Crime – Quitman County, Mississippi

1800

The 1880 Mortality Schedule shows Lee Taylor, a 22 year old, single, black male farm laborer died in May 1880. The cause of death was murder.

(Harve) Green {1855-1912) was sheriff of the county when Betzel was to be hanged, and it is said that the duty involved in this case affected him so much that he appointed Captain N. A. Smith (1842-1922), erstwhile resident, a deputy for a day, so he might “spring the trap.” Captain Smith had no feeling in the matter and performed the duty according to law.

Taken from WPA History

L. G. Newsom (1876-1967), who served as tax assessor for Quitman County, tells of the following incident which happened during his administration: The board of supervisors was sentenced to be jailed. The story went on that there arose a controversy in regard to the tax roll and receipts, and the board of supervisors refused to carry out instructions from the tax commission, Duncan Thompson, chairman, whereupon they were tried and sentenced to be “locked up.” They took an appeal to the Supreme Court, with the result that the sentence was affirmed. However, the period of service for this particular board ended just at this time and a new one came in, which saved the situation.

Taken from WPA History

Clint Henderson, ex-official, who served as sheriff of Quitman county, states that he had an eventful term of office, except that the celebrated Cofer trial was held then–1928-1932. Cofer, with several accomplices, was tried for murdering a man named Truitt, who was in the employ of the United States as a prohibition officer. Cofer, with his family, lived in Yalobusha County, but plied his trade, bootlegging, all over the surrounding territory. he discerned or was told, that Truitt was “after him,” so he stepped up on the porch of the man’s home at night, called him out and shot him. Counsel was selected from the leading law firms of the state, and a hard fight on both sides was made. The first trial, lasting only a week, was a mistrial; the second trial brought a verdict of conviction, but on being carried to Supreme Court, was reversed. Then came the tug of war, or legal battle lasting three weeks, and finally ended with Cofer spending his remaining days at Parchman.

Taken from WPA History

1957

Quitman County Democrat

1900

Andrew Watson, age 81, died between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday of multiple stab wounds. Mr. Watson, a collector for Lambert Water Association, was found by a woman who came to his house to pay her water bill. His wallet was missing. Quitman County Democrat, July 24, 1993

Anthony Carr, who was convicted of capital murder in 1990 for the deaths of Carl Parker, age 59; his wife, Bobbie Jo Parker, age 45; their son, Gregory Parker, age 12; and their daughter, Charlotte Jo, age 9, has filed an appeal with the State Supreme Court. Carr received the death penalty, which carries an automatic appeal in Mississippi.

Bibliography: Quitman County Democrat, July 24, 1993

Los-Angeles Times, Poor county forced to finance killer’s appeals, March 28, 1999

The Panolian, 7,000 days later, ‘justice’ coming to killer, May 24, 2011

Robert Simon, Jr. was given the death penalty for his part in the murder, rape, beating, robbery, and arson of the Parkers and their home. His execution was scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 24, 2011 at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Anthony Carr is also on Death Row.

road2justice, Reprieve from execution for Robert Simon, Jr., May 25, 2011

Robert Simon, Jr. was granted a stay of execution by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals just 4 hours before his execution was to take place. Simon suffered a brain injury in January 2011 and lacks the mental competency to be executed. Simon claims to have no memory of the crime.

The Clarion-Ledger, Judge: Death row inmate faking memory loss, June 9, 2015

WJTV, Sons: Mississippi needs to execute two for 1990 killings, August 23, 2016

2011

Anthony Terrell Windless was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the beating death of Charles Presley, the uncle of Anthony’s stepfather. Windless was in the home of Presley to commit robbery when Presley came home and interrupted him.

WAPT, Justices uphold conviction in 2011 Quitman County slaying, October 6, 2015