Having seen the movie in the UK and, spookily, read a short version of the book in a copy of 'Reader's Digest' a few weeks later, about the murder, I just HAD to find a full copy of the book. Although I tried for ages, I couldn't track one down. Luckily, I had a good friend in the USA, who I contacted and she managed to find one for me. It really does make an interesting read and I can thoroughly recommend it.... if you can get hold of a copy.
First I saw the movie, then I read the book. Although I'm from Oklahoma, my family on both sides originally came from that part of the country and it deeply fascinates me. A really interesting true crime story.
Lamar Potts had ties to bootlegging in his own County. Many believe he was simply eliminating the competition. Wallace originally hid the body in an abandoned well. After visiting local soothsayer Mayhayley Lancaster, known as the "oracle of the ages", who told him that the body would be discovered, he and his two sharecroppers pulled out the badly decomposing body and burned it. A "deep throat" witness dropped a tip to Lamar Potts. This was the first case in Georgia history in which a white man was executed based upon the testimony of a black man (the two sharecroppers whom had helped dispose of the body).
southern2716 don't disrespect Potts because Wallace was a piece of crap murderer! Potts served 32 years in Coweta county and not one felony case was unsolved. Wallace scared people into doing bs and he let people off for crimes as long as they done what he ordered
@@kristoferkey3161 I know for sure that Sheriff Potts protected civil rights activists during a time when they faced harm in most of south. Good or bad, he was the local Gary Copper.
@@kristheobserver no, I am only 60 and barely remember him. However, my mother was very active in voter registration drives across the state in the early 1960s. In many counties she and others were threatened by local deputies. In coweta county they were allowed to camp overnight ay the couny fairgrounds with sheriff deputies protecting them, as told to me by my mother, they felt safe.
Lol@taking the 'John' off Wallace rd. I thought he was hit with the gun, in front of the fruit stand, across the street from the Moreland store.. John, thought he was going to get away with it, but they electrocuted him! lol 😂 I wonder if his remaining family is ashamed of their family history now..
@Angie. No our family is NOT ashamed. still to this day we dont like thieves considering we WORK for what we have. why dont you ask if turner's family is ashamed of having thieves in their family?
Audrey Strickland Whether Turner stole the cows or not, he didn’t deserve to be brutally murdered by a corrupt, arrogant man like Wallace and his body disposed of in such a way. He stole because he was desperate and to provide for his wife and child. Wallace killed because he could, and he loved the power he had over people.
Grace Roberts you dont know shit about my family outside of the lying movie and books they made. turner needed a place to stay and a job. wallace was nice enough to help him with both. he stole moonshine and sold it. Wallace fired him and told him to get off the property. Turner AGAIN snuck back and stole a cow. how many times is some one allowed to steal from some one. Turner was a thief. he got exactly what he deserved.
Audrey Strickland In that case, Wallace got what he deserved as well then. Although I do not agree with the death penalty, at that time of day and in that state it was obviously mandatory for murder. You do the crime, you pay the price.
John Wallace ego and arrogance led to his downfall. I’m sure Wallace tried to bribe Sheriff Potts and intimidate him but Potts didn’t budge. The 8 witnesses in Coweta I’m sure Wallace tried to bribe or intimidate them also but they testified against him in court. Wallace ruled by paying people off and through intimidation with his henchmen. Wallace’s money nor his bullying ways couldn’t keep him from riding the lightning.
A pretty good movie was made about this with Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith.
Yes,it is ONE of my favorite Johnny Cash performances.
Having seen the movie in the UK and, spookily, read a short version of the book in a copy of 'Reader's Digest' a few weeks later, about the murder, I just HAD to find a full copy of the book. Although I tried for ages, I couldn't track one down.
Luckily, I had a good friend in the USA, who I contacted and she managed to find one for me. It really does make an interesting read and I can thoroughly recommend it.... if you can get hold of a copy.
First I saw the movie, then I read the book. Although I'm from Oklahoma, my family on both sides originally came from that part of the country and it deeply fascinates me. A really interesting true crime story.
I'm also from Oklahoma, and my family came from Georgia. What part did your family come from in Georgia?
I saw the 1983 movie. Didn't like seeing Andy Griffith playing a bad guy but he portrayed the real life character very well.
Lamar Potts had ties to bootlegging in his own County. Many believe he was simply eliminating the competition. Wallace originally hid the body in an abandoned well. After visiting local soothsayer Mayhayley Lancaster, known as the "oracle of the ages", who told him that the body would be discovered, he and his two sharecroppers pulled out the badly decomposing body and burned it. A "deep throat" witness dropped a tip to Lamar Potts. This was the first case in Georgia history in which a white man was executed based upon the testimony of a black man (the two sharecroppers whom had helped dispose of the body).
southern2716 don't disrespect Potts because Wallace was a piece of crap murderer! Potts served 32 years in Coweta county and not one felony case was unsolved. Wallace scared people into doing bs and he let people off for crimes as long as they done what he ordered
Do you have any academic source about this claim about Potts. I have studied this case for quiet awhile and nothing indicates that.
@@kristoferkey3161 I know for sure that Sheriff Potts protected civil rights activists during a time when they faced harm in most of south. Good or bad, he was the local Gary Copper.
@@powell4661 by any chance did you witness this? Thanks
@@kristheobserver no, I am only 60 and barely remember him. However, my mother was very active in voter registration drives across the state in the early 1960s. In many counties she and others were threatened by local deputies. In coweta county they were allowed to camp overnight ay the couny fairgrounds with sheriff deputies protecting them, as told to me by my mother, they felt safe.
I just loved this movie
well over on bing they have this 1983 TV Movie Murder in Coweta County,
I love this move....
Lol@taking the 'John' off Wallace rd. I thought he was hit with the gun, in front of the fruit stand, across the street from the Moreland store.. John, thought he was going to get away with it, but they electrocuted him! lol 😂 I wonder if his remaining family is ashamed of their family history now..
actually NO we are not ashamed. i wonder if turner's family is ashamed of having fucking thieves in their family?
Audrey Strickland LoL @tainted Strickland name..
is this NPR bullshit?
@Angie. No our family is NOT ashamed. still to this day we dont like thieves considering we WORK for what we have. why dont you ask if turner's family is ashamed of having thieves in their family?
Audrey Strickland Whether Turner stole the cows or not, he didn’t deserve to be brutally murdered by a corrupt, arrogant man like Wallace and his body disposed of in such a way. He stole because he was desperate and to provide for his wife and child. Wallace killed because he could, and he loved the power he had over people.
Grace Roberts you dont know shit about my family outside of the lying movie and books they made. turner needed a place to stay and a job. wallace was nice enough to help him with both. he stole moonshine and sold it. Wallace fired him and told him to get off the property. Turner AGAIN snuck back and stole a cow. how many times is some one allowed to steal from some one. Turner was a thief. he got exactly what he deserved.
Audrey Strickland In that case, Wallace got what he deserved as well then. Although I do not agree with the death penalty, at that time of day and in that state it was obviously mandatory for murder. You do the crime, you pay the price.
Audrey Strickland are people allowed to visit the home. I enjoyed the movie.
John Wallace ego and arrogance led to his downfall. I’m sure Wallace tried to bribe Sheriff Potts and intimidate him but Potts didn’t budge. The 8 witnesses in Coweta I’m sure Wallace tried to bribe or intimidate them also but they testified against him in court. Wallace ruled by paying people off and through intimidation with his henchmen. Wallace’s money nor his bullying ways couldn’t keep him from riding the lightning.
ja
Mayhaley Lancaster is my ancestor and was a good person