My grandparents, both long dead, lived in San Jose in 1933. They told me that the night this happened, they were on a walk in the downtown district, carrying my mom in a stroller, when a huge mob almost swept them up in its wake. Frightened, they quickly headed home, knowing that something very bad was about to happen. Only the next day did they find out about the double lynching.
A number of years ago I was talking about this incident with Clyde Arbuckle, the city historian. He saw the mob gathering in St. James Park. Brooke Hart was a student at Santa Clara University. The leaders of the mob were students, Brooke's friends from the university. Mr. Arbuckle even knew that some of th emob's leaders became civic, political, and business leaders in the San Jose area, but he told me that he would never reveal their names. What he knew died with him.
@JAG312 Aww, thats awesome. (That you were able to talk bout it w/ Mr. Arbuckle.. Not the lynching, of course.)
He was my next door neighbor (our kitchen windows faced each other). I was still very young while he was w/ us.. But he still took the time to talk w/ me & tell me stories ALL about SJ history. - My mom remembers once, when I was 4yrs old, she could hear me talking w/ sum1 sumwhere.. When she looked, sure enuff, she found me chatting w/ Clyde. (We'd talked for 45min!) He was rad. :)
@LittleDesertFlower78 - This is fantastic. You're a Willow Glen girl. Did you go to Willow Glen High School? If you did, were you unfortunate to have Mr. Gray as a teacher,? His father performed the autopsy on Brooke Hart.
That may be the case now, but it sure wasn't like that the in 1930's. Visit the library at San Jose State and you can see the actual newspaper clippings.
My grandparents, both long dead, lived in San Jose in 1933. They told me that the night this happened, they were on a walk in the downtown district, carrying my mom in a stroller, when a huge mob almost swept them up in its wake. Frightened, they quickly headed home, knowing that something very bad was about to happen. Only the next day did they find out about the double lynching.
mikal9000 2 years ago
Jackie Coogan (Brooke's close friend) was reported to be not only one of the mob, but one who prepared and held the rope.
IITravel 2 years ago
I was in part of the mob scene in this, but I don't know where I can find the movie. Has anyone seen this movie?
RedW74 3 years ago
I saw a clip about this in a San Francisco newspaper this weekend. The murderers probably deserved what they got - but it was still chilling.
wjb4341 3 years ago
I've been trying to buy the movie but I can't find it anywhere! Any suggestions?
ggod408 3 years ago
A number of years ago I was talking about this incident with Clyde Arbuckle, the city historian. He saw the mob gathering in St. James Park. Brooke Hart was a student at Santa Clara University. The leaders of the mob were students, Brooke's friends from the university. Mr. Arbuckle even knew that some of th emob's leaders became civic, political, and business leaders in the San Jose area, but he told me that he would never reveal their names. What he knew died with him.
JAG312 3 years ago
@JAG312 Aww, thats awesome. (That you were able to talk bout it w/ Mr. Arbuckle.. Not the lynching, of course.)
He was my next door neighbor (our kitchen windows faced each other). I was still very young while he was w/ us.. But he still took the time to talk w/ me & tell me stories ALL about SJ history. - My mom remembers once, when I was 4yrs old, she could hear me talking w/ sum1 sumwhere.. When she looked, sure enuff, she found me chatting w/ Clyde. (We'd talked for 45min!) He was rad. :)
LittleDesertFlower78 3 months ago
@LittleDesertFlower78 - This is fantastic. You're a Willow Glen girl. Did you go to Willow Glen High School? If you did, were you unfortunate to have Mr. Gray as a teacher,? His father performed the autopsy on Brooke Hart.
JAG312 3 months ago
I think this should be a big screen movie and the director should get one of those oscar thingies.
mmcmurdie 4 years ago
I was a mob member. : )
...and whoever made that first comment has turds for brains.
jaimesoria 4 years ago
That may be the case now, but it sure wasn't like that the in 1930's. Visit the library at San Jose State and you can see the actual newspaper clippings.
AAzz44 4 years ago