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Over 500 interviews were conducted in the original murder investigation. The background interviews summarized are some of the most typical or relevant to the investigation. Saturday, April 12, 1958 Conducted by Jack McPhail: 1220 hours, Travis Gilley, bartender, Sid's Tavern, at Sid's. Home address 123 Stone Road, Oxford. Gilley helped to reconstruct the movements of those at Sid's Tavern following the layoffs on Friday. He confirmed the following time frames for the prime suspects in the case. He knows the Bowlan crowd very well, states that most arrived right around noon and the first big crowd left shortly after the fight between Jimmy Warren and Perch. He states the majority of the rest stayed until 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. before clearing out. Confirms that the loudest threats came from Jimmy Warren, Elbert Warren, Jessie Danahy, Howard Hadley and Ralph Quillens. Only Jimmy Warren actually took swings inside Sid's. arriving before 1200 hours: Elliott Perch, Jimmy Warren,
Howard Hadley, Ralph Quillens, Jack Peach, Ed Rebstock,
Frank Valenti Conducted by Deputy George Lamb: Background interviews with church members, friends of the Izards and the families. 0830 hours, Reverend Amos Champion, Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church, RR # 8, Box 15, Abbeville. Rev. Champion says that the Izard family was a good, solid, Baptist family. He had nothing but praise for Miz Izard and her work with the church, particularly with the Home Visitation Committee. He stated that she was an excellent mother and that the children were happy, well cared for and generally well behaved. He stated his firm belief that it was the "communist influence of the union that is behind" the murders and disappearance of the children. He states he was unaware of any problems between Mr. and Mrs. Izard, though he recalls very clearly how Jessie Danahy had to be bodily removed from the church premises at their wedding. He stated that it was the "Devil at work". He has not heard anything about Danahy recently and is not aware of any enemies of the family. 0945 hours, Mrs. Euple Sturgis, Primary Sunday School teacher Bethlehem Baptist Church, Box 91, Woodson Ridge Road. Miz Sturgis states that she has known Lisa Izard since she was born. She lives not far from the Graham family and has only good things to say about the Graham family and Lisa and Richard Izard. She states that both the Izard children were being brought up in the best tradition. She states that Lisa Izard and Miz Graham, Lisa's mother, "were terrified of those communists and there union preaching". She states that last Sunday, April 6, she overheard Lisa discussing her fears with her mother. She states that the Izards had no enemies and this has to be the work of outsiders related to the union. 1020 hours, Mrs. Mable Anderson, Chairwoman of Bethlehem Baptist Home Visitation Committee and laid off Bowlan Glove Factory worker, Box 56, Lee Creek Road, Abbeville. Miz Anderson states that Lisa Graham (note she never referred to her as Lisa Izard), was one of the kindest souls she knows. She states that Miz Izard would always go out of her way to bake or can extra for the Home Visitation Committee and often went along when it wasn't her turn. She stated that Miz Izard particularly looked out for the children and the elderly people on their list, checking with a sharp eye on their medical conditions. She states that she was "right in the front" at the layoff announcement and saw tears in Richard Izard's eyes when he announced the layoffs. She states that no one could think he wanted anyone to lose their jobs, and she is sure Richard Izard had no say in who was on the list. She says Bowlan would make those decisions. She stated that there are a few people at Bowlan that are "natural born no goods" that will "take any chance for trouble", but she stated that she couldn't believe that even that crowd would ever think of harming Richard Izard or his family. She discounted Jessie Danahy as a suspect stating that "oh, he's all hot air and he hasn't bothered them in years". 1500 hours, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Graham, Woodson Ridge Road, Oxford. Miz Graham provided several photos of the ring determined to be missing. Miz Graham stated that it had belonged to her mother and she rarely saw Lisa when she wasn't wearing it. She states that Lisa may have taken it off while she was doing the laundry, but that if she had, it would have been on the tray on the kitchen table which was her habit. Miz Graham states that there are likely some photos in the Izard family album showing Lisa wearing the ring. She states that Lisa wore it at her wedding. Sunday, April 13, 1958 Conducted by Detective Jack McPhail: Attended services at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church and talked with church members, many of whom were laid off from Bowlan Glove on Friday and who knew the Izard family. General feeling toward the Izard family was positive and the laid off workers attending services expressed shock that anyone would blame Richard Izard for the loss of their jobs. Monday, April 14, 1958 Conducted by Detective Jack McPhail: Pawn Shops in Oxford, Abbeville, Taylor, Sardis, Holly Springs, Batesville and Toccopola were contacted concerning the missing pearl and diamond ring. Flyers were distributed. No reports of the ring or the gems as of this date. Kit Kat Klub of Memphis Employees contacted by phone: Bartender, James McDougal was on duty Friday, April 11, 1958 until 4:00 a.m. He remembers Perch and states he recalls that Perch arrived there around 8:00 p.m. and took a liking to one of the dancers, Trina Vail. He states that Perch bought her drinks and they left together when her shift ended at 1:30 a.m. Trina Vail (stage name) aka Christina Marks states that she recalls Perch very well, that she and Perch went to the Tic Toc Club, an after hours club on the strip after her shift ended at the Kit Kat at 1:30 a.m. She states that they were at the Tic Toc until approx. 4:00 a.m. and then went to her apartment. She states that Perch left about 8:00 a.m. She has not spoken to him since. She states that he had a mild black eye which he stated was from a fight earlier in the day. She stated that she does not recall any other injuries and Perch did not mention the murders in Oxford. Tuesday, April 15, 1958 Conducted by Detective Jack McPhail: Beatrice Carmichael, 31 Chestnut Street, Oxford, at Jefferson Florist Shoppe. Confirms that she arrived at Sid's on Friday, April 11 between 1330 and 1340 hours, she states she learned there of the layoffs and was concerned about Howard Hadley when she heard he was one of those who lost their job. She states she went to his house arriving there at approx. 1400 hours and found him working in his garden. She stated that he had already been drinking very heavily and was in a "terrible mood". She stated she returned home at around 1630 hours to collect groceries and staples to make a good meal for Hadley and his little girl. She states the little girl was with the Otts, a neighbor family of Hadley on Hopewell Road, who took care of the child when her father was at work. Miz Carmichael stated she stopped at the Otts and picked up the Hadley girl returning to Hadley's house at about 1900 hours where she prepared supper for them. She stated that Hadley was in no condition to watch the little girl so she took her home with her and returned her to Hadley's house late on Sunday night. She states she occasionally watches the child for Hadley. She has had a serious relationship with Hadley since his wife died in 1955. She confirms that Hadley had been to the hospital on Sunday afternoon after falling while doing roofing work on the house on Saturday. Miz Carmichael was nervous about saying so, but she did disclose that she feared for the child's safety when Hadley was on a binge stating he can be a "very mean drunk". |
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