True crime stories! There is something extremely intriguing about these tales of tragedy.
Consequently, people who watch true crime shows are often focused on the threat to their own wellbeing. In fact, women in particular seam to love true crime. Psychologists believe this is largely due to women seeking tips on how to survive in dangerous situations.
Whatever your reason for being drawn to these murderous tragedies, I’m sure you will find the crimes in Tipton County intriguing.
1869 Feb – The Vendetta in Tennessee
VENDETTA IN TENNESSEE | From the Tipton (Tennessee) Record we learn the particulars of the following story of vengeance and murder: In the year 1852 Dr. Walton, a citizen of Tipton County, living about four and a half miles from the county town, was killed by a man named Yarbro. Shortly afterward Captain Smith, who was ...
1875 Jun – The Yarborough Murder
YARBOROUGH MURDER | Memphis, June 22–The Ledger has information concerning the killing of Brad Yarborough, near Covington, Tennessee, last Saturday, by his brother-in-law, William Kinley. It appears that one had sued the other, and they had been to Covington to attend the trial. On the road home, Yarborough, who was on horseback, passed Kinley in ...
1881 Aug – Hanging of Andrew Sanders
Andrew Sanders, (colored) was convicted of murdering Michael Miller earlier this year. Consequently, he was hung yesterday, August 26, 1881, in Covington, Tennessee. (Daily Evening Bulletin, (San Francisco, CA) Saturday, August 27, 1881) Additional Information by John Shaw Regarding the hanging of Andrew Sanders at Covington, and the vain efforts of attorney John Boyd to win his ...
1897 Aug – The Murderer of Walter Boyd Confesses the Deed
CONFESSES – The Murderer of Walter Boyd Confesses the Deed — Confesses Also to Robbery and Arson Investigation We published last week an account of the murder of Walter Boyd, near Idaville, which occurred Thursday morning, August 5th, about 6 o’clock, while he was feeding chickens. Will Johnson, a young negro man of the neighborhood, has confessed ...
1897 Aug – Walter Boyd Assassinated
Background Mr. Walter Boyd, of No. 7 was assassinated yesterday morning, Aug. 5th, at about 6 o’clock. His brains were shot out while he was in the lot feeding chickens. Mr. Boyd was a cousin of Dr. J. C. McQuiston, and recently purchased the Baird farm. His residence was burned last Friday while he, with his ...
1897 Dec – Died with a Smile on Face
DIED WITH A SMILE ON FACE – William Johnson Hanged for the Murder of Farmer Boyd Covington, Tenn., December 17- William Johnson died on the scaffold at 12:10 o’clock this afternoon with Sheriff Lauderdale officiating. The condemned man walked quietly from his cell to the scene of the hanging. He made a full confession and ...
1898 Aug – Tipton County Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary
What is the Tennessee State Penitentiary The Tennessee State Penitentiary opened on February 12, 1898 outside of Nashville, TN. Built on 1,200 acres, the construction took several years because each stone was carved by hand. Inmates Worked while Incarcerated Every inmate worked in a designated area of the prison. For example, some of the inmates work ...
1902 Jan – Jilting of Mr. York
Enraged at Being Jilted by Prospective Ninth Wife – York Begins Shooting Nashville, Jan. 28 — K. P. York, a Tipton County farmer, arrived at Covington today with his six children for the purpose of marrying Mrs. Pimm. The woman told him when they met that she had changed her mind. York began shooting indiscriminately. He ...
1911 Dec – Christmas Whiskey
Effects of Jug Of Christmas WhiskeyMemphis, Tenn., Dec. 27 — James Glover, a white farmer of the Ninth district of Tipton County, shot and instantly killed his son-in-law, Andrew Smith, at Glover’s home. Both were under the influence of mean whiskey ordered for a Christmas celebration. Ben Matthews, a farmer, constable, and deputy sheriff of ...
1917 Aug – Whisky Seized from Bootleggers
WHISKY SEIZED FROM BOOTLEGGERS | Sheriff B. E. White and four of his deputies were called to the assistance of United States Marshal Trezevant Saturday to raid a party of bootleggers at Walt’s Landing on the Mississippi river. Upon receiving the message Sheriff White and deputies departed and joined the Shelby county posse of officers ...
2010 Jan – Vandals in Poplar Grove Cemetery
VANDALS IN POPLAR GROVE CEMETERY | On January 11, 2010, Action News 5 made reports of vandals in the cemetery. Accordingly, the residents, of the area, were upset justifiably upset because two monuments were knocked over and one was pushed out of the ground. Another monument was completely stolen off its base. According to Vernon ...
A Moonshiner in Hoe
A MOONSHINER IN HOE | MAGNOLIA, Ark., Oct. 16. – Drew Short, 70 years old, was yesterday arrested and brought in town by Deputy United States Marshal Dumas, charged with illicit distilling. Short has been running a blind tiger for some time, but has successfully evaded the officers of the law until now. ...
A Sad and Melancholy Affair – Collier
Family A melancholy occurrence happened near Wesley, Tipton county, Tennessee, day before yesterday. Two brothers by the name of Collier and of respectable and wealthy parents. Their ages were respectively twenty and twenty-one years got into a disputed about a pony, when the younger brother stabbed the other and killed him. Details The particulars are ...
Anderson and Ewing Feud
A Feud Between Two Negro Farmers Nearly Results in the Murder of One of Them Officer J. M. Saunders (c.), of Tipton county, arrived in the city last night by boat with Nelson Anderson (c.), charged with shooting with intent to kill. Anderson and a negro named Wm. Ewing live on Walter Stockton’s farm, about thirty ...
Baskin, Wayne
Covington – WAYNE BASKIN, 72, former Sheriff of Tipton County, died Saturday evening, December 31, 2005, at Baptist Hospital Tipton in Covington. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 3, at 11 a.m. at the Covington Funeral Home chapel with interment to follow in the Helen Crigger Cemetery in Munford. Visitation will ...
Ben Cross – Lucien Hartsfield Murderer Captured
$250 Reward The above reward is offered for the capture of BEN CROSS, COLORED, who shot and killed L. H. Hartsfield, near Ft. Pillow, Lauderdale County, Tenn., on March 12, 1919. Cross is a light “ginger-cake” color, about 40 years old, weighs between 160 and 180 pounds; one eye squints; when last seen had small moustache; about 5 ...
Blind Tigers and Blind Justice
The Arkansas Raid on Island 37, Tennessee by Richard S. Daniels 1Memphis, Tennessee BLIND TIGERS AND BLIND JUSTICE: THE ARKANSAS RAID ON ISLAND 37, TENNESSEE: The Mississippi River has ...
Bond set for Munford High Graduate Hannah Burrows in Murder Case
A $50,000 bond was set yesterday for Hannah Burrows, a 2018 Munford High graduate and former band member who has been charged with murder in Alabama. Jesse Parker, her 31-year-old alleged accomplice who is also facing a murder charge, had his bond set at $100,000. As of 11 a.m. today Burrows, 18, and Parker were still ...
Bradley, George aka Butch Bradley
It Rests with His PeersButch Bradley’s Fate in the Hands of the Jury IT RESTS WITH HIS PEERS | The fate of Butch Bradley is now in the hands of twelve of his peers, and he is anxiously awaiting the verdict. The case was given to the jury at 4:20 o’clock yesterday afternoon, but no ...
Bullets Fatal to Mother of 3
Woman Wounded by “Lover” Dies in Hospital Shot twice by her alleged lover because she refused to take him for a ride in her new car. Mrs. Hugh T Rodgers, 38, widowed mother of three children, died at 3 a.m. Saturday at Baptist Hospital. H. Clifton King, manager of Mrs. Rodgers’ farm near Rosemark, shot himself ...
- *The author is working toward a master’s degree in history at Memphis State University. He is assistant administrative engineer, Division of Public Works, at Memphis. [↩]
