Turnbull: Based on a True Story

by Jonathan Jackson

  Epilogue

  Just after Eldred received his response that his case was going to be considered by the higher Court, I stopped writing in the story to start penning these notes. I know how this all plays out from here on anyway.

  I am not the young man you follow throughout the entirety of this work. We share some similarities such as a desire for knowledge, a slight arrogance in creativity, and refusing to take “no” for an answer. Outside of those few things, he and I are purely figments of each other’s imaginations and he’s a vehicle to tell this story.

  This is a fictional novel, based on a true story. While I would love to be able to make note of the Doctor who was actually killed and give him credit for his contributions to our society and to our community I’ve been requested to refrain from doing so. This writing is not intended to create or exacerbate any racial tensions. All terminology utilized within is done so with the utmost respect for the citizens of this community. We can all look back on the last century as a time of great and meaningful change in our society.

  The old lawyer, his daughter and his entire office are fictional as is the town they reside in. I created them from an amalgamation of experiences I had through life, law school, college, and people I’ve met. Actually, I have engineered every character in this book to accurately reflect the true story from which this arose while allowing the families of those involved to rest in their anonymity.

  The references about To Kill a Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee, having influence over this story-line are purely my own concoction. I do not know if that very famous story and equally notable movie were an influence on the actual court proceedings that took place in the 1960s but they fit so nicely together I couldn’t help but give credit to one through the other. I wish that Harper Lee could have read what I’ve written here and enjoyed the process as much as I have.

 

  “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” – Harper Lee

 

  I know many mockingbirds.

  I spent two years strictly researching the facts of the trial, the lives of the people involved and the outcomes. The confession and the facts of the trial are real as are the results. The assembly of the lynch mob and the outcomes are just as real.

  I was able to locate the actual court documents and fashion a story around them. Obviously, I took quite a few creative liberties with the interactions between every character in the book. I also took advantage of that to create a few characters based on “suggestions” I garnered from reading the filings. There was no Ahab that I’m aware of and Dr. Blakely’s car could have been any color other than grass green.

  I have written this with the intent that a teenager could safely read it without exposure to unnecessary foul language or other similarly offensive themes. The few moments of violence were necessary for the development of the storyline.

  Many people were instrumental in helping me gather information for this effort and I want to thank them all, even if I fail to mention them by name here.

  Straight away I want to say thank you to God, through whom all things are possible. The idea that someone such as me could ever complete a task like this has to be only at the Hands and Grace of our Lord and Savior. I try to utilize Scripture throughout the story as during the time frames this story took place it was a regular part of peoples’ lives. I wish it was still as great an influence today as it was then. We’re working on that.

  Second is my mother. Part of the emotion put into this book arises from the passing of my father, and helping my mother adjust to life alone after decades of being with her husband. I know everyone says the last person you should let critique your work is your mother as she is certainly biased, but she did get to participate in the beginning of it. She has always done everything she could to encourage me and encourage my creativity.

  My Uncle Roger and Cousin Christy have been huge in pushing me to get this done and stop sitting on it. I dare say that without them, I wouldn’t be typing this for you today – more like ten years from now. Roger has been after me to pursue my writing for many years, not even counting this project. I am grateful to both of them for their motivation and encouragement as well as their critique of the work as it progressed. There will be much more following this project for you both to read. I have at least three new outlines ready to go.

  My own immediate family has been very patient throughout this project. I’ve not spoken of it much around them but they knew about “that doctor that got killed” and the book I’m writing about him. I am appreciative of their patience for the late nights I spend making noise, working at the computer or my ill temper when I get frustrated and from lack of sleep. I try not to push my obsessive hobbies and projects off on them but sometimes it can’t be helped.

  There are many people who have helped me gather information, without which this never would have come together. I want to list them here and offer them my sincerest thanks:

  Mr. W. Ray Crouch, Assistant District Attorney of the 23rd Judicial District; Ms. Pam Edwards, of the Dickson County Archives; Ms. Jackie Wall Farthing, the Dickson County Register of Deeds; Ms. Darla Brock, Archivist of the Tennessee State Library and Archives; Mr. Tim Eades, Chief of Police, Belle Meade, Tennessee; Ms. Amy Park, Tennessee Court of Appeals; Ms. Douglas and Ms. Brown of Meharry Medical College; Mr. Mike Catalano, Tennessee Supreme Court Clerk’s Office; Mr. Scott Perkins, a lifelong friend; Ms. Amy Adams, a longtime friend -- thank you for Oscar.

  There are many other people who have offered advice or suggestions about the project who I have not mentioned and there are many who anxiously await a first copy, which I’m happy to give. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

  I referenced Sebastian the Peace Maker in this story a couple of times. This is a very small article that I’ve written for a southern lifestyle magazine about an incredible dog. I will include it, for your enjoyment and for my reflection, at the conclusion of these notes.

  The author can be contacted at JJScribbler@gmail.com and will make every effort to respond to appropriate and mannerly emails.