A Murder in Music City
Page 31
I don't know how to begin to describe my humble appreciation to the families of Wilmer Herring and John Randolph Clarke. They carried decades of emotional baggage that was undeserved, yet courageously spoke of forgiveness and their hope of future vindication for their lost family members.
Finally, to those citizens who lived through the events of 1964 and were willing to share their memories with me, I thank you.
Michael B. Bishop
June 12, 2017
CHAPTER ONE: SATURDAY NIGHT SLAYING
1. James D. Squires, interview with the author, August 17, 2002.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Eva Jo Herring, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 21, 1964.
5. W. J. Core, medical examiner, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 21, 1964.
CHAPTER TWO: LEAVING TEXAS
1. “Cold to Stay Night in 20s Forecast,” Knoxville News Sentinel, February 21, 1964, p. 1.
2. Gerald Henry, “We Loved Her,” Nashville Tennessean, February 24, 1964, p. 1.
3. V. F. Hochnedel, interview with the author, July 3, 2000.
4. Julie Hollabaugh, “Paula Herring Full of Joy: Mother,” Nashville Tennessean, March 15, 1964, p. 1.
5. James D. Squires, “Missing Book Killing Clue,” Nashville Tennessean, February 24, 1964, p. 2.
6. Mexia Weekly Herald, June 23, 1944, p. 12.
7. “Anna Nicole Smith,” Wikipedia, last modified February 21, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Nicole_Smith (accessed March 12, 2017).
8. Florene Hines, interview with the author, September 10, 1997.
9. Mexia Weekly Herald, August 24, 1945, p. 9; Mexia Weekly Herald, January 2, 1942, p. 11.
10. Mexia Weekly Herald, June 23, 1944, p. 12.
11. Ibid.
12. “2nd Lt. Wilmer, Bomber Barons of the 13th AAF,” Mexia Weekly Herald, August 24, 1945, p. 9.
13. “Herring Service Held at Waco,” Mexia Daily News, July 9, 1976, p. 2.
14. “Noel Hotel” Wikipedia, last modified December, 2, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noel_Hotel (accessed March 12, 2017).
15. William Beasley Jr., interview with the author, September 22, 2013.
16. Ibid.
17. Sarah Taylor, “The Backward ‘S,’ A Dark Whodunit,” Nashville Tennessean, September 22, 1962, p. 7.
18. Becky Wexler, interview with the author, November 18, 2005.
19. Hollabaugh, “Paula Herring Full of Joy.”
20. Ibid.
21. John Hemphill, “Call Metro Police, Crieve Hall Urged,” Nashville Tennessean, March 3, 1964, p. 1.
CHAPTER THREE: 1964 INVESTIGATION
1. James D. Squires, “Missing Book Killing Clue,” Nashville Tennessean, February 24, 1964, p. 2.
2. Frank Ritter and John Hemphill, “Slaying Feared for Months,” Nashville Tennessean, February 24, 1964, p. 1.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid., p. 2.
5. John Hemphill, “Call Metro Police, Crieve Hall Urged,” Nashville Tennessean, March 3, 1964, p. 1.
6. Jerry Thompson, “Police Retire ‘Peeper’ Count,” Nashville Tennessean, March 1964, p. 1.
7. Al Baker, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 22, 1964.
8. Bob Wilson, “Sport Talk,” Knoxville News Sentinel, October 26, 1947, p. B-2.
9. John Randolph Clarke, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County. September 23, 1964.
10. Julie Hollabaugh, “Paula's Rites Marked by Dignity, Weeping,” Nashville Tennessean, February 26, 1964, p. 2.
CHAPTER FOUR: THIRD BULLET
1. Larry Brinton, “Girl's Missing Book Found,” Nashville Banner, February 26, 1964, p. 1.
2. All The King's Men, directed by Robert Rossen (California: Columbia Pictures USA, 1949).
3. Al Baker, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 22, 1964.
4. John Parish, “Prosecution Rests Case with Lab Report on Suit,” Jackson Sun, September 23, 1964, p. 1.
5. Beverly Briley, 10:00 p.m. news broadcast, WLAC-TV, Nashville, TN, February 27, 1964, transcript from Criminal Court Records, Tennessee Supreme Court.
6. J. Edgar Hoover to Hubert Kemp and Harry Nichol, telegram, February 27, 1964, Hubert O. Kemp Collection, Metro Archives, Nashville, TN.
7. Wayne Whitt and James D. Squires, “Slaying Suspect Charged,” Nashville Tennessean, February 28, 1964, p. 1.
8. “Resident of Crieve Hall Guns Down Mouse Prowler, Ruins Electric Stove,” Nashville Tennessean, February 29, 1964, p. 1.
9. “2 Bar Groups Back Summers in Judge Race,” Nashville Tennessean, March 16, 1964, pp. 1, 4.
10. Julie Hollabaugh, “Paula Herring Full of Joy: Mother,” Nashville Tennessean, March 15, 1964, p. 6.
11. Frank Ritter, “Sherlock Flair Shown by Lawmen,” Nashville Tennessean, March 1, 1964, p. 1.
12. Nellie Kenyon, “Donoho, Smith, Jett Hit on Taxes,” Nashville Tennessean, March 18, 1964, p. 1.
13. Mickey Kreitner, interview with the author, April 18, 1998.
14. Ibid.
15. “It's a New Chapter for Ex-Police,” Nashville Tennessean, March 18, 1964, pp. 1–2.
16. Nellie Kenyon, “Hoffa Guilty, Will Appeal,” Nashville Tennessean, March 5, 1964, p. 1.
CHAPTER FIVE: CRIMINAL TRIAL
1. John Parrish, “Mrs. Herring Takes Stand In Murder Trial,” Jackson Sun, September 21, 1964, p. 1.
2. “Andrew T. Taylor,” Our Campaigns, last modified August 12, 2016, http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=162011.
3. Parish, “Mrs. Herring Takes Stand.”
4. Eva Jo Herring, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 21, 1964.
5. John Randolph Clarke, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 23, 1964.
6. Eva Jo Herring, testimony.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Alan Herring, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 22, 1964.
10. “Today's Television Schedule,” Nashville Tennessean, February 22, 1964. p. 14.
11. Alan Herring, testimony.
12. W. J. Core, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September, 21, 1964.
13. Albert Cason, “Wrecking Here Is Big Business,” Nashville Tennessean, May 25, 1958, p. 3-A.
14. William Vanderpool, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 23, 1964.
15. A. J. Meadows Jr., testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 23, 1964.
16. George Currey, testimony before Judge Andrew “Tip” Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 22, 1964.
17. John Randolph Clarke, testimony.
18. Charles Galbreath, interview with the author, August 3, 1998.
19. John Parish, “Coed's Death Called Brutal in Clarke Case Arguments,” Jackson Sun, September 25, 1964, p. 1.
20. Robert Kollar, “Clarke Gets 30-Year Term: ‘Blackout’ Follows Conviction,” Nashville Tennessean, September 26, 1964, p. 1.
CHAPTER SIX: JO HERRING'S LETTER
1. “Aunts’ $25,000 Bond Frees Clarke,” Nashville Tennessean, October 1, 1964, p. 15.
2. Robert Kollar, “Clarke Gains Stay; Ap
peals to High Court,” Nashville Tennessean, May 24, 1966, p. 1.
CHAPTER SEVEN: FORTY STORIES
1. Clayton Perkins, interview with the author, August 18, 1997.
2. Metropolitan Government Archives of Davidson County, Tennessee (Elm Hill Pike location, August 1997), available online at http://nashvillearchives.org/.
3. “Beverly Briley,” Wikipedia, last modified December 28, 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Briley (accessed May 23, 2017).
4. Clayton Perkins, interview with the author, August 22, 1997.
CHAPTER EIGHT: NEIGHBORS
1. “Wilmer Eugene Herring,” Nashville Tennessean, September 4, 1960, p. 43.
2. Florene Hines, interview with the author, September 10, 1997.
3. “Herring Service Held at Waco,” Mexia Daily News, July 9, 1976, p. 2.
4. Hines, interview with the author.
5. Alan Herring, interview with the author, September 18, 1997.
6. Ibid.
CHAPTER NINE: INMATE #62250
1. The Green Mile, directed by Frank Darabont (Blowing Rock, CA: Castle Rock Entertainment, 1999).
2. The Last Castle, directed by Rod Lurie (Nashville, TN: Blinding Edge Pictures, 2001).
3. Tennessee Department of Correction, Nashville, Tennessee, October 10, 1997, https://www.tn.gov/correction/.
4. Board of Paroles, State of Tennessee, Certificate 21746, John Randolph Clarke, No. 62250, October 1975.
5. Wanda Graham, interview with the author, October 14, 1997.
6. “Ray Blanton” Wikipedia, last modified February 12, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Blanton (accessed March 11, 2017).
7. Graham, interview with author.
8. Charles Galbreath, interview with the author, August 3, 1998.
CHAPTER TEN: SOMETHING'S FISHY
1. Steven Dobbs, interview with the author, October 21, 1997.
2. Ibid.
3. “Lipscomb University,” Wikipedia, last modified February 27, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipscomb_University (accessed March 10, 2017).
CHAPTER ELEVEN: POLICE ARCHIVES
1. “Alan Highers,” Ballotpedia, https://ballotpedia.org/Alan_Highers (accessed March 11, 2017).
2. Alan E. Highers, ed., “The Spiritual Sword,” 2017, http://spiritualsword.org/ (accessed March 11, 2017).
CHAPTER TWELVE: SIX GIRLS
1. Julie Hollabaugh, “Paula Herring Full of Joy: Mother,” Nashville Tennessean, March 15, 1964, p. 6.
2. V. F. Hochnedel, interview with the author, June 3, 2000.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. V. F. Hochnedel, letter to the author, June 7, 2000.
6. Hollabaugh, “Paula Herring Full of Joy.”
7. Susan Lackey, interview with the author, August 5, 2000.
8. Paul Pharr, interview with the author, June 28, 1999.
9. Claire Atkinson, interview with the author, August 21, 2000.
10. Kay Masterson, letter to the author, July 24, 2000.
11. John Marr, “The Long and Quiet Death of True Detective Magazine,” Gizmodo, August 19, 2015, http://gizmodo.com/the-long-life-and-quiet-death-of-true-detective-magazin-1725094095.
12. “Robert Johnson,” Wikipedia, last modified March 4, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson (accessed March 10, 2017).
13. “Mississippi State Penitentiary,” Wikipedia, last modified March 6, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_State_Penitentiary (accessed March 10, 2017).
14. Dorothy Ellis, interview with the author, June 9, 2001.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: TRIAL OF THE BLOODY MAN
1. Eva Jo Herring, testimony before Judge Andrew T. Taylor, transcript, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County, September 21, 1964.
2. “List of Justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court,” Wikipedia, last modified November 2, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Justices_of_the_Tennessee_Supreme_Court (accessed March 12, 2017).
3. George Currey, testimony before Judge Sam L. Felts, transcript, 5th Circuit Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, April 9, 1965.
4. Dana Ford Thomas, “Noisy Car Found in Coed Death,” Knoxville News Sentinel, May 18, 1965, p. 1.
5. Sebastian Junger, A Death in Belmont (New York: Harper Perennial, 2007), p. 155.
6. Charles Galbreath, interview with the author, August 3, 1998.
7. Henry E. King, testimony before Judge Sam L. Felts, transcript, 5th Circuit Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, April 9, 1965.
8. Sam Carlton, testimony before Judge Sam L. Felts, transcript, 5th Circuit Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, April 9, 1965.
9. Ibid.
10. Board of Paroles, State of Tennessee, Certificate 21746, John Randolph Clarke, No. 62250, October, 1975.
11. Supreme Court of Tennessee, Jackson Division. John Randolph Clarke, Plaintiff-in-Error, #33338, August 26, 1965.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: RED ACE
1. “Red Ace Gasoline,” Nashville Tennessean, September 29, 1966, p. 63.
2. “Krystal,” Wikipedia, last modified March 1, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krystal_(restaurant) (accessed March 12, 2017).
3. “Father Ryan High School,” Wikipedia, last modified March 9, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Ryan_High_School (accessed March 12, 2017).
4. Jesse Henderson, interview with the author, March 3, 2000.
5. Jesse Henderson, interview with the author, March 16, 2000.
6. Jesse Henderson, interview with the author, March 23, 2000.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: LAWYERS
1. John Hollins Sr., interview with the author, May 6, 1998.
2. Ibid.
3. John Seigenthaler, foreword, in The Suspect: A Memoir, by John Hollins Sr. and Jeffrey Womack (Nashville, TN: Eveready Press, 2012).
4. Ibid.
5. Hollins Sr., interview with the author.
6. State of Tennessee v. John Randolph Clarke, September 21–25, 1964, Tennessee's 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County.
7. John Parish, “Prosecution Rests Case with Lab Report on Suit,” Jackson Sun, September 23, 1964, p. 1.
8. Hampton Sides, Hellhound on His Trail (New York: Anchor Books, 2011), p. 387.
9. Charles Galbreath, interview with the author, August 3, 1998.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. “Former Nashville Judge Charles Galbreath Dies at 88,” WSMV, Meredith Corporation, March 21, 2013, http://www.wsmv.com/story/21550330/former-nashville-judge-charles-galbreath-dies (accessed March 11, 2013).
13. Charles Galbreath, letter to the author, July 17, 1998.
14. Galbreath, interview with the author.
15. W. B. Hogan, interview with the author, June 11, 1998.
16. Mildred Carlton, interview with the author, August 19, 1998.
17. Deborah Carlton Glenn, interview with the author, August 19, 1998.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: AUTOPSY REPORT
1. Dr. Ed Tarpley, interview with the author, April 11, 2000.
2. W. A. “Mickey” McDaniel, interview with the author, May 20, 1998.
3. Dr. Al Harper, interview with the author, April 7, 2004.
4. Dr. Al Harper, interview with the author, October 19, 2005.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: GIRL NEXT DOOR
1. Becky Wexler, interview with the author, November 18, 2005.
2. Becky Wexler, interview with the author, November 19, 2005.
3. “Gregg Allman,” Wikipedia, last modified February 27, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Allman (accessed March 8, 2017).
4. “Allman Joys,” Wikipedia, last modified February 27, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Allman_Joys (accessed March 8, 2017).
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: VANDY KIDS
1. Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, http://www.dke.org/ (accessed March 11, 2017).
2. Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville, Tennessee, 2017, http://www.tba.org/.
3. Jerome Shepherd, interview wit
h the author, June 13, 2001.
CHAPTER NINETEEN: BRIDGE CLUB
1. Hattie Morrison, interview with the author, March 3, 2001.
2. Oakes Cemetery, Fair Oaks, Limestone County, Texas.
3. Amanda Franks, interview with the author, June 4, 2001.
4. “Wilmer Eugene Herring,” Nashville Tennessean, September 4, 1960, p. 43.
5. Amanda Franks, interview with the author, June 5, 2001.
6. Evelyn Johnson, interview with the author, June 10, 2001.
CHAPTER TWENTY: TRUE DETECTIVE
1. Kay Masterson, letter to author, July 24, 2000.
2. “True Detective Magazines,” Patterson Smith, Morristown, NJ, http://patterson-smith.com/mags.htm.
3. John Marr, “The Long and Quiet Death of True Detective Magazine,” Gizmodo, August 19, 2015, http://gizmodo.com/the-long-life-and-quiet-death-of-true-detective-magazin-1725094095.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: RETURN OF JIM SQUIRES
1. James D. Squires, Horse of a Different Color (New York: Public Affairs, 2004).
2. James D. Squires, interview with the author, August 17, 2002.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: GOT ANY VETERANS?
1. Jesse Henderson, interview with the author, May 5, 2000.
2. Charles Galbreath, interview with author, June 7, 2000.
3. “James Earl Ray,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Earl_Ray, last modified March 10, 2017 (accessed March 11, 2017).
4. Hampton Sides, Hellhound on His Trail (New York: Anchor Books, 2011), p. 294.
5. Jesse Henderson, interview with the author, July 12, 2000.
6. Gina DeVern, interview with the author, July 18, 2000.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: PRESCRIPTION FOR MURDER
1. Gina DeVern, interview with the author, August 9, 2000.
2. Gina DeVern, interview with the author, August 25, 2000.
3. “‘Lizzie Borden,” Wikipedia, last modified March 11, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzie_Borden (accessed March 12, 2017).
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: SINNERS
1. Jack Spence, interview with the author, February 1, 2001.
2. Ibid.
3. “Hartsville Nuclear Plant,” Wikipedia, last modified September 25, 2015, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartsville_Nuclear_Plant (accessed March 8, 2017).