So, his guilt or innocence stands unresolved.
Did the Phantom murder Virgil Starks and/or Earl McSpadden? Tillman Johnson seems to have believed, at least in private, that the Starks attack sprang from a love triangle unrelated to the other crimes. That view may be supported by omission of the case from several Texas Ranger documents listing the names of other Phantom victims. Against that argument, the FBI’s extensive file consistently includes Starks and his wife among the Phantom’s victims and includes no gossip (always eagerly received at bureau headquarters) suggesting another offender or motive. Never has the media, despite its many references to sexual attacks suppressed by the police in 1946, run any exposés of women scorned or hanky-panky in the Starks case. No proof of a love affair, much less a murder spawned by jealousy, is presently available—nor likely will it ever be.
McSpadden’s case is even more peculiar. We know virtually nothing of the victim other than his name, his occupation, and that he passed through Shreveport on his way to die in Texarkana. With the passage of another decade, some reporters managed to forget even those meager details, lapsing into repetition of the fable that some unknown man, perhaps the Phantom, had committed suicide to end the string of murders. Stabbed and left to be dismembered by a passing train, McSpadden broke the Phantom’s killing pattern, and his slayer may have been some other villain, still unknown.
Again, the question stands unanswered.
Was the Phantom white or African American? The two surviving victims who observed him—hooded, in the dark, half-blinded by a flashlight’s glare—could not agree. Mary Jeanne Larey arguably had a closer look behind the Phantom’s mask, but in the circumstances, could she accurately judge his race from only lips and eyelids partially exposed?
Statistics from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports speak to the probability of interracial murder in the lover’s lane attacks. In 2010, America’s identified white murderers preyed chiefly on members of their own race: 90.7 percent of their victims were white, 7.1 percent were African American, 1.5 percent belonged to some other race, and .7 percent were unidentified by race. African American killers also hewed closely to the color line: 83.4 of their victims were black, 15.1 percent were white, 1 percent belonged to some other race, and .5 percent were unidentified by race.24
That said, we know that Clarence Hill broke the mold before the Texarkana Phantom struck, and that Atlanta’s unknown gunman followed suit in 1977. Without specific evidence of race—a hair, perhaps, or DNA (first used to exonerate a rape-murder suspect in 1986; first used to convict one in 198725)—no definitive statement on the Phantom’s race is possible today.
And lastly, is the Phantom still alive? We may say no, conclusively, if Youell Swinney was the murderer. If he was innocent, the Phantom might be living, well advanced in age since he was old enough to drive in 1946—but living, still. Did he go on to other crimes, perhaps like California’s Zodiac, changing his methods to avoid detection? Was he jailed on unrelated charges or committed to a mental institution? Run down by a bus or stricken with a terminal disease? Did he “retire” from rape and murder as abruptly as he started?
Who can say?
What, then, is left?
A mystery, as tantalizing as the string of unsolved crimes that came before, and those that followed after. There can be no closure here, without some breakthrough that becomes less likely with each passing year.
In the film Time After Time (1979), British sci-fi author H. G. Wells constructs a time machine, which Jack the Ripper—a physician friend of Wells—uses to flee from 19th-century London to modern San Francisco. Wells pursues the Ripper and confronts him in a hotel room, watching a news broadcast of nonstop mayhem from around the country and the world. Entranced, the Ripper tells him, “Ninety years ago I was a freak. Today I’m an amateur.”
So it is with the Phantom. History has surpassed him with Theodore Bundy, Pedro Alonso Lopez, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Patrick Kearney, Gary Ridgway, Luis Garavito, Andrei Chikatilo, Juan Corona, Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, Javed Iqbal—the list seems literally endless.
Still, the Phantom is remembered.
He is one of those who got away.
Chapter Notes
Unless stated otherwise, all notes refer to sources listed in the bibliography, cited here in abbreviated form.
Chapter 1
1. Sanchez, “The Phantom Killer”; Texarkana Gazette, May 10, 1946.
2. Sanchez; Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
3. Texarkana Gazette, Feb. 25 and May 10, 1946.
4. Google Maps; “Weather History for Texarkana, Arkansas,” Old Farmers Almanac, http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/zipcode/71854 (accessed Jan. 11, 2011); Sanchez; Gerringer.
5. Texarkana Gazette, May 10, 1946.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.; Texarkana Gazette, May 2, 1971.
11. Texarkana Gazette, May 10, 1946.
12. Texas Ranger Files, letters dated Aug. 15, 1946; Feb. 24 and March 1, 1947; Jan. 16, 1951.
13. Geringer; Sanchez; “Phantom Killer,” Wikipedia; “Texarkana Moonlight Murders,” Wikipedia.
14. Texarkana Gazette, Feb. 25, 1946.
15. Ibid., May 10, 1946.
16. Ibid.
17. “Texarkana Moonlight Murders,” Wikipedia.
18. “Early Texarkana: Pine Street Sanitarium”; Geringer; Sanchez.
19. Texarkana Gazette, Feb. 25 and 26, 1946.
20. Texarkana Gazette, May 10, 1946.
21. Ibid., May 10, 1946; Texarkana Gazette, May 10, 1946.
22. Texarkana Gazette, May 2, 1971.
23. Jessie Guzman and W. Hardin Hughes, “Lynching—Crime,” in Negro Yearbook: A Review of Events Affecting Negro Life, 1944–1946, National Humanities Center Resource Toolbox, http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai3/segregation/text2/lynchingcrime.pdf (accessed June 14, 2012).
24. Texarkana Gazette, May 2, 1971.
Chapter 2
1. Sam Verhove, “Texarkana Journal; Twice as Difficult to Be Twice as Nice,” New York Times, March 25, 1995.
2. “Bowie County, Texas,” Wikipedia.
3. “Requerimiento,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Requerimiento (accessed June 15, 2012).
4. “Bowie County, Texas,” Wikipedia.
5. Ibid.
6. “Miller County, Arkansas,” The Handbook of Texas Online.
7. “Texas,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas (accessed June 16, 2012).
8. Ibid.
9. “Miller County, Arkansas,” The Handbook of Texas Online; “Bowie County, Texas,” Wikipedia.
10. “Texas–Indian wars,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas%E2%80%93Indian_wars (accessed June 15, 2012).
11. “Native Americans,” The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=408 (accessed June 15, 2012P).
12. Allen Trelease, White Terror (New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1971), p. 103.
13. “Cullen Baker,” Wikipedia.
14. “Texarkana,” Wikipedia.
15. Ibid.
16. “Prohibition,” Texas State Historical Association, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/vap01 (accessed June 16, 2012); “Prohibition,” The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3002 (accessed June 16, 2012).
17. Texarkana Historical Items.
18. Officer Down Memorial Page, http://www.odmp.org/agency/2498-miller-county-sheriffs-department-arkansas (accessed Jan. 7, 2011).
19. Officer Down Memorial Page, http://www.odmp.org/agency/3819-texarkana-police-department-arkansas (accessed Jan. 7, 2011).
20. Officer Down Memorial Page, http://www.odmp.org/agency/5239-texarkana-police-department-texas (accessed Jan. 7, 2011).
21. Officer Down Memorial Page, http://www.odmp.org/of
ficer/16267-deputy-sheriff-berry-quillin (accessed Jan. 7, 2011).
22. Officer Down Memorial Page, http://www.odmp.org/officer/2139-deputy-sheriff-melvin-brackman (accessed Jan. 7, 2011).
23. Texarkana Gazette, May 2, 1971.
24. “World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from Arkansas, 1946”; “World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from Texas, 1946.”
25. “Bowie County, Texas,” Wikipedia.
26. “Scott Joplin,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Joplin (accessed June 16, 2012).
27. “Lead Belly,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_Belly (accessed June 15, 2012).
28. “Conlon Nancarrow,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conlon_Nancarrow (accessed June 15, 2012).
29. “Ross Perot,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Perot (accessed June 15, 2012).
30. “Hayes McClerkin,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_McClerkin (accessed June 15, 2012).
31. “Lynn A. Davis,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_A._Davis (accessed June 15, 2012).
32. “Lynn Lowe,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Lowe (accessed June 18, 2012).
33. Quoted in Geringer.
Chapter 3
1. Texarkana Gazette, March 25, 1946.
2. Ibid.
3. Bowie County Officers 1840–1976, http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/bowie/history/officers.txt (accessed June 21, 2012).
4. “Jackson Neely ‘Jack’ Runnels,” Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=RU&GSfn=j&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=921&GRid=71125537&df=all& (accessed June 24, 2012).
5. Texarkana Gazette, March 25, 1946, and May 2, 1971; Dallas Observer, Feb. 1, 2001; Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
6. Texarkana Gazette, March 25, 1946.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.; Dallas Observer, Feb. 1, 2001; Malsch, p. 161; FBI memos dated May 16 and December 6, 1946.
9. Texarkana Gazette, March 25 and 26, 1946, and May 2, 1971; Malsch, p. 161; FBI memo dated May 15, 1946; Files of the Texas Rangers, letters dated Aug. 15, 1946, Feb. 24, March 1, and Nov. 9, 1947; Arkansas Democrat, May 12, 1946, and May 11, 1954; Arkansas Gazette, May 12, 1946; Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
10. Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
11. Sanchez, “The Phantom Killer”; Phantom Killer, Texarkana; “.32 ACP,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32_ACP (accessed June 24, 2012).
12. FBI memo dated May 15, 1946.
13. “Ruby pistol,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_pistol (accessed June 26, 2012); “Llama firearms,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llama_firearms (accessed June 26, 2012).
14. “Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Model_1903_Pocket_Hammerless (accessed June 24, 2012).
15. “Llama firearms,” Wikipedia.
16. Texarkana Historical Items; Texarkana Gazette, March 26, 1946.
17. “Texas Rangers,” The Handbook of Texas Online; “United States and Texas Populations, 1850–2010,” Texas State Library and Archives Commission, https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/census.html (accessed June 25, 2012).
18. “Texas Rangers,” The Handbook of Texas Online.
19. Ibid.; “State Police,” The Handbook of Texas Online, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/jls02 (accessed June 25, 2012).
20. “Texas Rangers,” The Handbook of Texas Online.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Texarkana Gazette, March 26, 1946, and June 9, 2009; Malsch, p. 163; Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
25. Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
26. “Rifling,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling (accessed June 25, 2012); Dave Campbell, “The 1903 Colt: A Look Back,” American Rifleman, http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=2260&cid=19 (accessed June 25, 2012).
27. FBI memo of April 15, 1946.
28. “.32 ACP,” Wikipedia.
29. Malsch, pp. 162–3; Texarkana Gazette, Feb. 25 and 26, 1946.
30. Rasmussen, pp. 127–8.
31. Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
Chapter 4
1. Texarkana Gazette, April 15, 1946.
2. Ibid.; Malsch, p. 164.
3. Texarkana Gazette, April 15, 1946.
4. Ibid.; Dallas Observer, Feb. 1, 2001.
5. Dallas Observer, Feb. 1, 2001; FBI File No. 62-80864: memo dated May 15, 1946.
6. Malsch, p. 164.
7. Arkansas Gazette, April 18, 1946.
8. Washington Times-Herald, April 15, 1946; FBI File No. 62-80864: memo dated May 15, 1946.
9. FBI File No. 62-80864: letter dated April 19, 1946.
10. Ibid.: memos dated April 23 and 26, 1948.
11. Ibid.: shipping invoice dated April 25, 1946; letter dated May 21, 1946.
12. Ibid.: teletype dated April 20, 1946.
13. Ibid.: memo dated April 24, 1946.
14. Ibid.: letter dated May 15, 1946,
15. Texarkana Gazette, April 15, 1946.
16. Arkansas Gazette, April 19, 1946.
17. Dallas Morning News, April 17, 1946.
18. FBI File No. 62-80864: teletype dated April 20, 1946.
19. Ibid.: memo dated April 24, 1946.
20. Texas Ranger Files: letters dated Aug. 15, 1946; Feb. 24, 1947; March 1, 1947; Oct. 21, 1947; Jan. 16, 1951.
21. Dallas Morning News, Jan. 5, 2003.
22. Arkansas Democrat, May 11, 1954.
23. Texarkana Gazette, May 9, 1971.
24. Glenn Ferguson personal correspondence, June 13, 2012.
25. FBI File No. 62-80864: letter dated May 6, 1946.
26. Ibid.: memo dated May 10, 1946.
27. Ibid.: memo dated May 20, 1946.
28. Ibid.: laboratory work sheet dated May 22, 1946.
29. Ibid.: invoice dated May 23, 1946.
30. Dallas Observer, Feb. 1, 2001.
31. Geringer, “The Phantom Killer”; Glenn Ferguson personal correspondence, June 13, 2012.
32. Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
33. Ibid., Sanchez, “The Phantom Killer”; Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
34. Geringer, “The Phantom Killer”; Sanchez, “The Phantom Killer”; Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
35. Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
36. Sanchez, “The Phantom Killer.”
37. Phantom Killer, Texarkana; “Texarkana Moonlight Murders,” Wikipedia.
38. Phantom Killer, Texarkana; Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
39. “Texarkana Moonlight Murders,” Wikipedia; Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
40. Phantom Killer, Texarkana; “The Phantom Killer of Texarkana USA.”
41. Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
42. Ibid.
Chapter 5
1. Sanchez, “The Phantom Killer.”
2. Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
3. Texarkana Gazette, April 15, 1946; “Texarkana Phantom Killer,” Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.
4. “Gonzaullas, Manuel Trazazas,” The Handbook of Texas Online.
5. Malsch, p. 2.
6. Ibid.; “John R. Hughes,” Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, http://www.texasranger.org/halloffame/Hughes_John.htm (accessed Aug. 1, 2012).
7. Malsch, p. 9.
8. “Mexican Revolution,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Revolution (accessed July 30, 2012).
9. Malsch, pp. 9 and 125.
10. “Secret Service History,” United States Secret Service, http://www.secretservice.gov/history.shtml (accessed Aug. 1, 2012); “History of the ATF,” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, http://www.atf.gov/about/history/atf-from-1789-1998.html (accessed Aug. 1, 2012).
11. Malsch, p. 1.
12. Ibid., pp. 6, 192; “Tales of the Texas Rangers,” Wikiped
ia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_Texas_Rangers (accessed July 22, 2012).
13. Malsch, p. 56.
14. “Kilgore, Texas,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilgore,_Texas (accessed Aug. 1, 2012).
15. Malsch, p. 105.
16. Ibid., pp. 105–6.
17. Ibid., pp. 120–2.
18. Ibid., p. 122.
19. Ibid., p. 140; “Company ‘B,’” Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, http://www.texasranger.org/today/companyB.htm (accessed Aug. 1, 2012).
20. Malsch, pp. 145–8.
21. Ibid., p. 2.
22. Dallas Morning News, Jan. 5, 2003.
23. Malsch, pp. 5–6.
24. Dallas Morning News, Aug. 18, 1996.
25. “Arkansas State Police,” Wikipedia.
26. Phantom Killer, Texarkana.
27. RootsWeb, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jkeene2000&id=I12353&style=TABLE (accessed July 23, 2012).
28. Texarkana Gazette, May 9, 1971.
29. “United States Department of Justice,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Justice (accessed Aug. 4, 2012).
30. Athan Theoharis (ed.), The FBI: A Comprehensive Reference Guide (New York: Checkmark Books, 2000), pp. 2–6.
31. Ibid., pp. 6–10.
32. Ibid., pp. 10–11.
33. Ibid., pp. 11–14, 31, 35–6.
34. Ibid., pp. 12–14.
35. Ibid., p. 352.
36. FBI File No. 62-80864: memo dated April 15, 1946.
37. Ibid.: memo dated April 16, 1946.
38. Ibid.: second memo dated April 16, 1946.
39. Ibid.: memo dated May 24, 1946.
40. Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
41. Ibid.
42. Dallas Morning News, Aug. 18, 1996.
43. Ibid.
44. Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
45. Ibid.
46. Dallas Morning News, Jan. 12, 2003.
47. Dallas Observer, Feb. 1, 2001.
48. Geringer, “The Phantom Killer.”
The Texarkana Moonlight Murders Page 25