Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Special Agent Roy L. Hoyle

Mobile and Ohio Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police

End of Watch Wednesday, October 3, 1906

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Reflections for Special Agent Roy L. Hoyle

Rest in peace always and know that no passage of time can ever erase your service and sacrifice.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

October 3, 2020

Today is the 109th anniversary of your murder at the hands of a pack of wild animals. We may never even know if the accused was guilty due to the simpleminded thugs who gathered at the jail. Though only several of a much larger group fired those shots, all were guilty of your murder, Special Agent Hoyle, you were the hero that day, you and your colleagues who put your life on the line in a obviously unpopular move, and yet you did it.

Mr. Moore, thank you so much for sharing that story. It's always very gratifying to see that, even though someone has been gone for so long, family and friends have not forgotten them. We know more often than not those brave souls ARE remembered, but when it's proven, it moves our hearts.

God Bless you all.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

October 3, 2015

On that night of Oct 3, 1906, Roy Hoyle was called away from home in Mobile at the request of Alderman Sidney Lyons. City police, railroad police, and elected officials gathered to placate and perhaps delay/divert an angry mob at the Mobile jail. A 17 yo black youth, Richard Robinson, was arrested for an alleged assault of a 12 yo girl and the railroad had transported the accused boy north for his protection. The angry mob, fueled perhaps by racially charged newspaper articles from Towns in the South, gathered at the Mobile jail to lynch young Richard Robinson, who was not at the jail. Roy Hoyle escorted some mob leaders through the jail so that they could see that the accused was not there. After the tour, shots were fired from the crowd through the jail doorway. Roy Hoyle was fatally wounded. Sadly, Richard Robinson was lynched the next day north of Mobile.
Roy's young daughter Ethel became an orfan( her mother died in 1901).
This story was related to me by my great grandmother Ethel Hoyle McMillan. She was very proud of her father and like him, believed that everyone deserved fairness.

Richard Moore
Great great grandson

January 18, 2015

Roy Hoyle was my great great grandfather. He was survived by his daughter. His wife died before he did.

Richard Moore
great great grandson

January 16, 2015

Mob rule only brings about tragedies such as your death. I can only hope that all those who took part in your killing faced some form of justice, from the man accused of molesting the girl, to the man who organized the mob, to the person who actually fired the shot that took your life.

God Bless and may you forever Rest in Peace, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

October 8, 2014

Agent Hoyle,
On today, the 108th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and as a Law Enforcement Officer.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

October 3, 2014

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 108th anniversary year of your death. I am privileged to be among the first to leave a tribute to you. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Lasater Loya
mom of fallen officer Larry Lasater

October 1, 2014

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