Hello: I am Michael Cardinell in Greenville, Ms. I am researching the Bearden family. My Great Grandfather's
second wife was my Great grand mother. Her name was Mary Jan Lashley Hansell. When they married in the early 1890's she had 4 children by a previous marriage. These children were Hansells. One of these children was named Tom Hansell. When he became an adult he moved his family to McCurtain Co. Ok. Around 1923 Tom's son in law, who was married to Lidy (Tom's daughter), murdered everyone in the family except two small children. As I am told this was big news in McCurtain Co. Ok. The story goes that the murderer was hanged there in McCurtain Co.
I have heard that a book was written about this incident called "The Red River Massacre". Do you know any
thing about this? Do you think the local library might have a copy of the book? Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Michael Cardinell

Michael,

My great-grandmother was Josephine Hansell Paul. Tom was her brother. I have all of the newspaper clippings from the murder. You can get these by contacting the library in McCurtain, OK. The Historical Society will send you copies of everything for a small donation. However, I'll be glad to forward you copies if you can provide an address.

My grandfather is Tommy Paul and he is 100 years old but still remembers traveling to OK when this awful tragidy occurred. No one hanged for the crime, two of them died in the electric chair the following year. John Pope and Red Harvey. The son of John was released from prison in 1923, he was the third participate in this crime.

I have not been able to find much on the Bearden and Lashley families. Do you have info on them?

Look forward to corresponding on this.

I now have all the newspaper clippings on the murder. Mary Jane Lashley Hansell Bearden was my great grandmother.
I am interested in finding out more about the Lashley connection. And I would like you to help me fill in some blanks on the Hansell family. My mother remembers Josephine. They called her "Aunt Phennie". She remembers going with he daddy to the Ms. River Ferry crossing to pick Josephine up and take her to the Pope Ms area. Momma was just a little girl. I would like to know where Josephine is buried. Have you ever spoke to Shirley Coleman? She lives in Searcy Ar. and is the daughter of Jesse James Paul the brother of Tommy Paul. I guess that make s you cousins. She has been looking into the Hansell family for a long time and might could help you there. I would happy to send you what I have and maybe we can help each other fill in some blanks.
Michael

Hi!

My Grandmother's sister was Nannie Stone who was Married to Tom. So she would have been my Great Aunt. My mother used to tell me stories about this all the time.