Episode 146 of Southern Mysteries is out now. A mystery in Water Valley, Mississippi. On May 4, 1931, William and Mamie Wagner were discovered at their home in northwest Mississippi. The Jackson Clarion-Ledger called the demise of one of the most prominent couples in the area, “the most brutal tragedy that has ever happened in this section of the state”. Three people were arrested and faced trial. Did authorities arrest the right people or did corruption lead to a miscarriage of justice? Hear the story of The Wagners and decide for yourself. It's available wherever you get your podcasts or at southernmysteries.com 📷 Source: Water Valley, MS Historical Preservation
New episode 🔔 The Demopolis Times shared this chilling report on November 29, 1934: "Undoubtedly the most shocking tragedy that has happened in the city of Demopolis was discovered Sunday morning at the home on the corner of Cedar and Perry streets. While the city was peacefully sleeping….death had come into the home and taken the lives of an entire family." You can hear the mystery of what happened to the Smith Family in 1934 in the new episode of Southern Mysteries, available today where you get your podcasts.
"We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!" –Humbert Wolfe 🎃 Spooky season has returned! #October2023 #spookyseason2023
Welcome to home of Robert Smalls, a Civil War hero who commandeered and delivered the Confederate ship "Planter" to Union forces in May 1862. Congress awarded Robert Smalls and his crew half of the assessed value of the Planter, about $4500. Smalls’ share was $1,500. When Smalls learned that his former master's house was for sale for back taxes, he used part of the money he had received from the government to purchase the property. He paid $605 in January 1864 and lived in this house at 511 Prince Street for the rest of his life.When some of the McKee family, his former enslavers, were in need after the war, Smalls took them in and provided for them in this home. Following the war, Smalls entered the next phase of his life…politics. He became involved in local politics before he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and later to the South Carolina Senate. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives twice and was a Congressman during the Reconstruction Period.Robert Smalls fought to protect civil rights of Black Americans and authored legislation that was near and dear to his heart. He helped create the first free and compulsory public school system in America in his home state of South Carolina.Robert Smalls died in his home on February 22, 1915. He's buried in his family plot at the historic Tabernacle Baptist Churchyard in Beaufort. A memorial to Smalls in the churchyard is inscribed with a portion of Smalls statement to the South Carolina Legislature in 1895: "My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people, anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life." See part 1 for more about Robert Smalls! **Note: Robert Smalls Home is a private residence. Photos are welcome from the gate but the home is not open to the public. #robertsmalls #southcarolinahistory #blackhistory
Robert Smalls was born enslaved in the Beaufort, South Carolina house of Admiral Henry McKee on April 5th, 1839. In May 1862, he carried out one of the most heroic acts of the Civil War. In early 1862 Confederate forces commandeered the transport steamer, Planter. The crew included Robert Smalls and three other slaves. Each day they watched Union ships in Charleston Harbor as the Navy blockaded Fort Sumter. Smalls realized this was their chance to literally sail to freedom.When the Confederate crew went ashore on May 12, 1862, Smalls and his fellow enslaved crew brought their families on board the Planter and before dawn he casted off.Familiar with the waters and Confederate routines, Smalls steamed the Planter past 5 Confederate gun batteries, giving the correct signals for safe passage at each. By dawn May 13, Smalls successfully cleared the harbor and surrendered the Planter to Union forces. The commander of the Union Navy pronounced it “one of the most gallant naval acts of war.”Robert Smalls could have remained in the North, living a comfortable life as a war hero but he wanted to serve his country. He returned to war, serving on the ship he delivered to the Union. The now USS Planter was piloted by Robert Smalls who would be engaged in 17 military actions, and was valiant in each engagement.For his courage, Robert Smalls was promoted to the rank of captain. This meant that from December 1863 on, he earned $150 a month. Robert Smalls would be one of the highest paid black soldiers during the Civil War. When the war ended in April 1865, Smalls was on board the Planter in a ceremony in Charleston Harbor.Robert Smalls died in 1915. He was laid to rest in the Tabernacle Baptist Churchyard in downtown Beaufort where you can see this memorial. More about his incredible life and legacy in Part 2. #robertsmalls #southcarolinahistory #blackhistory
🚨New Episode 🚨 Today on Southern Mysteries...the story of Alma Kellner. The best modern day comparison to Alma's story would be the Jon Benet Ramsey case. The media and public in general obsessed over Alma's family and her disappearance fueling rumors and misinformation. There were also profoundly different opinions as to who was behind the child's disappearance.
Listen to Alma's story wherever you get your podcasts or at southernmysteries.com
Hello Dolly! Chapter 1 of Audacious: Tales of American Crime is available today. This patron exclusive podcast dives into some of the most shocking and scandalous crimes in American history.
Dolly was a bored housewife who ended up making national news in the 1920s & 30s...for all the wrong reasons!
Hear her story at patreon.com/southernmysteries
"One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas." ~The Gift of the Magi
William Sydney Porter is better known by his pen name, O. Henry. The North Carolina native's short stories fascinated readers in the early 20th century with his signature wit and surprise endings. He’s best known for a story first published in the New York Sunday World in December 1905. "The Gift of the Magi" tells of a poor young couple dealing with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other, and it became a Christmas classic.
Will loved New York and spent much of his final years there. In 1907 he reconnected with Sarah Coleman, his childhood friend and fellow writer, who was living in Asheville, North Carolina. They married and split their time between Asheville and New York. Will’s struggle with alcoholism proved too much for Sarah who left him in 1909. His health declined and Will Porter died in New York on June 5th,1910.
Sarah arranged for his body to be returned to Asheville where he was laid to rest in historic Riverside Cemetery. To this day, folks stop by to pay their respects and often leave $1.87 cents on O Henry’s grave...the amount of money Della managed to save to buy her husband.
The value of love is always greater than any gift under the tree. 🎄❤️
#ohenry #williamsydneyporter #asheville #westernnorthcarolina
Southern Mysteries Podcast is back with a new episode Monday! 🎃 👻🕷️🦇 Plus there's a new Patron exclusive episode of The Lesser Knowns on Patreon the same day. There will be ghosts...and the murder...well it's a...complicated tale.
southernmysteries.com
Hundreds visit her grave in Meridian, MS each year. They leave mementoes hoping to connect with Kelly Mitchell's spirit. She's known as the Queen of the Gypsies but that title & story of the Romani people is complicated.
Hear the story in the new episode available today
southernmysteries.com
Marking the 100th episode of Southern Mysteries by diving into Georgia's Lake Lanier. Legend says its cursed which has sparked many ghost stories. What's often ignored in those stories is the chilling history of the land beneath the surface of Lake Lanier
southernmysteries.com
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Want more Southern Mysteries? Support this independent podcast on Patreon. Patrons get monthly bonus content called Southern Mysteries Shorts! Join today at patreon.com/southernmysteries
Windsor Ruins "Amphitheater Effect"
Have you heard the new episode about Windsor? Here's my friend Traci singing in the middle of Windsor Ruins back in 2014.
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🎧Listen to Episode 96:
southernmysteries.com/windsorruins
🙌🏼Support Southern Mysteries and hear more! Patrons hear bonus episodes at patreon.com/southernmysteries
Southern Mysteries passed a milestone this week with one million downloads. 🎉That's a big deal for this little independent and regional podcast that doesn't fit into one specific category of shows every week.
To celebrate this milestone, I'm sharing a unique true crime story from 1940s South Carolina. This is a Southern Mysteries Shorts episode which is normally bonus content exclusively available for patrons on Patreon. I'm making an exception today to say thanks for listening to the show.
Check your feed for the episode or listen at southernmysteries.com
Here's to the next million! 🎉❤
New episode 🎧
On May 9, 1981, Ricky Merrill & Dori Colyer left Hilltop Lounge in Brooksville, Florida. They never returned. 40 years on, their families are still waiting for justice
Hear their story in the new episode of Southern Mysteries. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or stream at southernmysteries.com
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Dori's sister, Diane, launched rickanddori.com to help raise awareness about the case. I encourage you to visit and read more about the case and follow the page for updates: Who Killed Rick Merrill and Dori Colyer?
If you or someone you know has any information related to Rick and Dori’s case, you can submit an anonymous tip at HernandoCountyCrimeStoppers.com or contact Detective George Loydgren at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office: 352-797-3714.
New episode
The body of 19 year old Nell Cropsey was found floating in North Carolina’s Pasquotank River over a month after she disappeared in 1901. Her boyfriend was accused of killing her but three people in the Cropsey home the night Nell disappeared later took their own lives. Were they hiding the truth behind her disappearance and death?
Listen to Nell's story wherever you get your podcasts, or stream at southernmysteries.com
New episode
In the summer of 1963, 15 girls between the ages of 12 and 15 were held in the Leesburg Stockade for the crime of demonstrating for integration in the deep south. For weeks their parents didn’t know where they were or if they were alive.
southernmysteries.com
New episode available today
Lita McClinton was murdered in her Atlanta home in 1987. Lita’s family, Atlanta PD & the FBI agreed on the prime suspect...but it would take nearly 20 years of twists & turns to build a case against him.
southernmysteries.com/litamcclintonsullivan
New Episode available today
13 spirits are said to be attached to the Magnolia Hotel, including 12 year old Emma Voelcker who was murdered in 1874
Hear the story where you get podcasts or stream at southernmysteries.com
New Episode is available today!
Hear the Alabama Cesspool Murderer wherever you get your podcasts or stream via http://southernmysteries.com
Episode 82 Natchez Burning - The Rhythm Club Fire
“Did you ever hear about the burning, that happened way down in Natchez Mississippi town?”
The Rhythm Club Fire of 1940 forever changed Natchez and led to changes in how we experience concerts.
southernmysteries.com/rhythmnclubfirenatchez
