Sweet Tea Crime

06/19/2023

In honor of Juneteenth, a little history about a Georgia man who faced certain death and through his actions change slowly began to take place. Gus Chapman's story.
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Murder Farm in Georgia

Sometime prior to 1920, Gus Chapman had been arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. I am honestly unsure of the charge. Hulon Williams, son of John S. Williams a plantation owner in Jasper County, Georgia came to bail out Gus with the promise of work on a farm where he would find a home. It sounded great to Gus and so he agreed to go work for the Williams family and pay off his debt, as well as make a little extra money.

When he arrived at the Williams 2,000+ acres family farm what he was promised was not reality. Even though peonage had been outlawed everyone looked the other way. Even though there were rumors in Jasper County, about the horrible inhuman conditions of the Williams Farm everyone looked the other way.

Gus found that the Williams farm was simply 1920's slavery. He attempted to run away once, but was caught stripped and beaten severally. Gus was warned that if he tried again they would kill him. He knew they would because he had witnessed the murder of other peons.

Peon- a person held in compulsory servitude to a master for the working out of an indebtedness. (Merriam-Webster)

The thing is on the Williams farm not a single person ever worked off their debt. At night they would be forced into shacks that would have doors and windows nailed shut. At a moment's notice any of the many workers on the farms of Williams family could find themselves beat. One beaten so bad he asked for death. He was shot and killed by the Williams family.

Gus feared running away again, he knew if caught he would be killed in a brutal and painful way to set an example for the others. But he had to try.

In November 1920, Gus Chapman risked it all and ran. When he got away he could have done anything, gone anywhere. Where he went was to the Atlanta Offices of the Bureau of Investigation. It would later become the FBI.

Gus meet with 2 federal agents. Those 2 agents went to the William's farm and that led to an investigation into the Williams Family Farm. John S. Williams became so frightened to be caught he decided to do away with the evidence. Which in his crazy mind meant killing the men who had worked for him.

There is so much more to the story but in April 1921 John S. Williams and his farmhand Clyde Manning went on trial and were charged with murder. They both died in jail. Clyde had come to work on the Williams farm when he was 13.

I encourage you to research the murder farm in Jasper County, Georgia. The one person not given as much honor in changing the future of Georgia is

Gus Chapman. He could have kept going North and never looking back. But he tried to save his friends and as tragic as the events that unfolded after he went to the Atlanta Bureau without his risking his life who knows how long the practice would have continued because prior to that law enforcement was not interested in upholding the peonage laws.

06/05/2023

https://sweetteacrime.buzzsprout.com/2048216/12960812

Imagine they find a dead body in your basement.

In Reidsville, North Carolina a decomposing body is found buried in a basement. The man, Smith Petty had been missing for at least 9 months. No one seemed to notice, until his wife passed away and he didn't come to her funeral. When his body is f...

06/05/2023

Sweet Tea Crime's next episode airs June 8, 2023. This crime takes us to a murder farm in Jasper County, Georgia! Where a man murders more than 11 people, but there is so much more to the story. He not only murdered 11 men, but he also forced others to commit murder.

The escape of one man sets a chain of events in motion that truly helps to spark a change in the south. Change in a part of the Southern past that we often try to never look to closely at. Let's get uncomfortable and look at the horrific actions of one Georgia family.

This will not be an easy case, but it is one that truly started a change in Georgia's future. Join me as we go visit the murder farm.

06/02/2023

Body found in Basement in Reidsville, North Carolina
Daughter arrested for killing her father with an axe when his body was found in the basement. Did she do it? Listen to Season 2 Episode 6 (Body in the Basement) and let's start trying to solve this unsolved murder mystery! Host:

06/01/2023

Body in the Basement is up!
https://sweetteacrime.buzzsprout.com/2048216/12960812

05/27/2023

Trying my hand at a little video fun for Thursday's episode, Body in the Basement. A story out of Reidsville, North Carolina where a body is found in the basement of a home. The man killed buy the blow to the head with an axe.

Was it his daughter?
Was it his dead wife?
or could there be another theory that needs to be looked at?

05/25/2023

It will always be tea for me, Sweet Tea!

05/24/2023

Excited about Thursday's episode!

05/22/2023

Still getting used to forcing myself to stop researching every rock I can find!

A late-night arrival of a sedan carrying four individuals leads to a shocking chain of events: the untimely death of Floyd Frazier, the shooting of Ray Catron, and a trail of unanswered questions. How did Ray find himself at the center of this deadly plot? Was he a victim, a willing participant.

This episode is super late, but I am already starting on my next episode! I enjoyed my virtual tour of Scott County, Virginia! Planning a real one soon.

If you are from Scott County you have to tell me where to stay, eat and what to do?

Scott County Virginia Genealogy The Scott County Historical Society Scott County Virginia Fair Gate City, Virginia Natural Tunnel, Virginia Glenita, Virginia

https://sweetteacrime.buzzsprout.com/2048216/12898294

05/01/2023

Crime from Scotland County, NC! Girl found burned in the woods at Old Hundred, North Carolina. In honor of the years I spent growing up in Laurinburg, North Carolina and Laurel Hill, North Carolina.

Guest my mom LaMona Cobb Brownen.

Coming up next a Crime from Gate City, Virginia and then Camden, South Carolina

The newspapers painted Mollie is a trouble making 17 year old girl having or**es in the woods. But was that really the case? They only ever had one suspect, but did they try hard enough to make sure they go it right? Did gossip and racism play a ...

04/27/2023

Today is recording day! Getting ready to tell y'all a story from Scotland County, NC about a young girl murdered in the woods near Old Hundred. I spent some of the best years of my life running around Laurel Hill, North Carolina and Laurinburg, North Carolina.

Listen to us where ever you listen to your favorite podcast.

04/23/2023

Next murder case will be from a town I loved many, many years ago in Scotland County, NC! Time to talk about the murder of Mollie Bass.

04/21/2023

The cause of Howard's actions according to Dr. Owensby was he was over mothered. Yep, that was to blame for his cold blooded murder of a beautiful 19 year old waitress at the Fox Cafe in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 27 year old married barber with 3 kids claimed she did him wrong.

The newspapers labeled her is sweet heart, but I think he was her stalker.

The year 1932, the city Atlanta, GA.One morning in June 1932 Howard Curtis walked into the Fox Cafe, he raised his gun and shot beautiful waitress Annette Bryant. He claimed it was a su***de attempt. His story changed over time, and he claimed Ann...

04/21/2023

Should I cover this case? Technically, not a crime but I have to think this could be an interesting story.

04/20/2023

Thinking about life in a Southern Household. What does every Southern kitchen need?
Cast iron skillet - passed down from generation to generation?
Fancy Deviled Egg Plate?
Cornbread?
Buttermilk?

04/18/2023

Meet Officer Elliot Harris, On July 17, 1932 he pulled over a car driven by Clyde Snipes. His attempt to arrest Clyde turned deadly and would lead to a pregnant woman to be the first woman sentenced to death by electric chair in South Carolina history.

Learn about their story on sweet tea crime.

Here is the link on Spotify, but you can find Sweet Tea Crime where ever you find your favorite podcasts.

https://open.spotify.com/show/1QH25AoVg91izMGedNt5Dp

04/16/2023

Pregnant on Death Row

Beatrice Snipes was the first woman in South Carolina to be sentenced to death by electric chair. Hear the story of a Pregnant on Death Row on Sweet Tea Crime Now! Season 2 Episode 2. Sweet Tea Crime can be found on your favorite podcast apps.

Can't find it follow the link to listen on Buzz Sprout.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048216/12656853

04/07/2023

Jordana needs to buckle up and hold on tight because today is no ordinary day! It's recording day, and I've got not one but TWO wild and unscripted episodes. Can we handle the pressure?

Have you checked out our latest episode yet? Trust me, it's not for the faint of heart! It's creepy. It's a powerful reminder of how important it is to keep our kids safe. So don't wait another minute. Head over to Apple Podcasts and tune in now!

Our next one will have men asking themselves, "Should I wake her up or let her sleep?"

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/little-marion-parker/id1645767739?i=1000606886531

Lea

‎Show Sweet Tea Crime, Ep Little Marion Parker - Apr 1, 2023

04/06/2023

Keep your Facebook and your friend's Facebook safe by not sharing sc@m/h@ck posts. When we share these post we put ourselves and our friends at risk by bringing the sc@mmers right to our social media pages.

Notice these two things and protect yourself from unwanted people on you and your friends pages.

03/26/2023

Marion Parker, your 1927 kidnapping and murder shook the nation and reminded us of the fragility of life. Your bravery and resilience continue to inspire us to this day. Rest in peace, sweet angel. 💜 #1929

03/13/2023

Judge John W. Brady took advantage of his position as a lawyer, judge and politician. When Lehlia Highsmith tried to stop his advances and avoid the mentally unstable judge things escalated. But just as she feared, when a powerful man is stalking you there is not a lot you can do to escape.

Even in her death she was not safe from the slander and attacks on her name.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048216/11961693

03/13/2023

This is John W. Brady's home, he murdered Lehlia Highsmith in 1929 after a college football game.

My heart breaks as I share with you the tragic story of Lehlia Highsmith and her untimely death at the hands of Judge John W. Brady. While Brady was a prominent figure in Austin's history as a lawyer, judge, and politician, his actions on that fateful night of November 10, 1929, tarnished his legacy forever.

As he stumbled drunk from his home at 1602 Pearl Street to the boarding house at 210 East 10th Street, where Lehlia lived, he was fueled by jealousy and anger. Despite being asked to leave the boarding house before due to his behavior, he barged into the wrong room and was kicked out.

When Lehlia returned home from her date, she was met with a verbal altercation that quickly turned violent. Brady, in a fit of rage, began stabbing her with a long knife, ignoring her desperate pleas for mercy. It's heart-wrenching to think of the pain and terror she must have felt in those moments.

We must remember Lehlia and the injustice she suffered. Let us honor her memory by standing against violence and holding accountable those who commit heinous acts. Listen to "I stand with Lehlia Highsmith" on Sweet Tea Crime season 1, episode 15 for a deeper look into her tragic story.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048216/11961693

So, if you ever Visit Austin, Texas take a little drive to Judge's Hill and Pearl Street and see the historic home of murdered John W. Brady.

03/07/2023

Jordana Elizabeth Swanson and Lea Hartline are excited about the article in Dalton Living. Here is a copy to the digital version.

This full replica of our printed product provides you the newspaper as you know and love it from the convenience of the web.

03/02/2023

Thank you Lauren Holverson! Without you and all you have done I am not sure Sweet Tea Crime would be possible. You will be missed!

I want to take a moment to say, 'Thank You'. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your businesses and nonprofits. Thank you for your partnership. Thank you for your willingness to mentor our students. Thank you so much for trusting me to lead the Dalton Innovation Accelerator. It has been my pleasure working with each of you, and I wish you much success. Please keep championing entrepreneurship in this community! You, our entrepreneurs, make everything possible! Please don't forget how important you are!

- Lauren Holverson

03/02/2023

Meet Dr. Frances Glessner Lee, the "mother of forensic science."

Dr. Lee created a series of incredibly detailed crime scene models, known as the "Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death," which were used to train police officers and detectives in the art of crime scene investigation. Her models were so effective that they are still used in training programs today. In addition to her work on the Nutshell Studies, Dr. Lee was also a pioneer in the field of forensic pathology and worked to develop new methods for determining the cause of death in suspicious cases.

I want to encourage you to look up and learn more about this remarkable woman and her accomplishments. There is so much more to her story.

As we celebrate National Women's History Month, let's honor the legacy of women like Dr. Lee.

02/26/2023

This is our favorite episode from season 1. You can find us on all your favorite places to listen to podcasts. If you like the episode make sure to follow us and leave us a review.

Do you have a crime that is over 90 years old?
Message us and let us know.

02/23/2023

Let's honor the small businesses in our community! We'll be sharing details about each award beginning in March.