In Sandy, Utah, near Salt Lake City, eight Klansmen in full regalia crashed the funeral of Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriff Gordan Stuart on April 19, 1922. The presence of the Klansmen was a surprise to the funeralgoers and the local paper, the Salt Lake Telegram, painted their arrival as sudden and mysterious. The hooded men arrived toward the end of the funeral when the mourners had their heads bowed in prayer, and when they finished the Telegram stated, “the mourners lifted their heads only to stare at the ghostlike costume of the little group.”
\nThe Klansmen placed a large floral cross on the grave bearing the inscription “Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Salt Lake Chapter No. 1, April 19, 1922.” They then simultaneously raised their left hand, an action the Telegram attributed to a “mark of respect to the deputy sheriff.” Following the salute, the Klansmen made their way to the other side of the cemetery where two vehicles waited to take them away.
\nThe motive behind the uninvited attendance at the funeral is unknown. It could be evidence of the departed deputy sheriff’s involvement in the local chapter of the Klan. However, a more likely explanation for their presence was a desire to be associated with law enforcement. The Klan had been struggling to gain popular support in Utah as the Mormon Church opposed its actions. The appearance allowed them an opportunity to emphasize their grandeur and intrigue as well as to show support for law enforcement. By doing so, it is possible they hoped to dispel negative connotations that were becoming synonymous with Klan activities. When looking at the details of Stuart’s death, as well as the details of the Klan’s procession at the funeral, this theory makes sense.
\nDeputy Sheriff Gordon Stuart died when attempting to serve civil papers to a farmer, who, mistaking the officer’s motives, opened fire with a shotgun and killed Stuart, who had pushed his partner out of harm's way. The Klan surely would have desired to be associated with the commemoration, either to appeal to the deputy sheriff's law enforcement martyrdom or to simply show respect for his service.
\nFurther evidence of this can be seen in the details of the procession itself. The Klan marched slowly in uniform—until eventually speeding up to reach the position of the funeral while the mourners' heads were bowed. Their organization and precision suggest that they knew they were being viewed and wanted to act accordingly. Furthermore, it seems the Klan wanted to appear in front of the bowing mourners before their heads were lifted. Regardless of their motives, the event shows the Salt Lake County chapter of the KKK desired an association with law enforcement.
","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"On April 19th, 1922, eight hooded Klansmen crashed the funeral of Salt Lake County Sheriff Gordon Stuart. The motive seems to have been a desire to be associated with law enforcement and to be seen in a grandiose manner.","website":"","related_resources":["“Ku Klux Klansmen Appear at Funeral Pay Tribute to Murdered Officer.” Salt Lake Telegram, April 20th, 1922.
","Reeve, W. Paul, and Jeffrey D. Nichols. \"Klansmen at a Funeral and a Terrible Lynching.\" History Blazer, September 1995. Accessed November 17th, 2023. https://historytogo.utah.gov/klansmen-lynching/
","“Stuart Testimonial Fund Grows Rapidly People Responding to Telegram’s Appeal.” Salt Lake Telegram, April 18th, 1922.
"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/ec9bbf127f5a04bb8e83b1f74d3b3169.jpg":{"id":3594,"mime-type":"image/png","title":"“Klansmen paying respects to Salt Lake County Sheriff,” Salt Lake Telegram April 20th, 1922, 1.","description":"Photograph from the Salt Lake Telegram showing the group of Klansmen marching through the cemetery and bearing a floral cross.
|“Klansmen paying respects to Salt Lake County Sheriff,” Salt Lake Telegram April 20th, 1922, 1.
","thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/ec9bbf127f5a04bb8e83b1f74d3b3169.jpg"},"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/4098decb74a588b07ad5674469c89f2c.jpg":{"id":3595,"mime-type":"image/png","title":"“Obituary photos of Gordon Stuart and wife,” Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City, Utah), April 18th, 1922, 9.","description":"Obituary photographs of Gordon Stuart and his wife (unnamed) from a Salt Lake Telegram issue one day before the funeral. Stuart’s wife took her own life following the murder of her husband. |“Obituary photos of Gordon Stuart and wife,” Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City, Utah), April 18th, 1922, 9.
","thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/4098decb74a588b07ad5674469c89f2c.jpg"},"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/01f0be51b11678d3343f48db3210c5ac.jpg":{"id":3596,"mime-type":"image/png","title":"Salt Lake Theater “Birth of a Nation.” June 14, 1916.","description":"In 1926, A group of people, two dressed in Klan regalia, gathered outside of a theater in Salt Lake City. The group is advertising for the film Birth of a Nation.
|Salt Lake Theater “Birth of a Nation.” June 14, 1916. Photo from the Utah State Historical Society. https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=529755
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