In the weeks leading up to Sheffey’s trial, factions developed in the community. Newspapers presented wildly different characterizations of the suspect, depending on who their sources and audience were. The Maryville papers tried to maintain a neutral stance because the community was so divided. Out-of-town papers seemed to run with whatever headline would be mostContinue reading “Pre-trial Debates”
Category Archives: Local History
A Community in Chaos
The level of fear generated by the Night Marauder attacks cannot be underestimated. One example of just how rattled people were is the case against Mrs. Odie Leadford. (Sometimes Otis or Ollie, sometimes Ledford) She had two people boarding in the home she shared with her husband Maurice: Amos Dockery and his seven-year-old daughter. TheContinue reading “A Community in Chaos”
The Investigator
Victor Jonas Hultquist is known to some as “the father of Alcoa.” The mayor of Maryville, Sam Everett, had welcomed the Aluminum Company of America to build a new site in what was then called North Maryville in 1914. Just a year after that, Hultquist was transferred from the company’s New Kensington site to overseeContinue reading “The Investigator”
The Poes
Warning: this post includes details of a sexual assault. Clyde Poe was just 21 in December, 1924, and he and his wife Lora had been married a little over a year. He was listed as a laborer, a “hard working farmer,” in Alcoa. Clyde and Lora lived with their four month old baby boy nearContinue reading “The Poes”
A Trap is Set
This post is based on a chapter written by N. Locklin and was edited by Trey Hampton (MC ’24) In the months after he had received the anonymous letter, Sheriff John C. McCampbell did not stop looking for the Night Marauder. Two people who had seen the letter—the Sheriff’s sister-in-law and old Dr. Cusick fromContinue reading “A Trap is Set”
Luther and Ada Wells
This post is based on a piece written by N. Locklin, edited by Andy Kelly (MC ’23) and Sydnee Hansraj (MC ’23). At eighteen years old, the young couple had only been married eight months when the terrifying Night Marauder landed on their doorstep and changed their lives forever. On the night of December 10,Continue reading “Luther and Ada Wells”
A Ripple Across the Month
This post was written by contributor Rae Fox (MC’23). The post was edited by N. Locklin. The morning of November 7, 1921 was met with fear and sorrow. The newspapers of the following day announced four possible homes that had been invaded or attempted to be. All four homes were off of West View Ave.Continue reading “A Ripple Across the Month”
Rookie Mistake, or, Why It’s a Bad Idea to Surprise a Woman Holding a Hatchet
The Night Marauder project was recently honored by a visit from criminologist Lee Mellor, and he had so much to teach us about the killer. Dr. Mellor made reference to the frantic events in which the intruder ran from one unsuccessful attack to another within a neighborhood. Sometimes, the event wouldn’t end until the MarauderContinue reading “Rookie Mistake, or, Why It’s a Bad Idea to Surprise a Woman Holding a Hatchet”
The Purpose of Terror
Even if most of Knoxville was no longer interested in the Night Marauder, he did not need to terrorize the whole city to achieve his aims. He really only needed his victims to be terrified. His next attack, however, would revive the city’s attention while also traumatizing the only witness for the rest of herContinue reading “The Purpose of Terror”
The World Goes On
If there was tension in Knoxville after the Night Marauder attacks in May 1921, you couldn’t tell so from the Knoxville Sentinel. As in all good urban papers, every issue included a mix of international, national, and local news alongside advice and pop culture gossip. There was a good amount of farm-related news, acknowledging thatContinue reading “The World Goes On”
The Night Marauder Project 