"Burned Negro to Death Where He Killed Teacher"
Gunn's Lynching
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A sense of vengeance for Velma’s death resonated through Maryville. Sheriff Harve England and his deputies decided that Gunn should be relocated out of the town because “feeling was high and doubtless Gunn would have been lynched that night had he been left in Maryville.” Gunn was moved to various jails throughout northern Missouri in order to avoid the presence of a mob and imminent violence. However, despite the sheriff and deputies’ efforts, people continually arrived at each prison to catch a glimpse of Gunn and avenge Velma’s death.
Gunn was finally returned to Maryville for his arraignment scheduled for January 12. His arraignment was public knowledge and a mob formed in front of the courthouse in preparation for Gunn’s arrival. As soon as the sheriff’s car that was carrying Gunn reached the building, he was seized by members of the mob who, put a rope around him, and dragged him to the Garrett Schoolhouse taunting and tormenting him along the way.
The mob and their prisoner arrived at the schoolhouse that was emptied for the building and Gunn to be burned. The mob doused the schoolhouse and Gunn in gasoline. He was taken to the roof of the schoolhouse, chained to the ridgepole, and the building and its captive were set on fire.
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The fire that killed Gunn lasted sixteen minutes. Members of the mob remained at the schoolhouse to assure that the fire consumed everything, Gunn and all, “the mob made sure that there was nothing left of him to bury.”
Photo of burning Garrett Schoolhouse. Daily News Sun, May 3, 1931
“The crowd gave a great shout as the flames reached the negro… But when the flames reached him he screamed and struggled. The flames leaped higher and his cries were quickly silenced.”
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The Sedalia Democrat, January 12, 1931
Mob Mentality
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The mob and the spectators were heavily involved in Gunn’s lynching. The mob and spectators were comprised of men, women, and children who witnessed and participated in the lynching. For example, a mother was reported to have held up her child to have a better view. When the spectators returned to Maryville from witnessing the lynching they said that “members of the mob made no attempt to conceal their identity.” However, that was not entirely the case during and especially following the lynching. For example, members and spectators stormed photographers and broke their cameras so that no pictures could be taken that could expose individual members of the mob.
Also, following the lynching, reporters questioned Sheriff England about his knowledge of the mob’s desire to lynch Gunn. The sheriff explained that he “contemplates no action against leaders of the mob unless ordered to do so by higher authorities.” He also stated that he knew several members of the mob but did not reveal their names. The members of the mob attempted to remain anonymous and not have their involvement in the horrific events of the lynching come to light.
Raymond Gunn's death certificate. His cause of death was recorded as, "homicidal cremation."
