Natchez,MS

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Okay you Natchez fans: How many -- if any -- are familiar with this story??? This book has been calling to me very loudly lately, and I have been meaning to ask around if anyone knows of this intrigue...

In 1932, the city of Natchez, Mississippi, reckoned with an unexpected influx of journalists and tourists as the lurid story of a local murder was splashed across headlines nationwide. Two eccentrics, Richard Dana and Octavia Dockery—known in the press as the "Wild Man" and the "Goat Woman"—enlisted an African American man named George Pearls to rob their reclusive neighbor, Jennie Merrill, at her estate. During the attempted robbery, Merrill was shot and killed. The crime drew national coverage when it came to light that Dana and Dockery, the alleged murderers, shared their huge, decaying antebellum mansion with their goats and other livestock, which prompted journalists to call the estate "Goat Castle." Pearls was killed by an Arkansas policeman in an unrelated incident before he could face trial. However, as was all too typical in the Jim Crow South, the white community demanded "justice," and an innocent black woman named Emily Burns was ultimately sent to prison for the murder of Merrill. Dana and Dockery not only avoided punishment but also lived to profit from the notoriety of the murder by opening their derelict home to tourists.

Strange, fascinating, and sobering, Goat Castle tells the story of this local feud, killing, investigation, and trial, showing how a true crime tale of fallen southern grandeur and murder obscured an all too familiar story of racial injustice.

https://www.amazon.com/Goat-Castle-Story-Murder-Gothic/dp/1469635038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520484896&sr=8-1&keywords=goat+castle+a+true+story+of+murder,+race,+and+the+gothic+south

For what it's worth, I've been familiar with this bizarre story for over thirty years, but I've never heard of any African Americans involved until recently. That is somewhat unusual, as this murder occurred during the peak of the Jim Crow Era. During that time, Blacks would have been the primary suspects from the start if they were at the murder site.

I'm not suggesting this book is wrong, only that I'm going to look into this again in a little more depth.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Should I start with Natchez Burning?

His novels can be somewhat confusing.
Some are stand alone, others are part of a trilogy.

It's been awhile since I've read Iles.
I let ya know tomorrow after I've reviewed the books again.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

@Bee, Karen L. Cox is Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the founding director of the graduate public history program. I recently heard her interviewed on PBS. She is also the author of Dixie's Daughters and Dreaming of Dixie. She won the Julia Cherry Spruill prize for Dixie's Daughters. This is awarded for the best book in southern women's history. Dr. Cox is considered an expert on the American South. I'm a fan! She has written some great op-eds.

https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/04/opinions/liberal-arts-degrees-not-useless-opinion-cox/index.html

 

[Bee]

Thank you @Eleanor Rose & @7th Mississippi Infantry the great information that you have both provided Bee-ing in and out of town, I often miss threads/conversations as if I have some sort of memory lapse I will have to do some catching up on Natchez and this great topic of the murder (I admit: the word "goat" got my attention -- I love goats)

Ellie, I found out about Professor Cox through Pat's book discussion on Dixie's Daughters. She is definitely no one trick pony: her expertise covers a wide range of topics!

 

[bdtex]

Here is a Civil War Traveler's Companion recommendation. Avoid Lake Charles,LA until further notice. Traffic is a mess. I am off of I-10 now and heading north. Should be in Natchez about 4:30. Heading straight to the National Cemetery. I am in crawfish farm country right now.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Keep us posted on your Natchez adventure @bdtex! I'm visiting with you in spirit! Consider Roux 61 for some alligator cheesecake (453 U.S Highway 61, south of town).

 

[bdtex]

Keep us posted on your Natchez adventure @bdtex! I'm visiting with you in spirit! Consider Roux 61 for some alligator cheesecake (453 U.S Highway 61, south of town).

I'll be looking for some good provisions tonight. Lunch was a truck stop corn dog.

 

[donna]

Have a great trip.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

How did furniture from Robert E Lee end up here?

 

[bdtex]

Current view from Starlings Rest:

 

[bdtex]

I would suggest you eat at King's Tavern (oldest building in Natchez, if I recall correctly), but I don't know if it is still there. It used to be fantastic years ago - great steaks.

I am there now and just ordered a steak. Walked here from Starlings.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

How did furniture from Robert E Lee end up here?

If I remember correctly, one of the families were good friends with the Lees.

Should I start with Natchez Burning?

I only found two of the books today, and couldn't remember the sequence.
But I did see that Iles lists them in order on his site:

http://www.gregiles.com/novels

 

[E_just_E]

Should I start with Natchez Burning?

No. Natchez burning is one of his latest. Start chronologically. Tons of character development for sure. Here is a list:

Spandau Phoenix (1993)
Black Cross (1995)
Mortal Fear (1997)
The Quiet Game (1999)
24 Hours (2000)
Dead Sleep (2001)
Sleep No More (2002)
The Footprints of God (2003) (also titled Dark Matter) I
Blood Memory (2005)
Turning Angel (2005)
True Evil (2006)
Third Degree (2007)
The Devil's Punchbowl (2009)
The Death Factory (2014)
Natchez Burning (2014)
The Bone Tree (2015)
Mississippi Blood (2017)

If you start with Natchez Burning, you will miss lots and lots and lots of background

He had a serious car accident and that's why that gap between 2009 and 2014

 

[bdtex]

As @alan polk suggested:

 

[E_just_E]

Is that some sort of a crawfish ettouffe quiche thing?

 

[Eleanor Rose]

If you start with Natchez Burning, you will miss lots and lots and lots of background

Wow! I've got of lots of reading to catch up on! Seriously,

As @alan polk suggested:

Did you go upstairs? Was Madeline home this evening?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Wow! I've got of lots of reading to catch up on! Seriously,

Not all of those are about Natchez.

Did you go upstairs? Was Madeline home this evening?

I was wondering if Madline made her presence known as well.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Is that some sort of a crawfish ettouffe quiche thing?

When Roux 61 first opened in Natchez in 2012, co-owner Jason Lees said he wanted to have a seafood cheesecake on the menu. He had tried the dish in restaurants around the country and thought one featuring local flavors would be a customer favorite. He was right. Roux 61's shrimp and alligator cheesecake is one of their top sellers both in Natchez and now at their new location in Baton Rouge.

This cheesecake is a combination of fresh Gulf shrimp, diced alligator link sausage, smoked Gouda, tri-colored bell peppers, eggs and cream cheese. It's baked in a panko breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese crust. They top it with Creole mustard cream sauce. We have enjoyed eating this at Roux 61 many times. It is awesome!

 

[alan polk]

As @alan polk suggested:

View attachment 179734

Cool!! Let us know how it is. Hopefully your steak was as good as it once was!!