WEEKLY TRANSMISSION N°03
MORE AMERICAN CITIZENS UNDER SUSPICION
N°5, James H. Coyner, detail
ON CONTINUATION :
THURSDAY 19 JANUARY 2017
contents: The “Almost Perfect” Crime of James H. Coyner and his Most Publicized Trial Twelve Citizens under Suspicion Deadly Hero: The Famous 1934 Tulsa Murder Case WWW.PLANTUREUX.FR
III-VI
1-12 13
N°4, case of amnesia, detail
“The past is constructed from the present, which selects what in its eyes is historical, that is to say precisely what has developed in the past to produce the present.” (Edgar Morin) “Le passé est construit à partir du présent, qui sélectionne ce qui, à ses yeux, est historique, c'està-dire précisément ce qui, dans le passé, s'est développé pour produire le présent”. (Edgar Morin)
The e-bulletin presents articles as well as selections of books, albums, photographs and documents as they have been handed down to the actual owners by their creators and by amateurs from past generations. The physical descriptions, attributions, origins, and printing dates of the books and photographs have been carefully ascertained by collations and through close analysis of comparable works. When items are for sale, the prices are in Euros, and Paypal is accepted. The 12 vintage portraits are proposed as a collection for fifteen hundred euros.
N°03-2017 : MORE CITIZENS UNDER SUSPICION Previous related transmission can be found at www.plantureux.fr
The Crime and the Trial of James H. Coyner (Portrait n°5) “Terror struck 10 year old Merline Turner as she stumbled across the frozen flat-lands of Bolivar County to the house of a neighbor. A December wind whipped tears off her cheeks. Nausated and wide-eyed with disbelief, she burst through the door of a friend's home. — "God, God---help, help, my family has been murdered, help, please help," she sobbed hysterically. The amazed family promptly called Sheriff E. R. McLean and told him of the girl's incoherent story. A few minutes later, the Sheriff and his Deputy, Charles Maddox arrived at a modest farm house. They got out of the car and walked in the half open door. Both men hardened by years of criminal work, bleeched at the sight which met their eyes. Aurelius Turner lay in the living room, his head abloody pulp. A four year old son slumped against a wall, two gaping holes in his skull seeping blood. The officers walked in the bedroom. — "God... , gasped Sheriff McLean. Turner's wife was on the bed, her head also a mass of mangled flesh and crushed bone. But she had also been disemboweled. Her groin and stomach had been slashed open, and unformed six month old baby lay on the bed beside her. Parts of her lower body were missing. Unharmed, but cold and suffering from shock, two year old Jimmy Turner cried in his crib. A quick inspection revealed the older boy, Aurelius, Jr., was still alive, but critically injured. He was rushed to a local hospital...” Louella Sherrill (1911-1934) had married Aurelius Burns Turner on 27 Dec 1927 in Charleston, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. Louella and Relius were brutally murdered by a black man. Relius was killed while reading beside the fire. Louella was in bed with her two small sons. The man did horrible things to her before he killed her. He beat the oldest son, about 4, but both boys lived. 500 Guardsmen stationed during the Trial of James H. Coyner Threats of mob violence and rumors against an orderly trial of James H. Coyner, perverted negro murderer of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Turner, hereon Monday, February 4th, led Sheriff E. R. McLean and Circuit Judge W. A. Alcorn, Jr., to petition the Governor Conner for National Guard troops to preclude any possibility of lynching the negro. Local officers had expressed confidence in their ability to cope with any emergency that might arise within the community itself, but when reports fromscattered sections over the state gave rise to fears of serious outside interference, it was felt that assistance would be necessary to prevent spectators from getting out of hand.
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The petition was accordingly presented to Governor Conner by Sheriff McLean, Judge Alcorn and H. H. McGowen, President of the Board of Supervisors with the result that 500 more troops from the National Guard will be stationed in Cleveland during the trial to forestall any attempt at mob violence. The guardsmen, under the command of General Grayson, will be recruited from companies in East Mississippi, and no troops from close at hand will be called on for duty. Reports from the adjacent communities and counties of a vowal to lynch Coyner, however, led by local officers to demand the troops as a protection against foreign rather than localelements. Prior to announcement of the utilization of National Guard troops for the trial, many people in other counties had expressed in no uncertain terms their intention to come to Cleveland on the 4th to "burn that nigger" and odds were being given that Judge Lynch would hand down the sentence in this case. The trial will open Monday morning with Judge Alcorn on the bench and District Attorney Greek Rice heading the prosecution which will demand the death penalty as atonement for Coyner's dual slaying one December 9th. It is believed that the grand jury will return a true bill this morning and that the selection of a petit jury have already been issued and it is probable that it will take only a day or two to complete the whole trial. It is not known yet whether Coyner has engaged a lawyer for his defense, but in the event that he has not, Judge Alcorn will appoint legal talent for that day. The snouts of machine guns peering over strategic points in the barricades will offer mute testimony to the serious intentions of the troops as will the gas bombs carried by the men patrolling the grounds. Those in charge are determined that the regular course of law and order shall not be disturbed, an consequently no effort is being spared to prevent an infraction of legal justice. Both Governor Conner and National Guard officers in the state expressed belief that military protection would be essential to an orderly conduction of the trial in the view of the revolting nature of the crimeand the smouldering spirit of retaliation which has been increasing with the proximity of the trial date. Of special interest to the citizens of Bolivar County was a statementmade by the sheriff in regard to the cost of the protection, on his return from the conference in Jackson early this week. He stated that the entire cost of the National Guard protection during the trial would be borne by the state treasury, and inasmuch as the proceedings would probably last only a day or two the cost of the whole affair wouldbe negligible as far as the taxpayers of this county are concerned.
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Immediately following Coyner's arrest on December 12th the board of supervisors held a meeting and agreed to underwrite the cost of the trial at a special term of the Circuit Court set by Judge Alcorn for February 4th. Coyner himself does not seem perturbed over the approaching trial, reacting toward it as he does with his fatalistic philosophy. Having commited an almost perfect crime and having escaped detection for nearly a month, he was exposed when a series of obscene letters gave local officers a clue as to the identity of the slayer. After being apprehended by officers who trapped him in the post office here, he was immediately whisked away to Jackson and placed in the Hinds County Jail where he has remained since his capture. A few days of stubborn silence was broken when he confessed the complete details of his murder and mutilation of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Turner in their humble home north of town. He completely exonerated any accomplice in the crime and has consistently maintained there are no others involved in his guilt, in spite of an effort to link responsibility with other parties. In his cell he sits stoically awaiting the trial that will undoubtledly send him to the gallows for the savage slaying and butchery of his victims. Meanwhile he has collected cigarette money from the morbidly curious spectators by charging five cents a peek to those so inclined and to this date over 1000 have been so inclined. After several day of silence as to his guilt, Robinson sent for Sheriff McLean Wednesday evening and confessed the crime to a large group of officers and newspaper men about midnight Wednesday night. He stated that he was alone at the time, and no one els was implicated. We are informed that he also confessed to tying up the family of Will Davis, near Merigold at which time he was frustrated and ran away. He not only told the details of the crime but informed the officers where they could find the rest of Mrs. Turner's body, which was found in the spot indicated yesterday morning. He also confessed ownership of the heads found in Ferndale, Michigan, in 1927, but stated that they were grave robbery cases. He maintained that he never killed anybody before the Turner murder, and would give no motive for the deed. He admitted that he was a sex pervert, which is considered to be the underlying cause of the crime. The trial for James H. Coyner was undoubtedly the most spectacular and colorful in the history of Bolivar County, when Coyner appeared in the courtroom, his appearance electrified the spectators; necks were craned, an audible wave of whispering ran across the room.
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Thursday 19 January 2017
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Coyner himself was the most unperturbed person in the court-room; every eye on him and he completely "stole the show" Garbed in dark cotton pants, blue jumper, and a pair of scuffed shoes, he toward above his guards and calmly scrutinized the assemblage with a curiosity equal to its own. Afterthe removal of his handcuffs, he leaned carelessly on the judge's desk while continuing his appraisal ofthe crowd and listening to the speech of the judge. When informed of the selection of attorneys for his defense, he replied that he "didn't think that it was necessary," but left immediately thereafter to confer with his counsel. On his return the indictment accusing him of the murder of Mrs. Turner was read to him, and in a low, toneless voice that barely carried to the judge he replied, "not guilty," then turned to smile and chat with his attorneys. His composure and indifference throughout the trial were objects ofmarvel, though he excused his dozing during the afternoon session on the grounds of lost sleep the previous night. When he succeeding in thwarting a newspaper photographer by hiding his face in his hands, he laughed and joked good-naturedly about the event. The state, represented by District Attorney Greek P. Rice... opened the attack with the introduction of its nine witnesses and exhibits connected with the crime, while the defense hammered necessantly at the strong case presented by the prosecution. Taking the stand as witnesses for the state were Walter Turner, brother of Mr. A. B. Turner; Sheriff R. R. McLean;Mrs N. R. Terry, Deputy Chancery Clerk; W. R. Dickson, Deputy Sheriff; Major Mullens, negro neighbor of Coyner; M. C. Morgan, watch mechanic; James Myers, negro employee of Nelson's Mule Barn; R. T. Rock. postal inspector; and John Roberts, Sheriff of Hinds County, all of whom drew the rope tighter about Coyner's neck in spite of the valiant fight waged by his attorneys who resisted the onslaught stubbornly at each step by sweeping Crossexaninations and exceptions. At 7:30 both sides declared their case at rest and concentrated therewith on the presentations of arguments and instructions to the jury, which retired at 7:55. During its absence additional troops filed into the room and massed along the railing to prevent any demonstrations when the verdict was announced. Within ten minutes the jury returned to its box and handed the decision to Judge Alcorn who pronounced sentence on Coyner to end the most dramatic term of court in history.: "...for one of the most horrible crimes in the history of Mississippi; on Tuesday, March 5th 1935, within hours prescribed by law you will be hanged by the neck until dead, and may God in his infinite mercy have mercy on your soul." On that date the state will claim the life of its most unusualand paradoxical murderer ... a perverted black who went berserk and killed because "he just wanted to," who has no regrets or repentance for his ghastly crime, and yet who talks intelligently and fluently of Bhuddhism, fatalism, and the philosophy of predestination�... (Excerpts from several articles signed W. C. Speer, Jr. The Bolivar Commercial, January 18 and January 25, 1935).
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FBI. Madeline Q., Who Claims to be Former Wife of Boxer Bennie Leonard — “The Ghetto Wizard”, 1925 Lightweight Champion of the World — Reading, Pennsylvania, Feb. 1927. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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FBI PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICE. Hazel G, Young Bride of Murdered Retired Druggist, held for conflicting stories with niece and neighbor, Van Nuys, California, June 1928. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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Bernard L., New York Jewelry Salesman, robbed in hotel room, San Francisco, April 1932. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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FBI SERVICE. Case of Amnesia, Attempting to Establish Identity, Washington DC, April 1933. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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FBI PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICE. James C., Sentenced to Hang, after District Attorney “displayed Pieces of Human Flesh in Plea to Jurors”, Cleveland, Mississipi, February 1935. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso. (Story on page III).
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Phil Kennamer, Son of a Federal Judge, Charged for Murderer, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Feb. 1935. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso. (Story on page 13).
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Tillie O., 26, Whose Husband Killed her Lover, Policeman Martin J. Condon, Chicago, 1936. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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FBI SERVICE. Lucille T., 17, “Questioned about Meeting in a Shower Bath (Jail Tryst) with Dayton Dean” Serving a Life Term for Black Legion Cult Executions, Detroit, February 1937. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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Jan Rubini appeared in Court for Divorce Suit with Adele Crane, Los Angeles, Sept. 1937. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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Mrs Lois S., Just Married, Being Notified of the Death of her Husband Nathan Schilling, Who went to fight to Spain on the Loyalist Side (Republicans), Chicago, November 1937. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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George J, Whose MotherTurned Him Over to Police after he confessed a hold up, Nov. 1931. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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Thursday 19 January 2017
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UP PHOTO. Don T., “Allegedly Confessed to Shooting and Raping”, Washington, Feb. 1952. Vintage silver print, circa 245x195 mm, captions and date stamp verso.
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Deadly Hero: The Famous 1934 Tulsa Murder Case (Portrait n°6) Jason Lucky Morrow, author of “Deadly Hero: The High Society Murder that Created Hysteria in the Heartland.” provided responses to Tulsa World questions about his very recent book : What about this story appealed to you so much that, more than 80 years later, you felt it needed to be a book? — Every major city in America has a true crime story that supersedes all others, and this is the most sensational true crime story in Tulsa history. If you set aside the Tulsa Race Riot, there is no other crime in the city’s history that had such a profound effect on the local population as this high society murder from 1934. When I discovered it for myself a few years ago, I wanted to learn everything I could about it. I used to be a newspaper reporter, and like all reporters, when we find a good story that is scattered in a thousand pieces, we have an irresistible drive to gather up all those pieces and put them back together so we can present an entertaining and informative story to others. From your research, can you approximate just how big and scandalous this story was in the 1930s? — It made national and international headlines that lasted until the end of the trial. All the wire services and major newspapers from New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City sent their best crime reporters to Tulsa. This story might be in the history books today, but it was overshadowed at the time by Bruno Hauptmann’s “Trial of the Century” for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr. In regard to a murder case commanding the public’s attention, wasn’t it almost the perfect storm? — There’s no question Tulsa got hit by a tornado. In January of 1951, the Tulsa World asked readers to write the paper and list the most important stories of the first half of the twentieth century. The Phil Kennamer case was No. 1. We like to think that, eventually, the truth wins out. Do we know the entire truth about this, or are there aspects that are still shrouded in mystery? — That is one of the biggest problems this story had at the time. People wanted to believe there was more to the case that wasn’t being told. They could not accept that this was a simple story of a handsome, charming psychopath who murdered an innocent boy so he could portray himself as the hero and win the heart of a beautiful young woman who had long rejected him, and gain acceptance into her wealthy family. That is what the story boils down to, but the sensationalism created by the case became a drug so thrilling it stirred up mass mania to the point that local rumor mongers, including some in law enforcement, actively tried to heighten the level of public excitement with lurid elements that were false... (jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com).
N°6, Criminal Son a Federal Judge
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