I attended the Grand Opening of the Marble Falls Black History Museum yesterday, February 22, 2025. A story during the program was told about an incident involving the conviction and subsequent hanging of a young African American girl, due to the death of a small child that was in her care.

While very little appears to have been written about this incident, at least that shows up online. The following is a summary that I was able to “coax” out of AI.

I am unable to obtain any source material to verify the veracity of this account. I am in hopes of finding more about this with a trip to the Burnet Library.

If anyone knows more about this story, please let me know. It is a tragic story, but appears to be a sad part of our history. I feel that it is important to record what actually happened, as a way to honor this young lady.

FOLLOWING IS THE AI VERSION

Mary “Mimi” Simmons, a young African American girl from Marble Falls, Texas, became a tragic figure in the history of racial injustice in the United States due to her wrongful conviction and execution.

Summary of Events:

1. The Incident: In 1911, while babysitting for a white family, Simmons was accused of the murder of their two-year-old daughter, named Mary, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances. The details surrounding the child’s death were murky, but the racial dynamics of the time played a significant role in how the case unfolded.
2. Trial and Conviction: Mary Simmons was arrested and subjected to a trial that was heavily influenced by racial prejudice. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence and public sentiment rather than solid proof of her guilt. Despite a lack of credible evidence, she was convicted of murder in 1912.
3. Sentencing and Execution: In 1913, Mary Simmons was sentenced to death and subsequently executed by hanging. Her trial and execution sparked outrage among civil rights activists and highlighted the deep-seated racial biases within the legal system.
4. Confession by Benny Tatum: After Mary Simmons’s execution, Benny Tatum, a man who had been living in the area, confessed to the murder of the child. His admission raised serious questions about the integrity of the investigation and the trial that had led to her wrongful conviction. Tatum’s confession came too late to save Simmons, underscoring the tragic consequences of a flawed justice system.
5. Legacy: The case of Mary “Mimi” Simmons serves as a powerful reminder of the racial injustices that permeated the legal system of the time and the urgent need for reform. The wrongful execution of an innocent girl due to racial bias and the subsequent confession of the true perpetrator, Benny Tatum, highlight the systemic issues that continue to resonate in discussions of justice and equality today.

This summary encapsulates the key events surrounding the conviction and execution of Mary “Mimi” Simmons, along with the confession of Benny Tatum, illustrating a deeply troubling chapter in American legal history.

When I said earlier that this is the story I coaxed out of AI, my meaning was you just have to keep asking questions.

I had no luck finding graves using the names of Mary Simmons, Benny Tatum in Burnet County. Below is the only Bennett Baby that fit the age criteria.

Hopefully more can be found concerning this terrible injustice.