Willie Maxwell, voodoo preacher and murderer, 1925-1977. He escaped and formed a colony for escaped slaves in Clarke County in an area that became known as "Hal's Lake" or "Hal's Kingdom." The murders also earned Birmingham the nickname Murder Capital of the Country. Successful engineer Richard Hawes murdered his wife, Emma, along with their two daughters, May and Irene. Later, the parents of the two little girls sued the insurance companies, saying they should have been suspicious of Dennison's reasons for taking policies on the children without the family's knowledge. The victims were identified as Jerome Maurice. ", Charles Kelley, birth unknown-1892; John Hipp, birth unknown-1892, On Dec. 17, 1892, two well-known outlaws gunned down local tax collector C.J. Mathis, who had become known as the Voodoo Mayor after signing a proclamation proclaiming National Voodoo Week and allegedly sprinkling "voodoo powder" around City Hall, was impeached for pardoned more than 100 traffic offenders, including 27 charged with driving under the influence. He also passed a state bank holiday in March 1933, eight days before Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a national bank holiday as his greatest achievement. On Oct. 9, 1890, Rube was captured and shot to death. After WWII, Thompson opened a law practice in Luverne in Crenshaw County. ", William Anderson Bell Tree Smith, moonshiner, 1869-1908, Notorious moonshiner Bell Tree Smith was killed in front of a church filled with people in Centre, Ala., in 1908. Due to lack of evidence, the case was dismissed. Reuben Houston Burrow was fascinated by tales of Jesse James and his gang of outlaws. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Beginning in 1972, Gacy tortured, raped, and murdered 33 young men, most of whom were just teenagers. From 1927-1976 there were 153 executions. He would leave again at 9 a.m. Friday mornings and Kate would return to business as usual. Hells Gate Bridge is located in Oxford, Alabama, and acquired its name from the legend involving a young couple who drove off the bridge into the water below. In Lowndes County in the summer of 1965, where the Voting Rights Act was being violated, a group of black and white protestors were harassed by police in Hayneville. [1] Burrow had been captured and taken to jail in Linden when he charmed the guards, asking for food. Don Noble's newest book is "Alabama Noir," a collection of original stories by Winston Groom, Ace Atkins, Carolyn Haines, Brad Watson, and eleven other Alabama authors. Then suddenly the truth was revealed. Newman then grabbed his own gun and shot Lackey. Charles Bannister, outlaw, unknown birth and death. During questioning he indicated that he was responsible for at least 12 deaths. 1898-1953. Rumors swirled that Maxwell, known to perform voodoo rituals, had killed five members of his family. Only the testimony of James White. Ethel died but her husband was thrown clear and survived. Why would he want to kill his family? ", where he lived with Belle Starr and her gang, A General Betrayal: The Sufferings and Trials of Carlotta Frances Roddey", "Alabama's Outlaw Sheriff Stephen S. Renfroe. An entertainer who played "Pogo the Clown" at children's parties, John Wayne Gacy was one of the most infamous serial killers in America. Newman's grandson had told Lackey his grandfather had a vault inside his home that held a lot of cash. William Martin died in 1931 at the age of 86 and, as Alberta became known as the "last surviving Civil War widow" a title later challenged by Maudie Hopkins. Robert J. Bentley, elected as Alabama's governor in 2011, was born in Columbiana, Ala. Today, a monument of a soldier with both U.S. and Confederate flags honors the county's dual history. Barker died Feb. 17, 1934, and is buried in western Limestone County in the Barker family cemetery. (An Associated Press photo of Earle Dennison leaving the courtroom), Earle Dennison, black widow killer, ca. He was convicted of three murders and confessed to at least five. The monument was inscribed: Erected by Pink Parker in honor of John Wilkes Booth for killing Old Abe Lincoln. After town officials refused his gift, Pink placed the marker in the yard of his Madison S.y. Emma's bruised and beaten body was soon discovered in the lake at Lake View Park, weighted down with iron. This report shows that there were around 43 homicides in 2019 alone in Montgomery County, Alabama. 1867-1902, William "Will" Reynolds shot nine people, killing seven, in the bloodiest day for law enforcement in Alabama's history. (Photo from the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center). George Corley Wallace Jr.was Alabamas only four-term governor, having served from 1963-67, 1971-79, and 1983-87. These murders resulted in a deadly riot and The Magic City soon gained national media attention. Whitecapping was a movement in which white males formed secret societies to deliver vigilante justice that eventually targeted blacks. After University of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles was charged with murder in the death of a 23-year-old mother and removed from the team, the victim's loved ones say she was shot and . In 1988, Hubert Mathis, the 85-year-old mayor of Florala was impeached and removed from office. Burrow escaped but as he ran through town, Carter spotted him and opened fire. Click here to read more. 1866. If anyone has more information, email kkazek@al.com. Alberta Stewart was 21 years old when she married 81-year-old Civil War veteran William Jasper Martin on Dec. 10, 1927. ", Marvin Franklin Hubbard, battle of Alcatraz, 1912-1946. There was no physical evidence that connected either sister to the crime. ", (Grave of Allen Page by Melody via FindaGrave.com), The Ward Brothers, outlaws, Irvin (1828-1859), Stephen (1834-1859), The Ward brothers are buried in the Ward-Witherington Cemetery in Conecuh County. Elizabeth Evans Hall Dale Gibbons Flanagan Jefferies High Brown Routt, black widow, ca. Middleton was the son of Robert Middleton and Nancy Adeline Reed. They were arrested when the train stopped in Paint Rock and taken to the nearest jail in Scottsboro. According to a Journal of American History description of the book "Alabama's Outlaw Sheriff Stephen S. Renfroe," his two years as Sumter County sheriff were "followed by six years of bizarre activities as a fugitive from justice before being lynched in July 1886. . Walter Cagle was a large man who lived in an isolated area atop Sand Mountain and gained a reputation for being able to foretell the weather. (Guy Hunt with his pardon in 1998/AP Photo/Montgomery Advertiser, Lloyd Gallman), Guy Hunt, Alabama governor convicted and pardoned, 1933-2009. His ex-wife claimed he lit the fuse. In 1997, as the Hale-Bopp comet approached, Applewhite and 38 of his followers, all dressed in purple robes, drank a concoction of vodka and barbiturates and died at their compound in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Jimmy Files, confessed to killing JFK, 1942-? Jackson honored Selocta by giving him the rank of general. Thank you! Coleman was indicted for the murder of Daniels; and acquitted by an all-white jury. Sanders became their leader. The outlaw brothers were executed on Nov. 18, 1859, for murder: Irvin and Stephen Ward were hung for the murder of Allen Page during a failed cotton wagon robbery near Brewer Creek in Conecuh County, Ala. A posse caught the brothers, who confessed." CNN Former University of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles, 21, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in a shooting that killed a 23-year-old woman last month, will be held without. Anodd footnotes about the case: She reportedly asked that her body be donated to science so people could figure out why she killed. By this time, even Lamar County residents were turning against Rube. Two years prior to this event, Rudolph had attempted to shut down the 1996 Summer Olympics by bombing Atlanta's Centennial Park. However, political and business figures from any generation were fair game. Lincoln was assassinated four months later and Gayle was arrested in Alabama on May 25, 1865. Hal and three other slaves were killed and the others recaptured. Construction on the home was begun in 1852. Garrett tracked him to Fort Sumner on July 14 where he was shot and killed Garrett was murdered by Jesse Wayne Brazel on February 29, 1908. The murders also earned Birmingham the nickname "Murder Capital of the Country." These murders resulted in a deadly riot and "The Magic City" soon gained national media attention. Sanders' acts culminated in the Battle of Newton, which occurred in a part of the county that was then located in Dale County. The Hawes trial began on April 22, 1889 at Jefferson County Courthouse. Patricia Dianne Krenwinkel , cult member, convicted murderer, 1947-? . In the late 1800s, Katherine Lackner gave up a respectable life to be with portly but rakish riverboat captain named William Simpson "Simp" McGhee. Henry Wells, legendary prisoner, unknown birth-1876, The legend of the face etched in the Pickens County Courthouse window has been repeated for decades and appears in Kathryn Tucker Windham's beloved book "13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey." Marshall Herff Applewhite came to teach chorale students at the University of Alabama in 1961. The article, quoted on his entry on FindaGrave.com,says: ""Bill" Smith, the dead man, was a unique character and was known throughout all of this section as "Bell-Tree" Smith. These Alabama unsolved murders and kidnappings date back to the 1970s, leaving their families little hope for current media attention. Gene Leroy Hart, a Cherokee, was arrested 10 months later at the home of a Cherokee medicine man and later tried in early 1979 for the murders, but was acquitted. Jennifer is the Alabama staff writer for Only In Your State and has nearly 15 years of professional writing experience. If they refused, they were killed. (The Varner's Cash Store building in 2013 by Richard Apple via Wikimedia Commons). The latest on Gov. Learn more about old Alabama insurance laws and women who used arsenic in this article. What is the most famous murder in Alabama history? John S. Barker, who advised his congregation that making whiskey was legal as long as it was sold to "non-believers," that a husband and wife of different religious beliefs should separate, and that his followers must "donate" to the church, although in reality he sent thugs to their homes to collect money, according to the 1973 book "A History of Limestone County" by Robert Henry Walker. When the rumors began to swirl about her numerous dead husbands, Elizabeth left for Mississippi and was never heard from again. Rev. Kelsey Turner, 28, entered an Alford plea in the case which means she still insists she's innocent but agrees a conviction is highly . Crime: Found guilty of killing six men between the years of 1989-1990. In March of 2009, Bishop was denied tenure, which meant spring 2010 would be her last semester to be employed by the university. Although he publicly denied his involvement in the bombing, relatives and friends testified that he continuously "bragged" about being part of the crime. Jonathan Myrick Daniels pushed her to the ground and was shot and killed in her place. The study later became controversial: "When penicillin became the standard treatment for the disease in 1947 the medicine was withheld as a part of the treatment for both the experimental group and control group. This man, Sanders, was a millwright by trade who had served well during the Civil War, but following his resignation he became allies with a band of deserters who sought shelter along the Florida state line. After his release he petitioned to play pro baseball and eventually played for the Albany Senators. 1814-1884. In 1915, Judge J.E. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime communitytogether we can do better. Reynolds opened fire and killed Colbert Sheriff Charles Gassaway, his brother, Deputy William Gassaway, Deputy Jesse Davis, Deputy James Payne, Deputy Pat A. Prout, Deputy Bob Wallace and Hugh Jones. The victims are Robert Lee Brown, 26; Chelsea Marie Reed, 22; Justin Kaleb Reed,. In 1813, A group of Red Sticks led by William Weatherford surrounded Talladega, a Creek town, and demanded its people join them or they would destroy the town. But like every state, Alabamas history was created by plenty of colorful characters. They took about $19,000 in cash but were later arrested. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. The victims were 37-year-old Connie R. Woolfolk of Flossmoor, Illinois; 22-year-old Sarah Szafranski of Oak Forest; 42-year-old store manager Rhonda McFarland of Joliet; 33-year-old Carrie Hudek Chiuso of Frankfort; and 34-year-old Jennifer Bishop of South Bend, Indiana. Mountain Tom Clark, outlaw, birth unknown-1872, Tom Clark, one of the most feared men in North Alabama in his day, is buried beneath Tennessee Street near Florence City Cemetery in Lauderdale County. His visits to the town of Boaz to purchase clothing and supplies always caused a stir among locals, who took it as a sign winter weather was approaching, according to a history provided by Lynn Burgess of the Boaz Library. Hal was a slave of Col. Alex Hollinger, who was born in 1793 in Mobile. He was stabbed to death in North Carolina in 1941. Click hereto read more. From 1886 to 1890, Rube and his gang robbed express trains in Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Indian Territory, all the while eluding capture by lawmen and investigators from the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Robert Bentley, embattled current governor, 1943-?? An article in the Coosa River Newsat the time said he was killed by a man named Will Chandler, who used Smith's own gun against him, following a dispute of unknown origin. "), Ira Thompson, exalted cyclops of KKK and attorney, 1889-1973. "Jacob" Armstrong. Also, read about another Calhoun County "notorious" killer, Audrey Marie Hilley, here, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website. The ultimate reason why he murdered all three was because in order to remarry, he had to dispose of his wife and children first. In 1870, in a period of political unrest during Reconstruction in the South, members of the Ku Klux Klan were busy in Alabama terrorizing those who supported black residents holding office. He became a self-appointed truant officer, picking up men who did not want to fight and giving them only a short time to join his side. Ira Bowman Thompson was a distinguished Alabama attorney and politician who served in World Wars I and II. She is currently the longest-incarcerated female inmate in California. The crime sent shock waves of fear and anger through the small community. On December 4, 1888, two boaters, John Keith and Ben Culbalson, discovered the body of a young white female in East Lake. It also included messages about the evils of sex and other sins. The homicide rate in Alabama, as of 2017, was 12.9, meaning that there are almost 13 homicides per 100,000 individuals living in Alabama. Dr. Wilson had planned a trip to Santa Fe to help their marriage, but the night before they were to leave on their trip, Betty found her husband clubbed to death. These individuals are also known to have committed some of the most infamous Alabama murders. Like many, he sustained heavy debt from the Civil War. Edward Aaron was a Black handyman who was abducted by the KKK, badly beaten, castrated with a razor and left to die in a nearby creek . ". After a duel with Alexander Hamilton in which Hamilton was killed, Aaron Burr, former war hero, was suddenly a wanted man. According to journalist Lee Peacock their story is included in "History of Conecuh County, Alabama" by B.F. Riley. Mize's family placed a memorial marker in Liberty Presbyterian Cemetery in Odenville. Middleton was later accused of killing Sheriff J. H. Black of Lamar County, Texas. Sadly, murders in Alabama by year seem to rise, with no end in sight, especially in certain areas. On September 24, 2012, Bishop was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Lackey confronted Newman and as Newman called 911, Lackey began firing shots. . While frightening in its fervor, the collection is an example of folk art at its most primitive. According to the Hawes housekeeper, the weekend before Mays body was discovered, she saw Richard and May assist Emma with packing. Read on to find out the true story behind the Hawes murders. 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