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.
1819 Jul – Negro Killed at Picnic
At the two-day picnic held just south of here on Friday and Saturday, Bonny Parks, colored, of the Poplar Grove vicinity, and Kye Bell, colored, of the Gift neighborhood, became involved in a difficulty over the matter of change for a quarter on the first day, it is stated. Parks struck Bell over the head ...
1856 Sep – A Sad and Melancholy Affair
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 ...
1869 Feb – The 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 one of the Sheriff’s ...
1875 Jun – The 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 a wagon, when ...
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 Whiskey Memphis, 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
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 near Millington. From there they ...
1919 Apr – Jucien Hartsfield Murderer Captured
NEGRO WHO KILLED LUCIEN HARTSFIELD IS CAPTURED Ben Cross, colored, who shot and killed Lucien Hartsfield, white, near Ft. Pillow, Lauderdale county, on March 12, an account of which was given in this paper at the time, was captured at the home of George Easley, in this city, Sunday evening about 8 o’clock by Sheriff J. ...
1919 Mar – Killing of Lucien H Hartsfield
YOUNG MAN KILLED NEAR FT. PILLOW BEN CROSS KILLS L. H. HARTSFIELD LAST THURSDAY Also Wounds Mack Parham-Hartsfield shot in Legs and Chest, and Parham in Mouth-Motive for action of Black Unknown A short account of the shooting and killing of Mr. Lucien H. Hartsfield, a former citizen of this 3rd district of this county, which occurred ...
2010 Jan – 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 Pairmore, President of the Cemetery Association, the stolen monument was about ...
2017 Apr – Murder of John Rann
The Leader published “Who killed John Rann” on April 13, 2017. His murder has remained unsolved since 1986. Another interesting story that leaves you wondering and looking for more information. Missing Rann went missing on Wednesday, November 26, 1986. The Leader originally reported, on December 3, 1986, Rann’s car had been found in the middle of Ray Bluff ...
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 ...
Arrests in the Bank of Mason Robbery
BANK OF MASON ROBBERY: Sheriff C. N. Volz and Deputy Sheriff Sam Delaney arrested James Oliver and Robert Chambers in Memphis Friday on a charge of robbing the Bank of Mason some time ago. They had in their possession some gold coins which were taken form the Mason bank. They were lodged ...
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 ...
- *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. [↩]