Murder in the Peach State: Infamous Murders of Georgia's Past

by Bruce L. Jordan

Murder in the Peach State explores the true stories of the greed, lust and hatred that led to some of Georgia's darkest hours of the twentieth century. In 1913, when lust killed Mary Phagan, and hatred Leo Frank, the rest of the nation questioned Georgia's stature as a civilized region. When John Williams killed 11 black men in 1921 in Jasper County to hide the fact that he was keeping slaves on his farm well after the Civil War, his motive was greed but the nation cried bigotry. Once again the South was labeled socially less developed. More than two decades later someone killed four blacks on Moore's Ford Road in Walton County. The motive once again appeared to be hatred. No matter the motive the crimes hurt the image of the state as the rest of the nation questioned why a World War II hero had been lynched on one of Georgia's dirt roads. Some lawmen struggled to end the violence while others conspired to create it. Halfway through the century, bootleggers killed the prosecutor of Jackson County with a dynamite bomb, and an evil restaurant owner in Macon poisoned those who interfered with her passions and greed. Lust and greed continued to emerge as motives which darkened the proud communities in the South. Murder seemed inevitable even in the best of towns. As the century neared closure, someone prowled the streets of Columbus strangling ederly women of the neighborhood of Wynnton. The killer's motives -- unclear. In 1991 the power of greed is graphically displayed when one friend decapitates another for the love of money in Griffin. Murder in the Peach State , with eerie detail, will walk you through the best and worst of people in Georgia making history through murder and mayhem.

305 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wild. I would not say its entertaining but is very educational on how pervasive corruption and privilege, ESPECIALLY white privelage, can be.

[Lori Grim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories in this book are well written and very sobering. Sobering to realize these things happen in our beautiful state. Mr. Jordan shares the facts of the crimes along with being a voice for the victims.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of these crimese I have read about or remember. Although dealing with brutal topics, it was interesting to read the facts and the outcomes of the trials and sentences.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a Georgia native and found each story fascinating. All stories concern a headline grabbing murder case in what use to be a laid back simple southern state. I was already familiar with some of the stories and discovered others for the first time. Regardless of where you live you will be intrigued by this well written book.