Lamar Reid met with Si Garrett in a hotel room in Birmingham. They were all laughing, drinking, and joking about running Hugh Bentley out of town when Hoyt spotted Fate Leebern across the room. An attempt to save the unborn child was made, but the child also was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound, the department said in a press release concerning the incident. The most famous murder in Alabama history is the 1988 Hawes murders, which took place in the city of Birmingham. When the heat was on and the preachers started pounding the pulpit about sin, a few raids were made, and a few prostitutes were locked up overnights until their employers bailed them out the next morning. Everywhere you looked, there was Hugh Bentley and Hugh Britton attacking city government and county government, Mayor Homer Cobb and the City Commission, and Elmer Reese. Take a walk with author Faith Serafin as she travels through the darkest recesses of Phenix Citys past. Like all of the gamblers in Phenix City, Hoyt feared neither God nor the Devil, only the IRS. No longer could the gambling charges made against the Phenix City crime syndicate be dismissed as hearsay. 2017Historic Columbus. Law enforcement officers reported that Jeffrey Martins cause of death appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They were tried and convicted of both murders. Site design by, The Architectural Styles of Our Town: Columbus, GA by Historic Columbus is licensed under A, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Violent offenses tracked included rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon. Their grave concern was the cavalier conduct of Chief Deputy Sherriff Albert Fuller. deputies regularly extorted local businesses, aided prostitution, and in some When I came up in the driveway, [Martins son] came up running to me saying, Uncle Bubba, Richards dead, my dad shot him in the head, he went in there and said my mom is gurgling. Hes going to need a lot of counseling. It was as bitter and hard-fought a campaign as Phenix City had seen in a long time. The attorney general was that of the chief law enforcement officer in the state, empowered to go into any county and investigate any condition he saw fit, remove solicitors, and take over grand juries. On Tuesday, June 8th, the bureau chief of the Associated Press in Birmingham received a call to check the tally totals for Jefferson County. In addition to all of the precinct workers, Hoyt Shepherd had gathered all of his friends around that night his brother, Grady, his partner, Jimmie Matthews, and his old mentor, Clyde Yarborough. turned a blind eye to distilling hooch: the profits simply benefited their own Phenix City, Serafin writes, things got so bad that after the bloody assassination The news of his campaign was a stunning surprise to Phenix Citys political machine, and they were quick to counter. For Phenix City, this was the most important element of the divorce organized gambling had been established. By Jatavia O'Neal. It was not nearly so high-risk as gambling and lottery with investigations going on all the time. She notes in her Foreword that information came from in-depth interviews with the principals and investigators, witness sworn testimony, and recordings from wire-taps. Garrett told them about his background, his familys background, and he reminded them of his powers as attorney general that he could dissolve the Grand Jury if he so chose. In reality, John Patterson later ran for governor as an opponent of integration. Raw data sources: Hugh Bentley said that a blind man had been led from precinct to precinct and had voted five times and Hugh Britton said the ballot boxes were being stuffed with tombstone votes, but nobody outside of the newspapers took much notice. They decided that day to try and get someone a seat on the City Commission to change what was happening in their town. A pregnant Alabama woman and her boyfriend were shot dead last week by her ex-husband before he turned the gun on himself in a horrific murder-suicide, police said. Three carloads of men with $30,000 in cash were dispersed to crisscross the state and buy a better count of the ballots before the official count was turned in at the State capitol in Montgomery on June 10th. He stood his ground, and when that man came in his house, Richard stood there with a baseball bat against a gun, and he died protecting his wife and unborn child, said Jessica Martins Uncle, Terry Moore. Our nationwide meta-analysis overcomes the issues inherent in any crime database, including non-reporting and reporting errors. What happened when that raid forced Governor Johnsons hand? Thank you all for your continued support of Historic Columbus! Your chance of being a victim of crime in Phenix City may be as high as 1 in 9 in the east neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 42 in the northwest part of the city. Engineer Richard Hawes, his wife, and two children were brutally murdered in an event that baffled people for years. They had determined they only needed 600 votes instead of 700. First responders on the scene reported initially finding Cook deceased from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. A friend of Alberts on the police force also warned Alberts son, John, that his father would need protection. Other establishments provided more extensive services where a girls sexual favors could be bought by the minute, the hour, or the evening. It was war. I also want to encourage you to follow Historic Columbus on Facebook and Instagram for more posts on our community's history. What can we say? Within Alabama, more than 92% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Phenix City. Hollywood censors prohibited script writers Daniel Mainwaring and Crane Wilbur from mentioning prostitution and venereal disease, so they instead emphasized the public menace of gambling and the brutal methods used by mob bosses to enforce their interests. 2017Historic Columbus. Grady Shepherd admitted to police the next day to killing Fate Leebern in self-defense with Hoyt Shepherd and Jimmie Matthews stating they were eyewitnesses to it. Vengeance was now being reaped on the innocent and unsuspecting. All rights reserved. Fuller was top gun. Hoyt and Jimmie Matthews were found not guilty. The victims were all identified by the Russell County Coroner. The girls he hired were tattooed, with an identification number like a thoroughbred horse, inside the lower lip, so that if they tried to run away, or if anyone tried to hire them away, the tattoo would prove they were one of Franks.. Even All the Kings Men, inspired by the assassination of Louisiana governor Huey Long, had been shot in California. Everywhere you looked, there was Hugh Bentley and Hugh Britton attacking city government and county government, Mayor Homer Cobb and the City Commission, and Elmer Reese. Few other communities of this size have a crime rate as high as Phenix City. Bootlegging and rumrunning, rigged elections and assassinations. The news of Albert Pattersons ambush slaying flashed like lightening across the Alabama. A self-professed populist, John Patterson attempted major reforms, Hugh Bentley (1909-1984) was a key figure in the movement to end vice and corruption in Phenix City, Russell County, in the early 1950s and became the subject of threats and a bombing. Mississippi? The On June 18, 1954, soon after his primary victory, Patterson was, John Patterson (1921-2021) was thrust into the Alabama political arena in 1954 by the brutal murder of his father, Albert Patterson, who had gained the Democratic nomination for Alabama attorney general with promises to end the rampant organized crime in Phenix City. Jeffery Martin was someone who should have stayed in the past, he was long gone, and thats all I have to say about that.. Raw crime incidents are sourced from all 18,000+ local law enforcement agencies municipal, county, transit, park, port, university, tribal and more, assigned to localities, then built into NeighborhoodScouts proprietary predictive models to provide a comprehensive crime risk profile for every neighborhood and address-vicinity in the U.S. More about NeighborhoodScouts crime data methodology, By sending this Report you agree to NeighborhoodScout's. 12, 2023 at 7:41 PM PDT. Later, atrocities continued at Fort Mitchell, the killing grounds for early Georgia politicians who fought to the death over rival politics and bitter feuds. In The cornerstone of the Phenix City Machine was laid. Brothels. This, though, not the confirmed location of Edwards death. Jessica Martin, 35, who was . When Hugh Bentley returned to the polls with his son and friend, Hugh Britton, they were badly beaten with the police watching. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. John Patterson (1921-2021) was thrust into the Alabama political arena in 1954 by the brutal murder of his father, Albert Patterson, who had gained the Democratic nomination for Alabama attorney general with promises to end the rampant organized crime in Phenix City. The Leeberns retained five attorneys to assist the Circuit Solicitor and Russell County Solicitor in the prosecution. Their grave concern was the cavalier conduct of Chief Deputy Sherriff Albert Fuller. Before mailing it, the letter dropped from his pocket and was found by some of the criminals in Phenix City. 2023 Alabama Humanities Alliance - All Rights Reserved, Turner Classic Movies: The Phenix City Story. Then, Fuller decides to expand his interest. On June 4, 1954, Si Garrett set out to see Lamar Reid, the 28-year-old brand new chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee in Birmingham. Though national prohibition had ended in 1933, many Southern states and counties stayed dry for decades afterward, generating deep networks of illegal activity beginning first with bootlegging, then with every other crime that came in tow. PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WTVM) - The Phenix City school board and parents met at Central High School's auditorium to select the school . Other US patent applications are currently pending. By 1949, traffic in illegal liquor had also become such a bustling trade that not only liquor runners, but private citizens set on saving a dollar a bottle in bonded liquor, were hauling it over the bridge from Phenix City by the carload. Where is 2022 data? By Monday, June 7th, Ben Ray, chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee, received a telegram from RBA President Howard Pennington stating that as much as $30,000 had been offered to county election officials across the state to change their tally sheets in favor of Lee Porter before the official canvas in Montgomery on June 10th. I just ask anyone who wants to pray for the family, prayer is greatly needed right now.. On May 13, at approximately 7:45 p.m., Phenix City officers responded to Jack Hughston Memorial . They were Roderick Beddow from Birmingham, E.E. Hoyt Shepherd wanted to make a deal with Hugh Bentley. In his book Essential Cinema, Alabama-born film critic and historian Jonathan Rosenbaum called The Phenix City Story the best film ever made in his former home state. Emergency paramedics immediately transported her to Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown Hospital where doctors and medical personnel attempted life-saving procedures, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the facility. Julius Hicks was appointed as circuit judge of Russell County and Arch Ferrell would be the new circuit solicitor. Lamar Reid felt his doubts being swept away with the arguments of the two men and returned to euphoria for being included in something important. For that, youll have to read Tracys book, which has all the juicy detailsbut as the saying goes, they werent here for a long time, they were here for a good time. Patterson then joined Hugh Bentley and Hugh Britton in their effort to beat the rackets. Hugh had taken his brother to the Veterans Hospital and was driving back from Augusta when it happened. L - R: Russell County Solicitor Arch Ferrell, State Attorney General Si Garrett, Albert Fuller, the local chief deputy who had given Albert Patterson a ride the night he was shot, would later be indicted for the crime, along with outgoing attorney general Si Garrett and circuit solicitor Arch Ferrell. They formed the Russell Betterment Association (RBA). For Albert, it was all so easy. 29-year-old Damon Daniels Jr., of Phenix City, is charged with capital murder. Violent Crime Rates In Phenix City. Hoyt Shepherd had seen to that. 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Property crimes include burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft. According to NeighborhoodScout's analysis of FBI reported crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of one of these crimes in Phenix City is one in 145. Fuller was top gun. He was from a prominent and distinguished family of attorneys. In Jefferson County, the results were 23,858 for Patterson and 23,060 for Porter. Elmer Reese continued in his position, as he was not up for an election that year. When they asked Judge Harry Randall, who was seeking re-election, to issue warrants, he refused. Copyright 2022 WTVM. Phenix City was angered because Georgia police were trying to arrest people and therefore depriving them of their own property. The film, which takes a number of liberties with the actual events and characters, opened on July 19, 1955, with simultaneous premieres in Reporting his findings, he had written a letter to the federal agents. Cliff Entrekins Fish Camp down by the river served dinner downstairs and sex upstairs, and Frank Gullatts Blue Bonnet Caf. This was cause for celebration on the part of Hoyt Shepherd and the great job the precinct workers had done to make it happen. He was saying I just want to see my son, then he did what he did in front of his son., Evening fire damages building on Victory Dr. in Columbus, Muscogee County School Board announces recent leadership changes, New affordable housing coming to South Columbus, Muscogee County School District postpones vote on time change proposal, 2 Opelika men arrested on felony theft charges, Auburn police say. Now, it seemed that opportunity had come. Silas Garrett III was a man accustomed to having his own way. A preliminary hearing has not been set yet. Pettway could only give officers limited information about the incident before he passed away from his injuries. During the divorce proceedings, Gloria disclosed the gambling business as the source of family income and the National Lottery Company (Davis business) grossing more than one million dollars a year. Lee Porter was also endorsed by Big Jim Folsom and the sitting Attorney General Silas Garrett III. Roused to action by public outrage, Alabama governor Gordon Persons placed Phenix City under martial law, putting the Alabama National Guard in charge of law enforcement in Russell County. That compares to a 1 in 195.8 chance statewide. Harris was elected Mayor. With a population of 38,428, Phenix City has a combined rate of violent and property crime that is very high compared to other places of similar population size. Tornado activity: Phenix City-area historical tornado activity is slightly below Alabama state average.It is 38% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 3/31/1961, a category F3 (max. Later that day, Si Garrett and Russell County Solicitor Arch Ferrell went to Lamars office with a proposition that they werent going to need as many votes instead of 2,000 it would be more like 700. Thank you for your understanding! After grave consideration for his family and his finances, and his own physical limitations, Albert Patterson decided to become a candidate for the office of attorney general. The Phenix City Story is a crime film based on the assassination of Alabama politician and attorney Albert Patterson in June 1954 in Phenix City, Russell County. Georgia didnt want anyone bringing Alabama whiskey into Georgia and cars used for transportation would be confiscated. If you aren't already a member, we hope you will join us! 8,376,755. Published: Apr. Jessica was six weeks shy of having her baby. Police have not released anymore details into this incident they are calling a murder-suicide, but family members of Martin told News Leader 9 her ex-husband showed up out of nowhere, after no one had heard from him for over 10 years, and began threatening her the day before he killed his ex and her boyfriend. As the Democratic nominee for state attorney general in 1954, Patterson promised to "clean up" Phenix City, Russell County, which was largely run by organized crime and corrupt politicians. PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WTVM) - Three people and an unborn child are dead following a murder-suicide near Hwy. These murders resulted in a delay riot that quickly garnered media attention across the country. What? Hoyt then walks to Fates table and asks him to follow him to the dice room. Patterson had been gunned down June 18, 1954, in the street outside his law office just days after winning the Democratic nomination for attorney general, for which he had campaigned on a platform of cleaning up the Souths most notorious town. Select your ideal criteria and let Scout do the rest. Images are from her book and Phenix City by John Lyles. The straw broke for the adult Hugh Bentley in 1944 when he and his friend Hugh Britton found a soldier, almost dead, off the side of the road at the Dillingham Street Bridge. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Phenix City may be as high as 1 in 114 in the east neighborhoods, or as low as 1 . The. Andrews of Altanta, Lawrence Andrews of Union Springs, and Columbus attorneys Joe Ray and Hubert Calhoun. There is no word yet from police on a motive in this investigation. This capitulation, however, was not due to Hugh Bentley or the RBA, but a federal tax increase that had been passed by Congress which included a new federal law requiring all lottery operators, nationwide, to register, buy a $50 occupational tax stamp, and pay a ten percent tax on their gross income. (The US average is 22.7) Phenix City property crime is 71.0. Later that day, Si Garrett and Russell County Solicitor Arch Ferrell went to Lamars office with a proposition that they werent going to need as many votes instead of 2,000 it would be more like 700. Patterson was aware that the danger could no longer be dismissed and in an address to the Methodist Mens Club on June 17th, he told the group: My chances of living to take office are about 100 to one. He then tells Howard Pennington, If anything happens to me, dont let them get away with it.. Homer Cobb allowed gambling and gaming, but he came out strong against prostitution. New York Times critic Bosley Crowther favorably compared it to Academy Award winners All the Kings Men and On the Water Front. Gibson is currently in the Russell County Jail on two counts of capital murder - count one is murder by the defendant during a robbery and count two is murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon while the victim is in a vehicle. Have a tip we should know? all, the BAMA Club, local capos (of The underworld would strike again in February with setting fire to Albert Pattersons office. cases murdered their political opponents in cold blood. The decision to back Otis Taff seemed like a good one, but with this fateful decision, a chain of escalating events began, followed by a series of significant murders that each contributed to the destiny of Phenix City, and brought it to its ultimate tragedy. Site design by Tabbed Creative. Antonio Darcet King, 44, and. Several witnesses in the area reported hearing gunshots and then seeing a male suspect flee form the scene. Autry said, his name would have been Robbie, after their grandmother. Lamar Reid knew Si Garrett would not be too pleased with the results for his declared and open support of Lee Porter had been strenuous, but he was sure Si Garrett would be pleased to finally get the results. The Tragedy and Triumph of Phenix City, Alabama. Take, straighten the town out. Importantly, we found that Phenix City has one of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the nation according to our analysis of FBI crime data. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. The Magnolia State went dry over a decade before the nation, leaving bootleggers to establish political and financial holds they were unwilling to lose. Have a tip or story idea? The Architectural Styles of Our Town: Columbus, GA by Historic Columbus is licensed under ACreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Graham, a Phenix City Native, was convicted of hiring a family friend, Kenny Walton, to shoot and kill her own daughter 21-year-old Stephanie "Shae" Graham in 2007. Of course, once the girls started to work, they had to pay their dues for protection to insure themselves against arrest for prostitution. Hoyt had warned Fate before that if he caught him on this side of the river, hed kill him. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 2.8 miles away from the Phenix City city center injured 7 people and caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages.. On 4/18/1953, a category F3 tornado 5.9 miles away from the . Albert Patterson headed back to Phenix City to his office at the Coulter Building to finish the work he had started earlier that morning. Regardless of whether Phenix City does well or poorly compared to all other cities and towns in the US of all sizes, compared to places with a similar population, it fares badly. All Albert had to do was make an arrest, charge them with a fine they couldnt pay, and then arrange for them to work it out at whichever whore house needed a new girl. When the votes were counted, Elmer Reese had won re-election to his seat by better than a two to one margin. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, All 4 Alabama Sweet 16 shooting victims identified, including aspiring musician, Sweet 16 DJ said partygoers told someone had a gun ahead of deadly Alabama shooting, Alabama football star headed to college on scholarship IDd among 4 dead in shooting at sisters Sweet 16 party, 4 killed, 28 injured in shooting at teens birthday party. For Patterson and 23,060 for Porter Phenix City to try and get someone a seat on part... 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