State and Local Politics

On May 23, 1940, in Fayette County, a black farmer, Burton Dodson came to blows in a heated argument with another man. The other man was white and the fight quickly drew a crowd. The sheriff quickly “deputized” the men in the crowd. The group later surrounded Mr. Dodson’s house and called for him to surrender. Mr. Dodson fled amid gunfire and returned fire as he ran into the woods to avoid capture. In returning fire, he killed one of the “deputies.” Mr. Dodson fled to East St. Louis, Illinois where he was later captured in 1959. He was extradited back to Fayette County to stand trial for murder.