If Trees Could Testify...: A novel based on the true story of Madison County's infamous Gahagan murders

by William D. Auman

IF TREES COULD TESTIFY... is a historical mystery novel based on the true story of Madison County's infamous Gahagan murders. The homicides occurred near the Appalachian mountain town of Marshall, North Carolina, known by some as the "Jewel of the Blue Ridge," but known by locals to be "a block wide, a mile long, sky high and hell deep." The French Broad River bisects the town, which harbors both ghosts from Civil War events and the lore of mermaids. On a quiet summer night in 1983, two elderly siblings were tragically murdered in their colonial, Georgian-style home across from Big Laurel Creek. Known for their distrust of banks and having a collection of antiques, gold, and silver coins, it was naturally assumed that robbery was the principal motive for the double homicide. The murders captivated a close-knit rural community for nearly two decades, as the local family roots of the victims dated all the way back to the early 1800s. During the years that followed the senseless tragedy, a time during which the home was boarded up and abandoned, local folks rumored that they had occasionally seen the house lit up like a Christmas tree at night. There were also stories where the ghost of an elderly woman, walking and swinging a lantern, was reportedly seen along the highway which runs adjacent to the property. Some county residents have further claimed to have seen this apparition standing in a window on the second floor of the home during the time that it was vacant. Suspects came and went as the case investigation spanned three different sheriff administrations. "Who done it" rumors abounded, with theories of involvement ranging from organized crime to outlaw biker gangs to even local family members. Finally, almost eighteen years after the murders, warrants were issued charging a father and two of his sons with having committed the crimes. The defendants maintained their innocence throughout the course of the legal proceedings, which blazed a trail of intrigue with numerous twists and turns along the way. According to Fred Hughes, at the time the publisher and editor of the Madison News-Record and Sentinel, a Hollywood film crew was interested in producing a major motion picture based on the case. As noted in a subsequent editorial, Hughes was "reasonably certain" that the story could have made the silver screen, as it was full of "stranger than life events." This book should be categorized as a fictional mystery novel which is based on the true story of the murders and subsequent prosecution of those accused. Names have been changed to protect the innocent (as well as the potentially guilty), and a haunting tale is told with a focus on the search for justice for both victims and defendants. Colorful characters, including the draft-dodging son of a snake-handling minister, intertwine with more serious undertones as a surprise ending eventually unfolds. The author, William Auman, was the principal defense attorney in the actual case, and provides the reader with a dramatic and informative account of what was otherwise a tragedy to many.

286 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2021

About the author

William D. (Bill) Auman is the author of two books and numerous articles in various legal and outdoor journals. He has been a trial and appellate lawyer since 1986 and has taught as an adjunct professor at both UNC-Asheville and Mars Hill University for 25 years. A veteran of 3 "courts", he was at one time a USPTR tennis professional and an AAU/high school basketball coach. He is the proud parent of two, grandfather of two more, and can often be found paddling his kayak with his wife in the French Broad River valley of the NC mountains.

Reviews

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Trees Could Testify is an exciting crime novel about a cold case involving the murders of two well-off, elderly siblings. After police received a tip of dubious origins, a father and two sons are arrested for the murders. The story follows Alex Reynolds and his legal team in rural North Carolina and the surrounding areas as they try to untangle the details of the decades-old case. We meet quite a colorful cast of characters ranging from a biker with hooks for arms to an overeager, over-green public defender to an old Sheriff who may not have been all that he seemed.

The author, William D. Auman, just so happens to be the defense attorney who worked on the actual case on which If Trees Could Testify is based. The tale is laid out extremely well, giving the reader a period of discovery through flashbacks and pithy legal banter. The author also adds a nice bit of history for the locations, such as Madison County, Asheville, and the French Broad River, really bringing them to life.

The dialog is snappy but sometimes falls into the trap of having too much legal-ese. Auman blunts these moments with the author's notes, which some may find helpful, but it breaks up the flow for me. The dialog seems a little too idealized at times, where the good guys are overly good, and the bad guys are really bad. Sometimes I felt like the author may be too close to the material. However, he is very passionate about the law and adequately defending people who are innocent until proven guilty.

If Trees Could Testify is an intriguing legal drama that offers readers suspense and some surprising moments. Actual crime readers will enjoy this thrilling novel as they follow along with Alex and his team to get to the bottom of this mysterious murder.

[Dan Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author weaves a tale that includes interesting local characters and historical events that occurred in a small mountain community. Easy to read conversational tone with a story that keeps the reader involved.

[Emily Wayland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommend!

Great book!!! Really enjoyed reading about this event and looking through it with a different lens. The author does a wonderful job of marrying both fiction and nonfiction and making the story engaging.

[Victoria Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only an intriguing mystery but also an insight into legal proceedings with interesting characters from a local mountain community. You will not want to put it down once you start reading.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many characters that were superfluous to the story. No resolution at the end. People died. They were robbed. No one was ever found guilty. End of story.

[William Auman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would refer the prospective reader to the numerous reviews on Amazon for a more wide-ranging assessment than is represented here at present.