Russell County Coroner Arthur Sumbry Jr. identified the dead as John Arthur Burkus, 31, and . A pregnant Alabama woman and her boyfriend were shot dead last week by her ex-husband before he turned the gun on himself in a horrific murder-suicide, police said. 8,376,755. straighten the town out. Pettway and Gibson were known to one another only through an internet transaction. When the votes were counted, Elmer Reese had won re-election to his seat by better than a two to one margin. They headed to the Southern Manor night club and the drinks were on Hoyt. Phenix City is a city in Lee and Russell counties in the U.S. state of Alabama, and the county seat of Russell County. A friend of Alberts on the police force also warned Alberts son, John, that his father would need protection. The cornerstone of the Phenix City Machine was laid. Thank you all for your continued support of Historic Columbus! Thats rightinstead of Italian or Irish syndicates, let us introduce you to a bunch of good ol boys who got up to some very evil deeds. For Albert, it was all so easy. Compare Phenix City crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. A television screengrab shows the scene in Phenix City, Alabama, where four people, including an unborn child, died in a murder-suicide. When the jury convened, they came back with a verdict within four hours. As the movie starts, Albert Patterson is being urged to run for public office and battle the corrupt influence of Rhett Tanner (played by Edward Andrews), the gangster who controls Phenix Citys virtually lawless 14th Street. Elmer Reese continued in his position, as he was not up for an election that year. When I came up in the driveway, (Martins son) came up running to me saying, Uncle Bubba, Richards dead, my dad shot him in the head, he went in there and said my mom is gurgling, Jessicas uncle, Terry Moore, told the local outlet. Lamar Reid knew Si Garrett would not be too pleased with the results for his declared and open support of Lee Porter had been strenuous, but he was sure Si Garrett would be pleased to finally get the results. There was another whole field of exploitation that had been permitted to flourish but had not yet been organized, prostitution. A heated and lengthy trial went on for some time. Shadoian, Jack. Gambling rings. The film also was well-reviewed by film critics. Within Alabama, more than 92% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Phenix City. You have a 1 in 156.0 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in Phenix City each year. Patterson then joined Hugh Bentley and Hugh Britton in their effort to beat the rackets. By 1949, traffic in illegal liquor had also become such a bustling trade that not only liquor runners, but private citizens set on saving a dollar a bottle in bonded liquor, were hauling it over the bridge from Phenix City by the carload. The Phenix City Story is a crime film based on the assassination of Alabama politician and attorney Albert Patterson in June 1954 in Phenix City, Russell County. Sign up for the Crime Capsule newsletter today. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, All 4 Alabama Sweet 16 shooting victims identified, including aspiring musician, Sweet 16 DJ said partygoers told someone had a gun ahead of deadly Alabama shooting, Alabama football star headed to college on scholarship IDd among 4 dead in shooting at sisters Sweet 16 party, 4 killed, 28 injured in shooting at teens birthday party. In Phenix City, AL you have a 1 in 139 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. If you aren't already a member, we hope you will join us! When Hugh wouldnt bend to the bribe of becoming Mayor, Hoyt Shepherd did the unexpected he cashed in his chips and turned in $250,000 worth of gambling equipment and announced that he and his partner, Jimmie Matthews, were finished with gambling forever. These murders resulted in a delay riot that quickly garnered media attention across the country. With the help of a tracking dog and helicopter aerial support, investigators were quickly able to locate Jeffrey Martin. They were all laughing, drinking, and joking about running Hugh Bentley out of town when Hoyt spotted Fate Leebern across the room. ***Editor's Note: There was so much happening during this time and so many players. Pattersons persuasion and expertise had, he felt, made him a party to an obstruction of justice and he made up his mind, that he would never again represent the criminal element who so violated his own personal code of ethics. Like all of the gamblers in Phenix City, Hoyt feared neither God nor the Devil, only the IRS. for instance, Faith Serafins account of southeast Alabama, in her book Wicked Phenix City. Albert PattersonAlbert Patterson (1894-1954) was a prominent Alabama attorney and politician. The faith-based event is put on by Take the City, and this year, News Leader . Although the film doesnt allude to the then-brewing struggle for civil rights, the Pattersonss relationship with the Wards seems to imply that the Pattersons were allies of the local African American community. kidnappings, and murder in order to keep control of the town. It was as bitter and hard-fought a campaign as Phenix City had seen in a long time. Next week: There is triumph at the end of this journey and a brighter future for our neighbor and regional partner, Phenix City. He was saying I just want to see my son, then he did what he did in front of his son, Moore said. Before Las Vegas, there was Phenix City, Alabamathe original sin city. While Garrett was doing this, Albert Patterson in Montgomery made an astonishing tactical move. The police were also used as defense witnesses to corroborate the self-defense claim. All rights reserved. She notes in her Foreword that information came from in-depth interviews with the principals and investigators, witness sworn testimony, and recordings from wire-taps. was such big business, Tracy writes, local law enforcement in Mississippi often Medical teams also struggled to save the life of the baby Martin was carrying. Only Fuller would be convicted, however. According to police on Sept. 24, 2021, Jessica Martin,. I also want to encourage you to follow Historic Columbus on Facebook and Instagram for more posts on our community's history. Cliff Entrekins Fish Camp down by the river served dinner downstairs and sex upstairs, and Frank Gullatts Blue Bonnet Caf. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Phenix City may be as high as 1 in 114 in the east neighborhoods, or as low as 1 . Officers with the Phenix City Police Department responded to a call about a shooting at the residence Friday afternoon. The most famous murder in Alabama history is the 1988 Hawes murders, which took place in the city of Birmingham. A 1954 report by the US Armys Criminal Investigation Division stated that the small town had more per capita incidences of venereal disease and violence than any other city in America. On May 17, the Phenix City Police Department Criminal Investigations Division obtained information about the homicide which led to the arrest of 24-year-old DAntonio Gibson. Godwin, Revel, and Allred were arrested, but released because McVeigh and Walden deny knowing them or being hired. Importantly, we found that Phenix City has one of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the nation according to our analysis of FBI crime data. Lamar Reid knew Si Garrett would not be too pleased with the results for his declared and open support of Lee Porter had been strenuous, but he was sure Si Garrett would be pleased to finally get the results. Essential Cinema: On the Necessity of Film Canons. Two things then happen that set up Albert Pattersons run for Attorney General. They formed the Russell Betterment Association (RBA). According to the reports, Russel County Coroner Dr. Arthur Sumbry, Jr. confirmed that 35-year-old Jessica Martin, 40-year-old Richard Cook, and an infant child whose name was not released were fatally shot at a home located at the 3700 block of U.S. Highway 80 in Phenix City on Friday. In addition to all of the precinct workers, Hoyt Shepherd had gathered all of his friends around that night his brother, Grady, his partner, Jimmie Matthews, and his old mentor, Clyde Yarborough. It occurred to Albert Fuller (pictured to the right) that what these people needed was protection - and he was the man to provide it. The relatives said Cook armed himself with a baseball bat as he tried to fend off Martin. Once the sprawling capital of the Muscogee Indian Empire, the region took a sinister turn when a holy war engulfed the southern territories in 1812, leading to the murder of the infamous Chief William McIntosh. He, unfortunately, died soon after. The search engine finds the neighborhoods that are the optimum fit to the set of criteria you choose. The Magnolia State went dry over a decade before the nation, leaving bootleggers to establish political and financial holds they were unwilling to lose. The film invents instances of the fictional Tanner and his cronies engaging in a campaign of terror against the Pattersons and their supporters even before Albert Patterson is assassinated. They sell to Lamar Reid the idea that Patterson and his pack of crooks had stolen the election. For his defense, Hoyt hired every lawyer in town: Roy Smith, the city attorney also representing Grady, Jabe Braswell, William Belcher, Julius Hicks, Arch Ferrell, Jake Walker, and Albert Patterson. Terrified, Jeannette Mercer ran to the door, but it was too late she heard two shots fired and a body hit the floor. In 1947, Hoyt got his wish. The next day, he certified for Patterson 23,858 and for Porter 23,660. This was cause for celebration on the part of Hoyt Shepherd and the great job the precinct workers had done to make it happen. Feeling pressured, Lamar left the tabulation sheets with Si Garrett. Pettway could only give officers limited information about the incident before he passed away from his injuries. Separately, it is always interesting and important to compare a city's crime rate with those of similarly sized communities - a fair comparison as larger cities tend to have more crime. They had determined they only needed 600 votes instead of 700. Until statewide prohibition was finally repealed in 1966, illegal booze fueled a corrupt political machine that intimidated journalists who dared to speak against it and fixed juries that threatened its interests. Phenix City is the county seat of Russell County and is located in east Alabama along the west bank of the Chattahoochee River, which separates the city from Columbus, Georgia. The infant appears to have been Martin's unborn child. Phenix City was angered because Georgia police were trying to arrest people and therefore depriving them of their own property. cases murdered their political opponents in cold blood. Fuller would even cruise the county for girls. They would never be able to beat the Machine, at least not the way it was set up at that point. In 1948, another case would require Albert Pattersons help. Hoyt hands the 19-year-old hostess, Jeannette Mercer, a $20 bill to leave the high dice room. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 21. Thank you for your understanding! This is possible by associating the 9.4 million reported crimes in the U.S, including over 2 million geocoded point locations. Executive Director, 1440 Second Avenue The news of Albert Pattersons ambush slaying flashed like lightening across the Alabama. Fuller began providing racket protection to the gamblers. An attempt to save the unborn child was made, but the child also was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound, the department said in a press release concerning the incident. Select your ideal criteria and let Scout do the rest. The rate of violent crime in Phenix City is 4.91 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Bootlegging and rumrunning, rigged elections and assassinations. 12, 2023 at 7:41 PM PDT. Phenix City has a mayor-commission form of government, with each member serving for four years. She was seeking alimony and support for their two-year-old daughter. He then tells the floor manager, Otis Stewart, to leave as well. Albert Love Patterson (January 27, 1894 - June 18, 1954) was an American politician and attorney in Phenix City, Alabama. Dreams and Dead Ends: The American Gangster Film. Jessica was six weeks shy of having her baby. Later in 1950, no one, least of all Godwin Davis and the gambling community, expected a divorce trial to put in motion a tide of events that would challenge and nearly topple their carefully crafted gambling empire. In Gradys trial never happened because witnesses were still missing. Fate, his archrival from Columbus, was sitting at a table with a Columbus Beauty Queen. Lee Porter was also endorsed by Big Jim Folsom and the sitting Attorney General Silas Garrett III. On Tuesday, June 8th, the bureau chief of the Associated Press in Birmingham received a call to check the tally totals for Jefferson County. This, though, not the confirmed location of Edwards death. Brothels. Hoyt Shepherd had seen to that. Fate, his archrival from Columbus, was sitting at a table with a Columbus Beauty Queen. In his book Essential Cinema, Alabama-born film critic and historian Jonathan Rosenbaum called The Phenix City Story the best film ever made in his former home state. Patterson had been gunned down June 18, 1954, in the street outside his law office just days after winning the Democratic nomination for attorney general, for which he had campaigned on a platform of cleaning up the Souths most notorious town. The NeighborhoodScout search engine is covered under US Patents No. in cities like Gulfport and Biloxi, gambling and drinking dens sprang up like kudzu, right next to hotels and local harbors, The Black Hand and the Courage of Minnie Orsino, Meet Parker Anderson, Arizona Gangster Hunter. With a crime rate of 48 per one thousand residents, Phenix City has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. He put out an APB to get Crack to Phenix City before the shooting started. Serafin details one It was hard to capture and condense it all. First responders on the scene reported initially finding Cook deceased from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. According to the Russell County district attorney, there was a raid at the home a few days ago where the alleged. McCarty, John. Property Crimes - Burglary Larceny Auto Theft. Crime in Phenix City, Alabama (AL): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map All Cities Alabama, Alabama smaller cities, Alabama small towns Phenix City main page US Crime Crime rate in Phenix City, Alabama (AL) Even All the Kings Men, inspired by the assassination of Louisiana governor Huey Long, had been shot in California. A preliminary hearing has not been set yet. Of course, once the girls started to work, they had to pay their dues for protection to insure themselves against arrest for prostitution. Hugh was the youngest of seven boys. After shooting his ex-wife and her boyfriend, Phenix City Police said Martin then fled to a wooded area opposite the house and killed himself. And how did those Dixie mafiosi on the coast respond when statewide Prohibition ended in 1966? A pregnant Alabama woman and her boyfriend were shot dead last week by her ex-husband before he turned the gun on himself in a horrific murder-suicide, police said. This bombing bred a new kind of terror in Phenix City. Lamar saw it as a call to arms, an invitation to a heroic act. She was our glue honestly, and its tough, its tough, but its going to get better eventually. The IRS was the only organization in the world the gamblers feared. They are asking the community to come together to Thanks for contacting us. A special grand jury in Birmingham handed down 734 indictments against law enforcement officers, elected officials and business owners connected to organized crime in the city. The infant appears to have been Martins unborn child. Located on the western bank of the Chattahoochee River marking the Georgia state line, Phenix City had long been known as the red light district for both the much larger Columbus and the nearby Army base at Fort Benning. Take, He is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York Law School and previously worked in financial securities compliance and Civil Rights employment law. On May 13, at approximately 7:45 p.m., Phenix City officers responded to Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital in reference to a person suffering multiple gunshot wounds. He stood his ground, and when that man came in his house, Richard stood there with a baseball bat against a gun, and he died protecting his wife and unborn child, said Jessica Martins Uncle, Terry Moore. Raw data sources: PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL) - A family is left heartbroken after the brutal murder that took place on Hwy 80 near Misty Lane last Friday. The situation had become explosive and death threats against Albert Patterson increased. He claimed Martin had been stalking the family by camping out in the wooded area opposite the home in the days prior. It is a favorite of the celebrated American director Martin Scorsese, who featured it in his 1995 documentary A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese through American Movies. Sheriff Taylor says agents received. As Taylor stopped for a traffic light a block from the Russell County Courthouse, three shots rang out. Homer Cobb allowed gambling and gaming, but he came out strong against prostitution. Fuller was top gun. Lamar Reid felt his doubts being swept away with the arguments of the two men and returned to euphoria for being included in something important. This brings Deputy Albert Fuller into the picture. Officers found what his last location appears to be: Piggly Wiggly off of Stadium Drive. What? The county and city could be controlled, but the IRS could not. Mississippi? They sell to Lamar Reid the idea that Patterson and his pack of crooks had stolen the election. 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