did the same thing! The infamous tree, the store (the rear wall still stands and is painted HART'S with a big red heart), the courthouse. Still live in the valley. Remember the Murphy Murders? They have a mass grave in Oak Hill Cemetery in San Jose, have rubbings of that one. The Valley of Heart's Delight my eye!

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

@@Phlowermom What were the Murphy murders? I've never heard of that case.

[@stevevaughn2040]

@@Phlowermom is that the Graves one street, whatever the roads are called in from Monterey lined up? A family was killed on same day and couldn't find a lot of info other than an uncle went after the killers. My parents are in same block of Graves. A few inches away, Literally, is a stone for a woman and her two children murdered of Almaden just past Blossom Hill. They had no site so my dad let them use part of my mom's location. Figured she would like company

[@Phlowermom]

@@stevevaughn2040 Sorry, I got the name wrong, it's the McGlincy Murders of 1896. You can see it in Find-a-Grave, they're buried side by side and taken altogether their headstones read "Vengeance is mine saith the Lord". Never found the perpetrator/s.

[@Phlowermom]

I will have to make a trip over there and see what I can find!

[@hatednyc]

Wow. They didn’t even try to keep him alive just murdered him immediately. That is a horrible way to go. These guys don’t seem insanely bright either. Giving kidnapping for ransom an even worse name.

[@pattiray8542]

Recently came across your channel. Very entertaining and informative! I like your style of narration and your wonderful accent is the icing on the cupcake. I have subscribed and look forward to many more historical crime stories!

[@Vexarax]

You do an incredible job of presenting these stories sir, thank you 💚

[@indiashante1560]

Those two men were downright evil. Smh Brooke Hart was a handsome young man and deserved to live a long lovely life. This is a sad case.

[@untroubledwaters2137]

yes, if he were ugly, then I would have said he got what he deserved. But he was handsome.

[@alfredfreedomjones5105]

@@untroubledwaters2137 please that’s not probably what they meant, people just compliment the dead like that

[@stuart8663]

@@untroubledwaters2137 Thats a childish statement - and well out of context. And you know that, looking for a cheap laugh..

[@Chef_Alpo]

@untroubledwaters2137 beauty is a thing to admire, it's ok when expressed within proper boundaries.

[@felixdk8727]

so are you

[@moon904]

You’re a great orator and storyteller, and this channel is both educational and entertaining.

[@andreweden9405]

There was a similar vigilante lynching here in Indiana in the 19th century. Although, the criminals being lynched in the Indiana case kinda made these guys look like "sweethearts" by comparison! This was the infamous Reno gang. I'd highly recommend that you do a video about them if you haven't already!

[@hi.moriarty]

I'd like to know more! Having a video on it would be great!

[@jhall2224]

If your from Indiana like me you probably heard of the lynching in Marion in the 1940's.

[@tonywoodham7362]

I enjoyed your telling style, information given in an easy interesting manner, really enjoyable.

[@sandic3892]

New subscriber here. A terribly sad situation for all, but especially for the innocent young man and his family. All I can say is no one had to worry that those two criminals would ever get out of prison to harm anyone else!

[@walterrudich2175]

And what about the people that got hurt in the process?

[@funkymonkey2k425]

@@walterrudich2175they put some ice on their knots or wear a cast for a couple months then move on. someone shouldn't become someone that works in law enforcement if they're worried about getting hurt

[@allcatz]

I've lived in San Jose all my life. I recall times when my father would drive by St. James Park he would mention the kidnapping and lynching. Finally found a book about it, Swift Justice, at our history park. A tragic and senseless event.

[@melophile_69]

Your story telling and fashion is immaculate ❤

[@madeleine7411]

The Great Depression was world wide. Excellent video.

[@Blissblissbliss87]

I’m so glad someone finally has focused on this story. Not sure if it was just me who asked, but thank you! Brill as always!

[@pimpozza]

It was fascinating, Blissbliss.... thanks for suggesting it! 👍

[@ladida1031]

I like your YT Name! BlissBlissBliss ;)

[@iamjustsaying4787]

@ michael griffin Gandhi showed his ignorance of the Bible and did no good using that Scripture out of context. An eye for an eye is not referring to revenge. It is part of the Torah’s criminal justice code meaning that the punishment should be equal to the crime. No cutting off hands for stealing an apple. But being lynched for murder? Now that’s justice.

[@rodolfoayalajr.8589]

Great history. Great video friend.

[@sharonroller8849]

Love how you tell and report, have learned much

[@pameversole5886]

Apparently the two didn’t understand the meaning of “kidnap for ransom”. Their actions sound more like “murder for hire”. If the one guy’s father could afford a high dollar attorney…what was Brook’s murder about anyway? They had killed him, even before the first ransom call. Maybe Brooks recognized one or both of them. (that could be a deep rabbit hole). As far as the mob lynching…PLEASE don’t include the impressionable children. Thank you for sharing this story!

[@regan3873]

It wasn’t murder for hire, it was just murder.

[@tmclaug90]

@@regan3873 unless someone hired them.

[@elisejackson2854]

@@gregh7400 why should they be?

[@gregh7400]

@@elisejackson2854 Why should who be, what?

[@StormyPeak]

@@gregh7400 It said in the video that he Drowned, and that there people who even heard his calls for help. Can't do that if dropped dead over a bridge railing.

[@t.b.5115]

"Extracted a confession." That's one way to put it.

[@grammiesspirit4922]

I'm just reading the nonfictional story of this event about The Hart Family. What a coincidence. Loved the photos. Your presentations, again, are wonderful.

[@patcoyle6645]

My parents were both San Jose natives and very young at the time of the lynchings, 13 years old. They always said the citizens of San Jose were ashamed the next day, for many years it was taboo to talk about the hangings. The ropes disappeared quickly and the hanging trees were torn down within a few days.

[@sarelito9202]

I think that the unwarranted cruelty of the kidnappers was the triggering factor, especially since the young man seemed to be of humble and sincere disposition. Had they stuck to kidnapping only it would have been different story.

[@kookycoolauntkaryn5884]

Im so impressed with your brand of story telling... im watching them all today!!

[@WellINever]

Thank you! It's really appreciated :)

[@motionsick]

It's the mustache and the accent.

[@shannonmorrison7455]

Love your channel I shared it with my Facebook and got a couple people to subscribe

[@jayarnett4157]

Well done. TYVM

[@nikiTricoteuse]

I never thought l could imagine a scenario where l would condone lynching but, this utterly senseless and callous murder of an obviously fine young man by a pair of thugs, seems to fit the bill. I guess the crowd wanted them to get a feel of the terror and pain they put him through rather than whatever nicely sanitised sanction the state could offer.

[@dulcehajjar5826]

Totally Agree Niki ! Well Stated 👏

[@nikiTricoteuse]

@@dulcehajjar5826 Thank you. 😊

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

With the rising power and influence of the gangs, people probably thought that there were too many possible avenues for bribes that would ensure justice was *not* done. Many ordinary police officers were corrupt, supervisors and commissioners were grossly corrupt and both levels were often incompetent. On top of the, umm, stinky pile were politicians. I agree with you about this being one of the rare times one can imagine condoning mob justice. However I do think if the lynchers had had faith in their Law Enforcement and Justice systems (ha! Yeah, that sounds realistic!) they might have been content for official justice to take its course.

[@nikiTricoteuse]

@@bilindalaw-morley161 Very, very good points.

[@CaptainPikeachu]

The mob justice also hurt other people who were just doing their jobs, if anything, the people participating in the mob justice only proved that they were just as capable of the level of callous violence that the two kidnappers/murderers do.

[@rme5596]

They committed a vile act to a member of a community. Then they were treated with the same level of respect. The likelihood of them reoffending was sufficiently handled I’d say. 👍🏻👍🏻 for the townspeople.

[@mhsandifer]

And some say the dirt nap is not a deterrent, while killers like these are sufficiently dissuaded with the practice

[@thatlittlevoice6354]

@@mhsandifer lol, I'm all for capital punishment. What's "deterrent"?

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

Deterant is the argument anti death penalty folks use, those that want the death penalty say it's a "punishment" for murder not a deterant!

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

A very sad story with a happy ending.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

​@@rcdogmanduh4440 No. It's a pro death penalty argument as well. It is definitely a deterrent, most people don't want to die. Consequences are both punishment and deterrence.

[@jerryjohns7358]

Love your narration.

[@zoeebauer9130]

I just found this channel and I’m hooked! I watch it every day I do my makeup!!

[@futuresite11]

Good evening: You're a very good story teller. You held my interest throughout this gruesome event. Thank you.

[@loretta_3843]

I've only come across your channel quite by chance but have happily subscribed - always appreciate an interesting and well told story. Thanks, keep it up!☺️

[@deborahhockett]

Just found your channel. Thumbs up,and subscribed 👍. Will definitely share. Wonderful channel. I love your presentation, and accent. Nice to have stories I have never heard of,instead of all the recycled stories.

[@damac5136]

Excellent storytelling, thanks.

[@katiesioux7757]

Sometimes, I wish we still had this sort of justice , especially when sex offenders often get off so easy in courts after damaging their victims for life. I don't think we should pay for life sentences of horrible people, privatized prisons rape the states for ungodly fees if not enough prisoners are sent in. The justice system is beyond corrupt and ridiculous.

[@mimib8032]

I agree with your last part, but so many innocent people have been lynched.

[@tastx3142]

@@mimib8032 Innocent people are also convicted by courts so the system can be flawed. However , those convicted and backed by DNA evidence sit on death row for years and decades while taxpayers foot the bill while endless retrials occur.

[@jamieholtsclaw2305]

I can see your point but you can't trust an out of control mob to get the right person or hand out justice in a fair proportion.

[@jdboov6739]

I agree, I'd be one of those fighting to put the rop around their neck, if I knew for sure they were guilty of a really horrible crime.

[@MaximumHeresey]

Quick and efficient, and an effective warning against the criminals. I say it be brought back.

[@casper-uf8mp]

I feel terrible for the Hart family and their beautiful son who never had a chance to live out his life. 😔 I dont care about what happened to his murderers. They stole a life of a kind, talented, loved, young man. I'm sure his family were haunted whole rest of their lives.

[@troyevitt2437]

Police need to form cadres of "black op" cells which deliver murderers to the victims' families' door steps. What the families do to the perpetrators is none of my concern. Oh, but we're a civilized society, blah blah blah. Screw civility. The murderers made their choice, now it's OUR choice and we're free NOT TO choose civility.

[@msdanascully11]

Well, i had never heard about this story before..... Great telling as usual

[@joelombrdo]

Excellent post

[@pimpozza]

Yes! Another surely very fascinating vid.. looking forward to this, Paul. Thank you! 👍

[@gingerray2834]

Thank you. This is a story I had never heard of before. Love your voice and presence. So knowledgeable and calm while detailing the actions of the lynch mob.

[@Skizzores]

Storytelling is difficult but you do it very well, excellent narration

[@annehersey9895]

Thank you so much for this story! As a Senior Citizen and 4th generation Californian, I was gobsmacked that this happened and I've never even heard it alluded to. Of course, I never knew the US interned Japanese Americans during WWII--and I grew up 30 miles from where there had been a camp AND had a best friend growing up who was Japanese and no one ever mentioned that her father had been in a camp.

[@dawnreneegmail]

Point taken. Looking back on my public education at the hands of U46 I am stunned at how white washed my education was, how smug retiring teachers can be about their careers of delivering curriculum instead of truth. Imagine our more embracing universal understanding of our world had we been raised with truth‼️‼️‼️💁🏼‍♀️

[@maemarcil149]

I have often thought that bringing back hanging as the death penalty might curb the amount of murders taking place. However, the judicial system has become so soft on crime, many states have abolished the death penalty, giving murderers a free ride through life, many paroled ti commit other killings. They no longer fear the death penalty.

[@lmn6023]

Many studies have shown that this is not the case and even this video said so.

[@CaptainPikeachu]

Death penalty doesn’t curb crime.

[@retriever19golden55]

The death penalty results in years and years of appeals, costing the state taxpayers millions, giving the perpetrator great notoriety, and forcing the victim's loved ones to relive their grief over and over in the papers and on TV. Life without parole is much less expensive in terms of both money and grief.

[@purplelove3666]

@@retriever19golden55 yeah.paying someonea three meals for thebreat of their life is very cheap

[@retriever19golden55]

@@purplelove3666 You'd think keeping someone in prison for life, food and clothes and medical care and all, would be the most expensive option. But a death penalty case requires two trials, one to determine guilt or innocence, and if guilty, a second trial, usually with a new set of lawyers, to determine whether to impose the death penalty or something less. If the accused is given death, then starts round after round of appeals. Typically someone can be on death row twenty years or more, with various appeals and further investigations ongoing. The state is required to provide legal representation for people with no money, no matter how many retrials, appeals, etc., it takes. Twenty years of mac and cheese and mystery meat is a whole lot cheaper than twenty years of attorneys.

[@2244ntho66]

Thank you for posting this. I read about this years and years ago. I am not half way thru the video and you have provided so many images I haven't gotten to see. The press reports and all the descriptions of events are still vivid in my mind. You presented a greatly researched piece, thank you again!

[@calvinmcfarlandsr.707]

Great, swift and complete justice.

[@mlong992]

As a resident of San Jose it’s nice to see such a integral part of our history covered by this great channel

[@jamesmiller4184]

And Mike, let us not forget THE TOWER!!! It must be rebuilt!

[@tonyrichardson1140]

I think the punishment fitted the evilness and the brutally of their crime. No mercy and overwhelming support of the victim and his family was heart-warming.

[@gregh7400]

So murder is heart warming. How nice. This wasn't punishment. Punishment would have been if the 2 accused (innocent until proven guilty) had their day in court. The evidence was overwhelming and a conviction thru due process was virtually assured, so the death penalty would have occurred at a later time anyway, especially in 1933. The difference is that the system rules and laws would have been observed. Mobs are dangerous and the reason we don't allow vigilantism is that mobs are also very stupid and often grab the wrong person. Plus the constitution guarantees fair treatment of those accused of crimes. Watch the movie, "The Oxbow Incident". It shows what happens when you have mob rule.

[@tonyrichardson1140]

@@gregh7400 they showed no mercy to Brooke Hart. The community came out and dealt with them, didn't hear Brooke's mum and dad complaining about the injustice of the killing of their sons murderers.

[@gregh7400]

@Tony Richardson I see you didn't understand what I posted. Too bad. All the people who participated in this lynching are guilty of murder and are as despicable as those who murdered Hart. As for the guys arrested , we'll never know if they were guilty or not since there was no trial.

[@marchellochiovelli7259]

@@gregh7400 At taxpayer expense. No thanks.

[@funkymonkey2k425]

@@gregh7400 i'd rather just remove the murderer from existence ASAP instead of wasting money and resources caring for them while they await execution

[@Medix22]

Phenomenal story telling. Thanks. The video is great. Post more!

[@dernerdo]

Great video.

[@kimmccabe1422]

The people spoke. I really enjoy your documentaries

[@alexcarter8807]

This all happened in the town I live in now. The illustrious Hart family literally only has a dog park named after them now, and St. James Park is a haven for bums. The hanging tree was cut down not long after the hanging so it's not even still there.

[@Useaname]

Dems

[@davidsigalow7349]

Sounds like something out of "The Magnificent Ambersons."

[@rashone2879]

Generally I’d be opposed to revenge killings, mob violence, vigilantism...but at some point there comes a situation so hideous that you cannot stop or blame a violent response from people. If there had been trust that the two kidnapper/killers would get justice including execution, the lynching probably wouldn’t have gone on. Blame it a bit on the lawyers who looked like they were going to get these killers off.

[@davidlawrence3106]

So you want to do away with trials and lawyers. I accuse you of murder. That makes you guilty. Please hand yourself over to a murderous mob.

[@dongilleo9743]

The promise of the modern, professional justice system is that it will more efficiently and fairly find and punish the guilty. Instead of vigilantism and mob justice, you have police who investigates crimes and arrest suspects, lawyers who see that defendants are given fair trial, judges who sentence the convicted to appropriate punishment, and prisons that will enforce those sentences. As long as the system works, vigilantism and mobs are kept at bay. When the system starts to not work, societal pressures begin to arise. While lynchings are extinct, you see other responses. One is the call by voters on politicians to enact ever more strict and punishing laws, from the 1994 Crime Bill to the War on Drugs. Another sign of societal anger is represented in entertainment, replacing actual mob violence with digital vigilantism. During the big crime wave of the 1970s, popular movie franchises like Dirty Harry, Death Wish, etc, came out. They had the basic premise that crime was out of control, the system wasn't working, and what was needed were tough men ready and able to skirt or ignore the law and dole out street justice to deserving criminals. My guess is that if the current crime wave continues and grows, we'll see an increase in those kinds of movies and TV shows again.

[@amandacausey9450]

@@dongilleo9743 history repeating itself again and again

[@Spillers72]

This makes the mob murderers no better than who they lynched. It poisons the soul of otherwise normal people. 😢

[@melissalove2463]

Yet another story well told !

[@the54thfloor47]

Great channel. Love the accent ☺️

[@uddelhexe3545]

Good timing for a new video! Was looking for a podcast to listen to while illustrating.

[@debbiepugh2055]

Mob mentally is so dangerous and I wonder how many regretted their actions the next day 🥲yet again another amazing story !! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@cadenibz]

bastards deserved it though, but not in that way, they should have recieved the death penalty.

[@Cyprusg21]

Why would they regret their actions? The suspects were not just guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but guilty without a single doubt. I despise the mob mentality in any form. But the murderers got what they had coming to them.

[@aimee2234]

It was a different time so sadly there probably was no regret.

[@BaskiHighT]

@@Cyprusg21 I'm totally with you on this one. They brought it upon themselves. However, the officers and jailworkers did not.

[@NastyWoman1979]

@@aimee2234 look at the McMurders and Roddy. The new lynching if Georgia. Only remorse they had was when they realized their @$$e$ were getting state prison

[@ingabinga47]

You are just wonderful!!!!!!

[@frankcava8073]

I live in Downtown San Jose. Saint James park where the hanging took place is filled with crime, homelessness, and drug sales. It has been a forgotten space ever since the hanging. It is the stain on this cities history. I have personally met people who went to the lynching - over 20,000 people showed up downtown to watch this happen. In college I interviewed the guy who as a young man had driven to his family farm in Milpitas to get the rope that was used in the lynching. Sheriff Emig should have never brought those guys here from SF. It was inevitable that this would happen and then Gov Rolf made it even worse by publicly stating that he would neither arrest or convict “any of the good people of San Jose” Clyde Arbuckle wrote an outstanding book about this. It is the go to source.

[@catherinebrady2640]

Thank you Paul for educating me about this story. I had never heard about it. I have recently subscribed to "Well, I Never." I find it very interesting.

[@nikkicat254]

Well I can't help but feel that those two men got what they deserved, I mean they didn't even really just kidnap him and hold him for ransom, like usual, instead they just killed him right away and then called for ransom, to me that's sicker then anything else! And hearing that the young man was a good person, makes me feel even more like they deserved it! And those men begging for their lives, just had me thinking, how much did Brooke Hart beg for his life, before they killed him? Sure knowing how people still are in this country, getting together to wreak havoc for the wrong thing, it's hard to not have some mixed feelings about the crowd lynching these two, especially with people do that to innocent black folks back then too! But they still got it right here, I have a feeling they might have somehow got off or got a lesser sentence then they deserved!

[@MightyMezzo]

The NAACP condemned the lynching. Didn’t matter that both of the kidnappers were white.

[@robertnussberger6449]

Most lynching in the US were not for nothing . It was usually when crime accurred there was a mob reaction like in this case. Most victims were whites of lynching like this and happened when the law couldn't protect them from the mob or the posy caught them first.

[@liberty-matrix]

This story underscores the human condition. That if the condition are right, there's a little killer in all of us.

[@DickCheneyXX]

It is far too repressed these days. The misguided idea that all life is precious is ruining this country.

[@DickWigglin]

Nazi Germany is also a great example.

[@kerryberman609]

Agreed

[@dexterramey8787]

​@@DickCheneyXX so you are for more killing ?

[@crazeelazee7524]

Yes and we all agree to suppress him in order to live in a civilized society. However, those who chose to ignore the rules (what some call the social contract), then they don't deserve kindness. In fact, they should be removed from the society so as to not poison in with their wickedness. The criminals should fear the law abiding citizens, not the other way around.

[@loisreese2692]

I found it interesting that Holmes' father had $10,000 to hire a lawyer. That was a great deal of money in those days. The father seemed very well-to-do, yet apparently not enough for his greedy offspring.

[@victorbrunswick]

I didn't realize that Holmes family were well off cause he worked for an oil company as a traveling salesman. Thurmond, who was believed to have been somewhat mentally challenged, was a gas station attendant and the two met and became friends in the course of their jobs.

[@kimberlypatton9634]

I'm so glad I've just now found your channel! Great and in depth content,and your natural way of speaking and narrating at outstanding! And it keep the interest of the watcher...My feelings are that they seriously deserved what they got,right or wrong.

[@saramanzoni801]

When I was younger I believed in justice. Today I know that most killers get away with their crimes. How could I blame a lyncher?

[@felixdk8727]

how could you ever claim to know anything????

[@charlesciminera5881]

How can you blame a lyncher ? Simple because its murder and murder is not justice

[@saramanzoni801]

@@charlesciminera5881 and this, my friend, will save lives.

[@charlesciminera5881]

@@saramanzoni801 depends on your definition of justice some people believe in an eye for an eye others believe two wrongs don't make a right so morally theres no definitive truth however if you defend vigilante justice then you are defending murder so that logic is wrong

[@saramanzoni801]

@@charlesciminera5881 I'm defending the right to self defense. If the State I live in can't protect me, I'll protect myself.

[@michelleg4346]

❤Thanks for reminding me about the evil among us!!

[@martinpiggins5772]

What a good news story, love it👍

[@pebblesthecat3625]

The boy was killed for no reason. The two kidnappers were lynched because they murdered. Karma has a habit of catching up to you. It's why I try to help as many people as possible, especially those with nothing, begging on the street, helping those in most need. Not every one gets a perfect life, or a perfect start, but it doesn't mean you have to repeat those actions or events, and helping someone to get out of those circumstances is a reward you can be proud of.

[@roadrunner381]

Love your style of story telling, and it's content's, new subscriber!👍

[@WellINever]

Thank you and welcome aboard!

[@kristinagradishar4824]

I was born is San Mateo and still live in the Bay Area. I’ve never heard this story. Thanks for covering this.

[@cliffordstanley2189]

A former resident of San Jose. Spent a lot of time at the Court Houses near St James Park, and spent a lot of time in the park. Heard about this story before. This video is a good reminder. I saw Saudi Arabia is beheading 7 people for crimes. I do not know about their justice system. However, I see that the murders per 100,000 in Saudi Arabia is 0.83. In the U. S. it is 7.8. The murder rate is 9 times higher in the U. S. Tough justice saves lives; specifically 299 people are murdered annually in S. A. In the U. S. its 25,896. But the U. S. population is 92 times larger than S. A. Thus, a comparable murder rate in the U. S. would produce only 2,757 murders in the U. S. So S. A. justice in the U. S. might result in the saving of 23,000 lives annually.

[@louisejackson8770]

Great story telling as always

[@lauradecker4213]

One example when Justice was served. Amen!

[@felixdk8727]

eedeeot

[@gregh7400]

What happened here was anything but justice.

[@marchellochiovelli7259]

@@felixdk8727 Too lazy for spell check?

[@marchellochiovelli7259]

@@gregh7400 Hey.. guess what?? You can't do a damn thing about that. Cool right? So just sit and stew. Lol..

[@lucamckenn5932]

​@@gregh7400justice? Maybe not for you. You're what I call "perspectively challenged". You only understand yourself. Congratulations. This means you are severely lacking however in the knowledge and mindset of others. It's not impossible to know that a good number of people would want 'justice' because to them its 'justice'. I understand this because I understand people period.

[@v.e.7236]

I have always been fascinated by and ever surprised by human psychology and the human psyche. You just never know what will push someone "over the edge" or what "spark" will ignite a crowd into lawlessness. Each person has their breaking point or threshold to pain/misery/deprivation and each has a different response to said stimulus. This is the point at which upbringing and personal character development play a massive roll in a person's decision making processes.

[@carolynross1248]

I adore you and your videos I must say first. Then my heart hurt hearing this for the Hart family. First time hearing of this case and while I don’t usually condone vigilante justice as I grow older I understand it more and don’t seem to be upset at all about it in this case. Wow 😯 scary right?!?!