James A. Colescott

James A. Colescott (January 1897 - January 12, 1950) was an Imperial Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Under financial pressure from the IRS, he disbanded the group, the second wave of the original Ku Klux Klan, in 1944.

Biography

He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana to Frank Colescott in January 1897. He worked as a veterinarian.

Imperial Wizard Hiram Wesley Evans sold the Ku Klux Klan organization in 1939 to Colescott and Samuel Green, an Atlanta obstetrician, but they were unable to stanch the exodus of members. His association with Nazi sympathizer organizations, and Klan association with the 1943 Detroit Race Riot and other efforts to disrupt the American war effort during World War II were detrimental to the organization's image.

In 1940 Colescott had Arthur Hornbui Bell removed as head of the Klan of New Jersey.[1][2][3] In 1944 the IRS filed a lien for $685,000 in back taxes against the Klan, and Colescott was forced to dissolve the organization.[4]

He died on January 12, 1950 in Coral Gables, Florida.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Jersey Klan Leader Doubts His Dismissal. Grand Giant Says Wizard Sent Message for Bund Rally.". New York Times. August 24, 1940, Friday. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B14FC3D5C10728DDDAD0A94D0405B8088F1D3. Retrieved 2008-06-14. "[Arthur H. Bell has] been removed from the Klan by James Colescott, Imperial Wizard of the organization, as the result of a Klan meeting at the German American Bund's camp . ..." 
  2. ^ "Jersey Klan Leader Repudiates Bund. Declares Imperial Wizard Is Opposed to All Alien Groups.". New York Times. August 23, 1940, Friday. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F7091EFF3C5F157A93C1AB1783D85F448485F9. Retrieved 2008-06-14. "Arthur Bell of Bloomfield, Grand Giant of the Realm of New Jersey of the Ku Klux Klan, said in an interview at the Tri-County Country Clubhouse tonight that it was "too bad the reporters did not remain to hear the final speech at Camp Nordland Sunday night."" 
  3. ^ "Klan Official's Ouster Decreed". Los Angeles Times. August 23, 1940. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/410252561.html?dids=410252561:410252561&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Aug+23%2C+1940&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Klan+Official's+Ouster+Decreed&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2008-06-14. "James Colescott, Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. said tonight he had ordered the removal of Arthur Bell of Bloomfield, N.J., Grand Giant of the New Jersey Klan, as the result of a Klan meeting in a German American camp Sunday. ..." 
  4. ^ "Klan Disbands as National Body. Claimed 5,000,000 Roll in 1920s.". New York Times. June 5, 1944. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70D1EFB3F5A157B93C7A9178DD85F408485F9. Retrieved 2009-02-11. "The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, a hooded order which in the early Nineteen Twenties claimed 5,100,000 members, has disbanded as a national group, The Atlanta Journal said last night." 
  5. ^ "Dr. Colescott Dies. Successor of Hiram W. Evans Disbanded Order in 1944. Joined Group in 1920's.". New York Times. January 13, 1950. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F7091FF6355F147B93C1A8178AD85F448585F9. Retrieved 2009-02-11. "Dr. James A. Colescott, former chief of the Ku Klux Klan, died last night in the United States veterans' Hospital at Coral Gables. His age was 53. ..." 
Preceded by
Hiram Wesley Evans		 Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan
1939-1944		 Succeeded by
Samuel Green