Stone Gardens: Boone County lawyer, jurist, and politician had a big impact in all three roles in the early 20th century

Elbridge Gerry Mitchell Jr., born December 23, 1864, in Bellefonte, Boone County, Arkansas, was a prominent criminal attorney, circuit court judge, and state legislator whose work left an historic impression on Boone County and Arkansas.

Mitchell was born to Nancy J. Ewing Mitchell (1839–1919) and Captain Elbridge Gerry Mitchell Sr., a Confederate officer killed in 1863 during the Civil War, months before his son’s birth. Raised by his mother in Boone County alongside his brother, Samuel B. Mitchell (1860–1933), Mitchell grew up in a region scarred by war and Reconstruction.

He married Anne Bell Spring (1869–1938), and they had four children: Monti M. Mitchell Orr (1889–1952), Elbridge Gerry Mitchell III (1893–1905), Jo Holt Mitchell (1897–1900), and Anne Mitchell Boarman (1898–1962).

The loss of two young children added personal tragedy to Mitchell’s life, yet he remained a steadfast figure in Harrison’s community.

Mitchell established himself as a leading criminal attorney in Harrison, handling high-profile cases that defined Boone County’s legal history.

He defended Charles Hudspeth in 1892 for the 1886 murder of George Watkins, resulting in Hudspeth’s execution, the first legal hanging in Boone County. In 1913, Mitchell represented Odus Davidson, convicted and hanged for the 1912 rape and murder of Ella Barham, the county’s last legal execution.

He may also have been involved in defending Charles Stinnett, an African American man convicted of rape in 1909, a case tied to the Harrison Race Riots and the expulsion of African Americans from the area. Mitchell’s signature on a reprieve request for Stinnett suggests his role in this racially charged case.

Beyond criminal defense, Mitchell took on corporate interests during the Harrison Railroad Strike of the 1920s, defending strikers like Luther A. Wise and Hurley “Red” Orr. In 1921, he sued the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad in federal court, advocating for workers in a contentious labor dispute.

His legal work showcased his commitment to challenging cases, often representing underdogs in a region marked by social and economic tensions.

Mitchell’s influence extended to politics and the judiciary. He served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing Boone County, where he contributed to state policies during a period of rural transformation.

Elected twice as a circuit court judge for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Mitchell oversaw civil and criminal cases across multiple counties, ensuring justice in a rural judicial district.

In 1917–1918, Mitchell represented the Third Congressional District as a Democratic Party delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.

Tasked with revising the 1874 Constitution, the convention addressed issues like taxation and education, though voters rejected the proposed changes. Mitchell’s role highlighted his stature as a regional leader.

In 1924, he ran in the Democratic primaries for the U.S. House of Representatives, Third Congressional District, against John N. Tillman and Claude A. Fuller. His campaign, marked by a strong anti–Ku Klux Klan stance, reflected his response to racial and social issues, including the legacy of Harrison’s race riots.

Though unsuccessful, his candidacy underscored his willingness to confront divisive forces in Arkansas politics.

Mitchell died on November 21, 1927, in Russellville, Pope County, at age 62, and was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery in Harrison. His career, rooted in the legal and political fabric of early 20th-century Arkansas, shaped local governance and justice during a time of social and economic upheaval.