#7 in the Janie Sharp Series - The Aftermath

Janie Sharp had been murdered while walking home along a wooded country lane on a hot August afternoon in 1910 near the backwoods community of Rural Hill, Mississippi. Suspicions fell immediately upon a young man, Swinton Permenter, not yet eighteen himself. A two year ordeal ensued that included a trial and conviction, a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the conviction, suspicions cast upon others, the murders of two men and a second trial that was a sensation across Mississippi and the whole country.

When the Mississippi dust settled, no one was brought to justice for Janie’s murder or those of Ben Walker, an investigator of the crime, or Walter Permenter, the brother of the suspect. To this day, no one can say who committed these crimes and anyone who may have had firsthand knowledge of the events of the day are long gone.

The Sharp’s were convinced of Swinton’s guilt and apparently made no further attempts to find any other suspects. The lack of closure in the case fueled debate, hard feelings and suspicion not only in Rural Hill but in much of Winston County. Almost everyone was a relation or a friend to one or both families. Speculations and accusations continued for many years after the crime and in some forms still exist today.

Up until the 1970’s, students in local schools were forbidden to write about the murder for fear of opening old wounds. I was recently contacted by one individual who stated that the only thing he had ever seen his grandparents argue over was the guilt or innocence of Swinton Permenter. Emotions ran high for many years and rumors of death threats surfaced often when someone began asking too many questions.

As a result, speculation turned to rumor, rumor intermingled with truth and the story became more sensational over the years. Soon, Janie became the subject of legend; a ghost story to tell around a campfire on a cool October evening or a cautionary tale for willful young girls. It seemed that each year the story became more gruesome, bloody and fantastic - and visiting Janie’s grave is now a favorite rite of passage for local high school kids on Halloween night; kids who know nothing about the real events of Janie’s death and the drama that followed.

The people of Rural Hill and Winston County went back to their farms and businesses and continued their lives. But what happened to the principal characters in this story?

The Permenter Family apparently stayed in Mississippi although at some point, they sold their property in Rural Hill. Records show that Swinton’s parents, Edward and Anna are buried in the Hopewell Baptist Cemetery in Choctaw County, Ms. Edward died in 1932 and Anna passed away in 1942. Swinton’s brothers and sisters stayed in Mississippi as well and at least one stayed in the immediate area.

Cyrus Ray (Janie’s Uncle) and his family stayed in the Rural Hill area and most of the family is buried in the church cemetery.

Edward Permenter was killed in 1912 in Eupora. His murder was never solved. He is buried at the Masonic Cemetery in Louisville, Ms. He left a widow (Madie or Maudie) and three children. She soon left Rural Hill and moved to Kemper county and then Philadelphia, Ms. where she raised her children. She died in 1969 and is buried next to her husband.

Hewlet or Hulet Ray, one of the two men accused by Ben Walker of the crime moved to Oklahoma sometime before WW1 where he registered for the draft. He and his wife raised five children and he lived to a ripe old age in Oklahoma and is buried there. Little is known about Thomas McElroy (also accused by Ben Walker) after the trial and it is assumed that he returned to his home in Texas.

Ben Walker was killed in 1912 in the home of Elbert Vowell in Winston County. His killer was never captured or identified. Nothing is known about his past and his body was never claimed by family members, He is buried in the Smallwood or Wood Cemetery in that area.

Earl Ray, the fiancé of Janie Sharp, married in 1914 and continued to live in Mississippi and the general area. He raised several children and passed away in Choctaw County in the 1960’s.

The Will Sharp family stayed in Rural Hill for a short while after the trial, but in 1913, they sold their property and most of the immediate family packed their belongings and moved to Bryan, Oklahoma. Much of the family still live in that area today. Janie’s Father, Will, passed away in 1919 and her Mother passed just one year later. They are buried in Calera, Oklahoma. The Sharp home in Rural Hill burned to the ground in 1921.

Swinton Permenter’s whereabouts immediately after the trial are not known. It is doubtful, that he ever returned to the Rural Hill area for any length of time. Much of the following information here is not verifiable but was accumulated from various sources. It is believed that he lived for a period of time in Okolona, Ms. He entered military service during WW1. Some have indicated that he initially enlisted under the false name, Jesse Jackson. If so, this was corrected as later military records indicate his real name. There is also some evidence that he lived and worked in the oil fields in Texas and Oklahoma for a period of time but he is listed in the 1930 census as a resident of Bolivar, County, Ms. and residing in the household of his younger sister. At sometime after 1930, he apparently married a woman from North Carolina. There is little information about the marriage and no indication of children. In his later years, Swinton apparently endured health problems and may have suffered paralysis in his legs and possibly his hands. As a result, he spent his last years in a V.A. home in Johnson City, Tennessee as this was listed as his last address. Swinton Permenter died on August 16, 1946 and is buried at the Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Janie Sharp lost her life on July 21, 1910. She is buried not at Rural Hill but in the Center Ridge Methodist Church Cemetery located several miles east of Rural Hill. This cemetery was probably chosen because her sister, an infant was previously buried here.

Our last article has more info and photos of interest. It will be published on Thursday. 

W McCully

Winston Co Sheriff's Dept Searching for Possible Suspects

Jimasrick "Mott" Dixon

Winston County Sheriff Investigators are asking for the public's help in tracking down two men for questioning. The pair is believed to have possibly been involved in several burglaries across the county.

Jimasrick Dixon, aka "Mott", age 28 and Jamel Dixon, age 24, are wanted for questioning. They are cousins and both are from the Winston County area. Jimasrick Dixon was last seen on Friday in the City of Louisville in the Gage Street area.

The Sheriff's Dept. has indicated that there has been a rash of burglaries in various areas of the county. Items most taken from homes include weapons, televisions, men's and women's jewelry, cameras and camcorders.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these two men is asked to contact the Winston County Sheriff's Department at (662) 773-5881.

Local Pilots Attend Las Vegas Convention

Mary Blanset, Babs Fulton,Gail Massey, DeLaine Woodruff and Tara Woodward, members of the Pilot Club of Louisville, joined hundreds of Pilot members from five countries who convened in Las Vegas July 18-22 for the PIlot Annual Convention and Leadership Conference held at Bally's Hotel. Presiding officer for the event was 2011-2012 Pilot International President, Beverly Wilkes of Noxapater, MS. She is succeeded by Winnie Brewer of Titusville, FL, who was installed as 2012-2013 PI President on the last day of the conference. This year local pilot Gail Massey also served as Convention Chairperson.

Those attending the event participated in leadership training seminars, informative workshops, and fund raising events for the Pilot International Foundation. Special guest speakers and workshop leaders included author and leadership expert, Lisa Earle McLeod; Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association founder, Ann Boriskie; autism support group founder, Barbie Lauver; Project Lifesaver founder, Gene Saunders; Daytona State College Assoc. V.P. for Institutional Effectiveness, Dr. Nancy Morgan; Pilot scholar Meghan Francis; V.P. of Education of Freedoms Foundation, Valley Forge, PA, Jason Raia.

Now in its 91st year, Pilot International is a volunteer service organization with more than 400 Pilot Clubs in five countries. Pilot's service focus is brain disorders/diseases, and each year, Pilot Clubs conduct programs and projects that assist those in their community who are affected by illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), schizophrenia, depression and similar.

submitted by Tara Woodward

Seated is Gail Massey, Convention Chairperson,
Beverly Wilkes, 2011-2012 Pilot International President.
Standing is Pilot Club of Louisville President DeLaine Woodruff,
Babs Fulton, Mary Blanset, and Tara Woodward.

Stuff You Need to Know This Weekend

The big event of the summer is here as the Neshoba County Fair has kicked off. The midway opens at 4 pm today (Friday) and the entertainment for both Friday and Saturday nights is the Harper, Morgan, Smith PRCA Rodeo starting at 7 pm each night. Find out more by clicking here.  *** The Back to School/Stay in School Rally at Dean Park is on Saturday from 5 pm to 7 pm. *** The Heart O Dixie Triathlon is set for 6:30 am with a start at Lake Tiak O'Khata and ending at the Neshoba County Fairgrounds. For more info, click here. *** Don't forget that ECCC is gearing up for a Pharmacy Tech class and a Hazwoper class for workers who may be involved in the Creosote Plant cleanup. Get more details on our local events page. ***Schools start back soon and that means football. We'll have local teams' schedules out next week. Have a great weekend!!!

#6 in the Janie Sharp Series - The Final Verdict

This is the 6th in a series of 8 articles published by WWN on the 1910 murder of Janie Sharp in rural Winston County. If you have missed any of the previous articles, here are the links on our pages:

article #1                      article #2                  article #3
article #4                      article #5


This two year drama began on a county road near Rural Hill, Mississippi in 1910 with the brutal murder of an attractive young woman ready to start her adult life. It was about to culminate in a packed, sweltering courtroom in the small town of Winona; a courtroom where the fate of another young person was to be decided – freedom or death at the end of a noose. Through these two years, a whole county was divided. Feelings ran high and even families were torn between their support of the victim’s family and the belief in the innocence of a young man named Swinton Permenter.

The Sharp family never wavered in their belief in Swinton’s guilt. The Permenter family likewise rallied to their youngest son, resolute in their certainty of his innocence. These two years also saw the blatant murders of two men; murders that were almost certainly tied to the case- and murders in which no one was ever brought to justice. The killers of Ben Walker and Walter Permenter were never found, no one was ever indicted for either of these crimes and these tragic murders simply faded into history.

Both sides had presented their cases, evidence was produced, rebuttals made and lengthy summations presented. It was now all in the hands of a jury of twelve men. It was late afternoon before deliberations began and at 8:00 pm, the jury retired for the night without a verdict. The crowd, the press and the defendant would have to wait for morning. By 8:30 am the next day, the jury was ready to deliver their decision to a packed courtroom. They filed into the jury box and the judge asked if they had reached a verdict. The jury foreman replied, “Yes sir, we have.” The verdict was passed to the clerk as dead silence fell upon the crowded courtroom.

“We the jury, find the defendant NOT GUILTY.”

There was no outburst in the courtroom, no gasp of despair or relief, only a low, almost inaudible murmur. The defendant sat speechless as the judge thanked the jury, the attorneys and the local community. The foreman stood and thanked the sheriff and the court for the courtesy and kindness shown to the jury throughout the trial.

As the court was adjourned, the Permenter family rose and rushed to the jury to shake hands and thank them. Swinton’s Father spoke, “ Thank God, My poor boy is free! He never killed that girl.”.
In an action that would be considered unusual today, Swinton was shortly able to address the jury as they assembled one last time in the jury room. In the presence of his family, he was able to thank the twelve men for their kindness and his acquittal.

The Sharp family’s actions were decidedly different. Janie’s Father was quoted, “It’s a crying shame that such a result could have been reached. Nobody in the world but Permenter killed my daughter and if they were to bring in another man charged with the crime, I’d say nobody but Swinton Permenter murdered her.” Lee Sharp, Jannie's brother, warned about the danger of turning such a heartless brute loose in any community.

Regardless, Swinton Permenter was a free man. Due to the emotion of the Sharp family and friends, Swinton was guarded throughout that day until he left Winona that evening. His
destination was closely guarded; all that was disclosed – "headed to some point not known. "

The Sharp’s and Permenter’s returned to their homes in Rural Hill that evening by train. Some evidence suggests that both families took the same train. The Sharps were met at the McCool depot by a large crowd who expressed their sympathy due to the outcome of the case.

One of the most sensational trials in Mississippi history was over yet there was no resolution to Janie Sharp’s murder; no justice, no punishment, no sense of closure for her family or for the communities of Rural Hill, Louisville and Winston County. The trial may have been over, but the story was not.

W. McCully

Incoming College Students Warned of Freshman 15!

MISSISSIPPI STATE – College freshmen who have prepared themselves for new experiences are often not ready for the so-called freshman 15, the dreaded weight gain associated with starting college.

Brent Fountain, associate Extension professor in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion at Mississippi State University, said weight gain is likely during the first few months of college life.

“Habits change for many of our students, whether it is dietary or physical activity. For most freshmen, it is the first time in their life when they are truly independent,” Fountain said. “Not everyone will gain 15 pounds. Some will gain just a few pounds or even lose weight, while others may gain 30 or more.”

Michael Davis, a 2008 MSU graduate, gained about 30 pounds during his first year at MSU.

 “Healthy options were available, but unhealthy options were more plentiful and appetizing,” Davis said.

Portion control was difficult as a freshman, Davis said. “My dorm room was stocked with only a microwave and mini fridge, so naturally I kept soup, macaroni and cheese and chips in my room. My roommate had raw cookie dough by the foot and without an oven, we would eat it straight from the fridge.”

Other pitfalls included large pepperoni pizzas at midnight.

“My roommate and I would each get one, and we would demolish them before we went to bed,” Davis said.

As tempting as it is to eat anything at any time, Fountain said students should keep track of what they eat to help keep off those unwanted pounds.

“When you eat away from home, there is more temptation,” Fountain said. “You may choose to eat out more, which can lead to an intake of increased calories. Many students are also making other unhealthy choices, such as eating foods high in added fat and sugar or consuming alcohol that they previously did not consume.

“Combine these factors with lower levels of physical activity, and you have the perfect formula for unintended weight gain,” he said.

Fountain suggested eating complex carbohydrates, especially fruits and vegetables which are typically high in nutrients and low in calories.

“Instead of having French fries for a side, occasionally choose a side salad or a fruit cup,” he said. “Avoid high-fat meats; however, if you really want an occasional hamburger, choose a regular-sized burger and leave off the mayonnaise and cheese, or choose water or a diet drink over the sweet tea or soda. Sweetened beverages are loaded with extra calories in the form of sugar.”

Fountain also suggested students keep snacks such as nuts and fruits on hand instead of chips or crackers.

“Anything that can help you feel fuller longer will keep you from eating when you don’t really need to. The problem with chips and crackers is that we often consume too many in one serving and then feel hungry again a short time later,” he said.

Fountain added that carrying a bottle of water is another smart idea.

“Drinking water throughout the day helps you feel fuller longer. It keeps your body cells properly hydrated, which means you feel less hungry throughout the day,” Fountain said.

Smart phone apps or websites such as http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/ or http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ can help track food intake.

“One day off will not cause weight gain. But over time, little by little, the weight creeps up on you,” Fountain said. “Look for ways to stay active to help avoid weight gain. Go to the gym, take your dog for a walk, or walk around campus. Find out what you like to do and be more active.”

Laura Walling, director of Recreational Sports Administration at MSU, said recreational sports offers a wide variety of opportunities for students to stay active and healthy. MSU’s Sanderson Center offers group exercises, such as aerobics, yoga, Zumba and spinning, and more than 120 pieces of weight and cardiovascular training equipment.

“Whether a student just wants help getting started on a regular routine or requires someone to hold him or her accountable, we have a program that will fit the need,” Walling said.

A swimming pool is available for lap swimming and water aerobics, and there is a wide variety of club sports, ranging from ballroom dancing to lacrosse. More than 30 different intramural sports are offered each semester, including flag football, softball, table tennis and racquetball.

“With all the options that are available through recreational sports, there is no reason not to stay active and involved, and by doing so, avoid that dreaded freshman 15,” Walling said.


By Bekah Sparks
MSU Extension Center for Technology Outreach

Goodin Named Lion of the Year

Lois Goodin was selected "Lion of the Year" by the Louisville Lions Club recently. Lois has been a long time and active member of the organization and has been instrumental in many fundraising activities of the club.

Lois Goodin Receives "Lion of the Year"
from Club President Val Tabor

City of Louisville Fire Department Receives $2,500 Plum Creek Foundation Grant

Press Release -  The City of Louisville Fire Department was awarded a $2,500 grant from the Plum Creek Foundation to assist in purchasing additional safety equipment for their eight volunteer fire departments in Louisville and Winston County that provide fire emergency response in surrounding rural areas.

“With this grant our department will have the appropriate personal protective equipment to meet the challenges presented when we respond to Wildland Interface incidents (also known as brush or grass fires),” said Fire Chief Terry Johnson of the City of Louisville Fire Department.  “The generosity of the Plum Creek Foundation shows how much the Plum Creek Corporation cares about protecting our communities and the limited natural resources we have.  Having the appropriate equipment is essential in our operations to extinguish fires and save property effectively while protecting our firefighters. ”

With the grant funds, the City of Louisville Fire Department will replace worn out or broken fire coats, fire helmets, goggles, chain saws and other equipment to better safeguard their firefighters. The fire department operates within Plum Creek lands and protects public and private property from natural and man-made fire incidents.

“These brave firefighters volunteer their time to prevent the spread of wildfires that can decimate whole communities and ecosystems,” said Scottie Williamson Senior Resource Forester for Plum Creek. “We are proud to play an important role in ensuring that the City of Louisville Fire Department is able to do its job safely and effectively.”

The Plum Creek Foundation supports non-profit organizations that improve the overall quality of life in the communities where Plum Creek operates.  The Foundation board meets quarterly to review submitted grant applications.  Visit www.plumcreek.com/communityinvolvement to download an application and learn more about the foundation grant program in addition to other ways that Plum Creek is serving its communities.

For more information about City of Louisville Fire Department, visit http://www.cityoflouisvillems.com./

Janie Sharp Series Brings Back Haunting Memories for a Former Winston Co. Native

After reading some of our Janie Sharp articles, a former Winston County native, Richard Woodall was reminded of an eerie experience of his youth in the Noxapater area and wanted to share with our readers:

I am a 70 year old gentleman that has been living in Alabama for the past 60 years, but with connections to Winston County. As a young boy 7-9 years of age (maybe a little younger) our family was traveling to a family function some time in the late forties or early fifties. It had to be some type of holiday, as I remember several relatives being at my grandfather’s and uncle’s house that night. I wish I could remember the season but it was a clear night. I remember that the windows on the car were up. My father was driving the car and my mother was in the passenger side. As we turned from Noxapater (probably on Hwy 395) toward Mars Hill Cemetery to my grandfather’s house that was several miles past the cemetery, houses were very sparse along the old winding dirt road at that time. Somewhere out approximately 5 or more miles from the cemetery (again no houses) a light appeared far, far, away in the distance on the left rear side of the car. But as we road the high hills and winding road the light looked as if it was gaining on us. I remember my father saying it was a one-eyed pulpwood truck and my mother stating it might be a porch light. However, for some reason it got our attention after a few minutes again gaining on us quite rapidly. It popped up on the driver’s side about 6 or 10 feet out from the car. As I remember it looked like a grey fog or white sheet in size with no defined shape, just dull white or grey. I remember my father speeding the car up, slowing down, turning lights off and stopping the car but the light (or whatever) just stayed there, a dull glow. My mother started shouting “what is it” and I just remember looking out the side window of the old Ford, but never being scared. It followed us for a few miles and as we approached a house the light went behind the house and then again appeared along side of the car and followed us. Then before we came upon the cemetery it disappeared. It zipped from 3 or 5 feet in diameter to zero and out of sight.
As we arrived at my grandfather’s house there were several relatives there and some of the men grabbed shotguns and took off in the direction that we has just came from.. However, when they returned they stated that they did not see anything. This doesn’t haunt me, but I sure would like to understand God’s or nature’s phenomenon of what happened that night and if anyone else had ever witnessed such a thing.
I don’t question people when they say they have seen something unusual as I know what I saw but others may have other ideas. I believe this sighting was more than just swamp gas and as a child the only other stories I ever heard about a light in that community was that a light would sometimes follow a road grader home that lived in the area. I heard that he got killed about 2 weeks later after we saw the light.

Richard Woodall

Statewide Sales Tax Holiday Coming Up This Weekend

Mississippi's statewide sales tax holiday starts on Friday, July 27 and ends at midnight on Saturday, July 28. According to the Mississippi Sales Tax Holiday passed in the 2009 Legislative Session, sales tax is not due on the sale of articles of clothing or footwear if the sales price of a single item is less than $100.00. The legislation was passed to ease the financial burden for families with children returning to school.

The tax savings applies only to articles of clothing and footwear and there are a number of restrictions. For example, layaways are only included if paid for during the tax free period. Sales of eligible items that were placed or ordered by mail, telephone, or the internet are not subject to sales tax if the purchaser orders and pays for the items during the Sales Tax Holiday and the items are less than the $100.00 threshold.

Also, accessories such as jewelry, backpacks and purses are not included as tax free. To get full information on the Tax Free Holiday, download the attached pdf from the Ms. Department of Revenue by clicking here.




W. McCully

Friends of Dean Park Announce Fish Fry and Dance

Dr. Mel-O-Mix Master aka
Melvin Davis, DJ of Richmond, CA

The Friends of Dean Park, Inc. (FODP) announces its Friday Night Fish Fry and Dance to be held on Friday, August 3, 2012, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. at Dean Park (formerly known as Center Ridge Park), 3850 HWY  15 South, Louisville, MS.   The dance will have the famous Dr. Mel-O-Mix Master of Richmond, CA aka, as Melvin Davis as DJ.  He will entertain with blues, jazz, rock, slides, rap, hip hop and country from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. If you want to learn the slides, he will teach you.

Each year the FODP set a goal for the year with this year’s goal being to build a unisex bathroom at the pavilion for the convenience of senior visitors as well as for those who are physically challenged.  Since the park continues to be renovated, it is attracting many seniors for various functions, i.e., meetings, workshops, family reunions, school and class reunions, church reunions, revivals, gospel concerts, poetry slams and  talents shows. According to one member, “FODP spearheaded the campaign for a new playground for the children now we must accommodate our seniors who enjoy the park. It is too far for them to get to the bathroom facility down the hill from the pavilion. The Friday Night Fish Fry and Dance is planned in hopes of raising funds as we have fun for our new project.” 

In announcing this project several months ago, FODP informed the public that our county is not in a position to take on the project at this time because of the decrease in taxes being collected due to our high unemployment and the fact that some businesses have closed. President Elmetra Patterson stated, “FODP’s mission is to help raise funds to help with these type projects.  Our community has responded well by making donations in the past.  We hope to receive the same response this year.  We hope to see you at the Fish Fry and Dance. If you can't attend, please mail a donation to Friends of Dean Park, Inc. Special Project, P. O. Box 365, Louisville, MS 39339." A donation of $10.00 is requested for the Fish Fry Dinner and Dance.

 Contact Information: Mattie Davis, (510) 851-3557, Annie Pearl Hudson, (662) 773-6189, Elmetra Patterson, (510) 672-2106 or (662) 779-0169

submitted

#5 in the Janie Sharp Series - The 2nd Trial of Swinton Permenter

The Second Trial
This is the 5th in a series of articles about the 1910 murder of Janie Sharp in Winston County, Ms. Due to the length of the actual trial, this article is somewhat longer than the previous four.

It had been more than 2 years since Janie Sharp's murder and it had been months since Investigator Ben Walker had died in a hail of buckshot. Now just three days before the start of the second trial of Swinton Permenter for Janie's death, Walter Permenter, Swinton's brother, had also been killed by an unknown assailant. A delay was inevitable but it would be a short one. On August 12th, 1912 - just one week after the original trial date, a crowd packed into a courtroom in Winona, Ms. for one of the most celebrated legal battles in Mississippi history. It was August and the heat was stifling but people came from all over the state to see the proceedings. The courtroom even contained a few women which was unusual at the time. Law enforcement was out in force and everyone entering the courtroom was searched.

The jury selection took the better part of two days and jurors were selected from a pool of 100. Both the prosecution and the defense were represented by a large team of attorneys including former judges and a former congressman. Before it was over, the prosecution would present 25 witnesses and the defense would bring 20 to the stand including the defendant during the twelve day trial.
The prosecution's case was not significantly different than the one it presented during the first trial in Louisville contending that Swinton Permenter encountered Janie on the Commodore Road, forced her into the woods where he attacked and brutally murdered her. The defense's strategy was to cast doubt upon some of the evidence and testimony presented and to provide alternatives to Swinton as the killer.

The trial started with Janie's Mother as the first witness for the prosecution. Much of her testimony surrounded the identification of the handkerchief in question. She testified that the handkerchief was a gift from Janie's Grandmother. After close visual inspection, she identified the handkerchief found in Permenter's possession as the one that belonged to Janie indicating a slight tear and some particular stitching. This handkerchief was key to the whole trial. If the jury believed that it belonged to Janie, it would leave little doubt of Permenter’s guilt. Mrs. Sharp also testified that there had been no bad feelings between her family & the Permenters and that there was no “courting relationship” between Janie & Swinton.

Several witnesses testified concerning Janie’s presence at the general store in Rural Hill the day of the murder. There was basic agreement as to the time she left (3:00pm) and the items in her possession at that time.

The next day’s testimony started in a similar manner. Claud Massey testified that he met Janie on the Commodore Road in that general time frame. He denied meeting anyone else on the road and he specifically denied seeing Hewlet Ray and Tom McElroy (the two men accused by Detective Ben Walker) when questioned by the defense.

Lee Sharp was the next major witness to testify .His testimony and cross examination took more than five hours. In great detail, he described the search for his sister, and Permenter’s behavior during this time including carrying a pistol in his pocket, his discouragement of others in searching the very area where Janie’s body was later found, and his percieved attempt to lead them in another direction. He then told of finding his sister’s body about a quarter of a mile from the Permenter home in a branch, partially submerged. He noticed that her throat was cut half way around and that she had a bruise on her head that he believed was done by the butt of a pistol. He told of later returning to the area and noticing signs of a scuffle in several places and tracks that appeared to be that of a man and a woman, all roughly within a hundred yards of where Janie’s body was found. He later described the clothes worn by Swinton Permenter during the search (suit of blue serge) and his arrest later that morning.

Lee Sharp’s testimony led to another key point in the trial. After Permenter came under suspicion, the shoes he was wearing after he changed clothes were compared to some of the tracks near the crime scene. It was determined at that time that the shoe matched the tracks. In the trial these were called “low quarter shoes” and were identified by Lee Sharp as the ones worn by Permenter on the night of the search. The defense then produced another set of shoes that were referred to as “high quarter shoes”. The defense claimed that these were the shoes worn by Permenter until he changed clothes the next morning when he replaced them with the low quarter shoes. To bolster their claim the defense called former sheriff A.P. Hull and his deputy W.R. Hull. Both identified the high quarter shoes as those found with Permenter’s clothes and that they were wet when they took possession of them. When compared to a witch-hazel stick used to measure the track at the time of murder, the shoes did not correspond to the measure. This cast significant doubt on the validity of any track & shoe evidence that might have been used in the first trial.

The state presented an array of witnesses concerning the night of the search and Permenter's behavior and location. These included Hewlett Ray and Tom McElroy who also denied any involvement in the murder. Several witnesses testified to statements made by Swinton concerning his desire for Janie and his dislike of her Father because he refused to allow him to court Janie.
Also included was testimony by J.T. Hanna whose bloodhound trailed to the Permenter home and ultimately to Swinton. More witnesses spoke of Swinton's remarks that the dogs would surely track him because of his presence in the woods while searching for Janie.

Terrell Hall's testimony was read into the record as he was not present at the trial. His evidence was that he was with Swinton when he went home to change clothes and wash. He indicated that the clothes were later found in a side room of the home and included a barlow knife, tobacco and two handkerchiefs - one of which was a woman's.

After a parade of witnesses the prosecution rested its case. The defense used this as an opportunity to make a motion for dismissal. This was, of course, denied and the defense began to present its case.
****
Most of the defense's first witnesses concerned the time frame of the murder and their testimony seemed to indicate that Swinton would have had little time to commit the act. Those who had been swimming earlier in the day with Permenter indicated that they left together at about 2:35 pm. Alonzo Burchfield testified that he was with Swinton at about 3:20 when they stopped to draw water at the Permenter house before returning to the fields to plow. He indicated that he last saw Permenter headed to the field at about 3:30. Permenter's sister testified that she saw Swinton at about 3:45. If these times were accurate, it would have been highly unlikely that Swinton Permenter would have had sufficient time to commit the murder.

The prosecution presented some rebuttal witnesses that called the defense's time line into question but there was no definitive resolution of the issue.

The defense then moved to the question of the handkerchief. It was never denied that a lady's handkerchief was in Swinton's possession, but there was an explanation. Swinton's sister, Nellie, testified that on the 4th of July previous to the murder, at a picnic at Indian Springs, several young people including Janie Sharp were sitting in various buggies. She remembered Janie and a young man named Fletcher Whitney (or Whitmire) were sitting in her brother Walter's (now deceased) buggy. She testified that at some time later, Walter handed her a handkerchief that he had picked up in his buggy after the picnic and told her to tell Swinton to find its owner. It was the defense's claim that Swinton never did so and that was why it was still in his possession. At this point,the defense counsel produced another handkerchief. Nellie compared the two and indicated that they were identical. Both handkerchiefs were handed to the jury for comparison. It was apparent that the defense wanted to contradict previous testimony that the handkerchief found in Permenter's possession was unique and identifiable as Janie's.

The next witness was J.L. Wilson who testified that as Janie's body was being prepared for burial at her home, he saw next to the corpse, not only her parasol and her bundles from the store but also a lady's handkerchief. He indicated that one of the women present identified it as Janie's and the same one that she had change tied up in at the store that day. When questioned by the prosecution, Wilson indicated that several others had heard the remark but could not specifically identify anyone else who could corroborate it. The prosecution made a point of identifying Wilson as a farmer who rented land from the Permenter family.

The defense next addressed the rumor of an eyewitness to the crime. Rumors had circulated that Swinton's cousin, Effie Permenter who had since married Henry Ray, had actually seen Swinton murder Janie as she was washing clothes near her home. Rumors also persisted that Lee Sharp had offered Effie's husband $100 if she would come forward. Effie testified in the case and denied any knowledge of the murder. Lee Sharp was also recalled and he denied making the offer but he did believe that Effie knew all about the murder.

Several more witnesses were presented by the defense concerning times that Swinton was seen throughout that afternoon. Now it was time for the defendant to testify. Swinton Permenter took the stand on the morning of August 20th. He indicated that he had known Janie Sharp all his life, had kept company with her several times but other girls as well. He testified that on the day of the murder, he plowed until 11:30 am, went to the Heinze Post Office to give the Postmaster money to order four quarts of sherry wine. He then went to the swimming hole with several companions. The distance from there to the Sharp residence was 3.5 miles. He claimed to have left the swimming hole with his companions at 2:36 and parted company with Lon Burchfield at around 3:20 to 3:30 where he went directly to the field and resumed his plowing. He indicated that he changed plow horses with his Father during that time and that he finished plowing at sundown. When he reached home, the phone rang and the news of Janie’s disappearance was reported. Swinton denied certain statements attributed to him about his desires for Janie, and he denied trying to mislead the search party. He also denied that the bloodhound used that night specifically scented him. He said that after Janie’s body was found, he went home to change because his clothes were wet from a light rain during the night. He explained that the woman’s handkerchief in his pocket was the one found by his brother Walter on July the Fourth and that he had simply stuck the handkerchief in his coat pocket and forgotten about it. The prosecution set the crowd abuzz when Swinton was asked if he had ever been fined or indicted for assaulting a little girl. Swinton denied both and said that he had never been convicted in a justice or circuit court. The prosecution apparently did not follow up on this question.

The defense presented several other witnesses, including Swinton’s parents who corroborated his testimony. J.P. McAllilley a former justice of the peace, had observed the location of Janie’s body at that time and noted that there was very little blood at the spot and that there was no evidence of a struggle, creating the idea that Janie’s body may have been moved from where she was actually killed.

The defense rested their case and the state presented several rebuttal witnesses. These witnesses disputed the time line presented by several defense witnesses and some hearsay evidence of rumors and conversations about the veracity of certain witnesses, conflicts of the timeline presented by the defense and statements made by Permenter were presented. After several back and forth rebuttal witnesses, the case went to closing arguments.

On August 22, arguments for the defense and prosecution were scheduled to begin. The already large crowd continued to swell. The gallery was reserved for women only and it was packed. People had come from all over the state including many attorneys who came specifically to hear the closing arguments. Extra deputies were stationed around the courtroom adding to the already tight security. The defendant’s family sat on one side of the courtroom while the Sharp’s sat on the other. That morning brought much legal wrangling over the instructions to the jury and it was afternoon before closing arguments began. Seven different attorneys addressed the jury and these closing arguments took as much as ten hours continuing into the next day. It was 3:30 in the afternoon before the jury actually got the case. At 8 o’clock that evening they retired for the night without a verdict. The fate of Swinton Permenter would be decided the next day on August 24, more than two years after Janie Sharp’s murder.

W. McCully

Rep. Harper to Present Congressional Gold Medal to Tuskegee Airman

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (R–Miss.) will honor Johnny C. Whitfield of Monticello with the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony Friday, July 27, 2012. The 2:00 p.m. event will be held at the Lawrence County Courthouse and is open to the public.

“During a time when our nation was divided by racial segregation, these brave pilots overcame enormous prejudice and discrimination to defend our independence,” said Harper. “Their perseverance taught Americans that skin color does not impede an airmen’s ability to fight for freedom, and their determination led to the integration of our military.”

The Tuskegee Airmen were the Armed Forces’ first African-American aviators and inspired revolutionary reforms in the United States’ military. A 2006 law designated the Tuskegee Airmen as recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal for their acts of heroism during World War II. The original gold medal remains on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

press release

First Year Success for LMSD Uniform Swap Program

In an effort to ease the financial burden and the difficulty of simply finding school uniforms for students in the Louisville Municipal School District, the NAACP and community volunteers put the first local uniform swap program together this week. More than fifty families and donors participated by gathering clothes that students may have outgrown and exchanging them with others on Friday. The exchange will continue on Saturday morning if needed.

Volunteer Shelley Thomas indicated that participants included families from Nanih Waiya and Noxapater as well as Louisville. Participants were issued vouchers equivalent to the number of clothing items they provided at an earlier date. Volunteer Janice Hopkins stated that in spite of problems with the school's call system during the first day of collections, participation was excellent. At 2:00 pm on Friday (start time of the exchange) as many as 20 families were waiting in line to search for clothing items.

W. McCully

Louisville Rotary Learns of College Savings Plans

In their July 18 meeting, the Louisville Rotary Club  hosted Ashley Comstock, an official with the Ms State Treasurer's Office. Comstock presented a program about the state's sponsored College Tuition Programs, MPACT and MACS. These 529 programs allow parents and grandparents to either establish a prepaid tuition plan for their children or establish a college savings plan.

MPACT allows the user to lock in current tuition rates which can be a significant cost savings particularly if parents begin the plan at an early age. To find out more about these plans, visit www.CollegeSavingsMississippi.com

W. McCully

Louisville's Sip N Shop a Hit with Shoppers

Johnny Wooten presents winnings
to Kristin Knox

Downtown Louisville was the place to be on Thursday, July 19th for the Sip N Shop Promotion. Participating merchants had store items for 19% off or more and also sold chances for a basket filled with $1000 of gift certificates from different businesses in town. The drawing was held at 7:30 in front of Winston Furniture, where Market Cafe owner Johnny Wooten pulled the winning ticket. Congratulations to Kristin Knox for winning the basket full of gift certificates. 

Cibo To Go Draws a Crowd

 A fun time was had by all merchants and customers alike. Folks especially enjoyed the free pizza from our newest business in town "CIBO To Go" The only downside was the cancellation of The Deacon Jones Band performance, who were going to be playing on Main Street from 7:00 pm until 10:00. The performance was cancelled due to the possibility of rain.                                                                      

Shoppers taking advantage of Sip N Shop Promotion



Article # 4 in the Janie Sharp Series - Between the Trials

To view the three previous articles in this series, click the following links:

ARTICLE ONE

ARTICLE TWO

ARTICLE THREE

This is the 4th in the series of articles in the Janie Sharp series. To this point, after Janie's murder, the young man Swinton Permenter was accused, tried and convicted of the crime. The State Supreme Court threw out the verdict and a new trial was scheduled but it would be more than a year from his release before the final trial began. In that year, events seemed to spiral out of control.
Between the Trials

Little is known about Ben Walker. His qualifications as an investigator, exactly where he came from and how he became involved in the Janie Sharp affair are unclear, but his short role in the case was mysterious, confounding and tragic.

Some records (Commercial Appeal) indicate that Ben Walker testified in the first Permenter trial. If accurate, in his testimony he claimed to be from Cleveland, Ms. and was "instructed" by the Governor to make inquiries into the crime. The newspaper story indicated that Walker's testimony was inconsequential and that he left a poor impression upon the court.

Most accounts indicate that Walker was actually hired by the Permenter family. He possibly misrepresented himself under oath about his official status or he was later hired by the family in a non-official capacity.

In November, 1911, a little over a year after the first trial, Detective Ben Walker created a stir in the community when he returned from Greenville, Texas with Thomas McElroy and his family. Walker "arrested" McElroy for the murder of Janie Sharp.

McElroy was a previous resident of Rural Hill and strangely enough, a son-in-law to Cyrus Ray ( the uncle and neighbor of Janie & her fiancee). He and his family had moved to Texas in September ,1910 after Janie's murder. No suspicion had been cast upon McElroy prior to this time and his arrest by Walker was met with a great deal of skepticism.

A preliminary hearing was quickly scheduled and then delayed for a few days as a second suspect, Hulett Ray, was arrested upon an affidavit of Elbert Vowell ( a relative of the Permenters). When the hearing took place in late November, the County Attorney, J. B. Gully quickly asked that all charges be dropped and stated that there was no evidence that these two men were involved in Janie Sharp's murder. McElroy & Ray were released and almost immediately, Ben Walker was arrested and charged with attempting to bribe witnesses. Walker claimed that his witnesses were intimidated and afraid to testify. As a result of the bribery charges, his already questionable reputation was further damaged and it certainly increased animosity toward him and his actions. No records indicate if these bribery charges were pursued or later dropped.

Walker remained in the area and it was assumed that he continued to work on the case, although he may have pursued other activities as well. While in the area, he stayed in the home of Elbert Vowell. (who had filed the affidavit against Hulett Ray). On the evening of March 21, , Walker was reading by lamplight in the Vowell home when a shotgun blast shattered the nearby window. Walker was struck in the head by buck shot and fell dead immediately. Vowell quickly grabbed a weapon and exchanged fire with two men leaving the house on horseback. No one else was wounded and no suspects were ever named in the death of Detective Ben Walker. He was buried in the Wood (Smallwood) Cemetery.
***
The second trial of Swinton Permenter was scheduled for early August,1912. The publicity and the threats that permeated the first trial led to a change of venue to Winona, Ms. about 45 miles northwest of Louisville. As the defense prepared their case, Swinton Permenter's brother Walter had become highly involved and some said that he had information gathered by Ben Walker that was material to the defense.

On Friday, August 2, 1912, Walter Permenter joined his brother Swinton at the home of Eugene Shewmake (possibly Shumaker) in the town of Eupora. Shewmake was apparently a brother-in-law to the Permenters. The brothers intended to leave Eupora on the next day and arrive at Winona where the trial was to begin on the following Monday.

Around nine o'clock, Swinton retired for the night. A short while later, Walter took a bucket outside to the back porch for some water. As he was drawing the water, he was struck by a shotgun blast. He was hit in the head, neck and chest, fell off the porch and quickly expired. Shewmake doused all the lights in the home fearing more shots from the assailant. Neighbors quickly appeared and rushed to the scene. The only witness was a young man who saw a single individual running across a vacant lot away from the Shewmake house just moments after the shot was fired.

The next day, bloodhounds were brought to the scene and soon picked up a trail that led southward around a cotton house at the local gin and further south into the Big Black Swamp. The dogs eventually lost the trail in the hills south of town. The next day, a young boy stumbled upon a shotgun hidden in the cotton house; a shotgun with one spent shell and several others loaded with buckshot.

Edward Walter Permenter had not lived to see his 31st birthday. He left a wife and three children. His remains were returned to Winston County and he was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Louisville. No one was ever charged in his death. Some speculated that in the darkness,Walter was mistaken for Swinton while others claimed that Walter was actually the target because of information he might disclose at the upcoming trial.

It had been more than two years since Janie Sharp's murder. Now, there were two more unsolved murders of people associated with the case.

W. McCully

Mayor's Youth Council Provide Community Service

Mayor's Youth Council, a set on Flickr.

The Mayor's Youth Council is conducting a mini-retreat for members on Thursday and Friday (July19-20). The day will begin with community service at two nursing homes. Council members can be seen here assisting residents and staff with bingo at the Louisville Care Center. Youth Council members will then participate in a lunch-n-learn at Lake Tiak O'Khata. The Lunch-n-learn will be provided by the City Administrator of Horn Lake, MS, (Andrea Freeze) who is also the statewide committee chair for the MS Youth Council. In addition, she will be bringing several of her youth to share ideas with our council as they prepare for future growth.

Thursday afternoon will be spent hosting a fun filled field day for the Boys and Girls Club. Tomorrow will be a recreational day at Lake Tiak O'Khata for all the council.

Students across all of Winston County from ages 13-17 are eligible to participate in the Mayor's Youth Council. Contact Louisville City Hall for more information.

LMSD Tackles Election of Officers, Drug Policy, School Lunch Prices

The Louisville Municipal School District's Board met on Tuesday evening and covered multiple items including the election of new officers: Single nominations were made for each position and all votes were unanimous: Bobby Moody - Board Chairman, Betty Byrd - Vice Chairman and Cathy Edwards - Secretary.

The 2012-2013 budget was approved and a slight reduction in millage was possible. Board Chairman Moody commended Superintendent Wade and his staff for their efforts in controlling costs. The previous mil levy for the school was 53.75 mils. The new levy will be 51.54 mils. If a property's valuation remains the same as last year, the school tax on the property will actually reduce slightly. Other taxing authorities apply mil levies as well so the overall effect is yet to be determined.
The Board also approved the personnel and the alternate school handbook without any changes from the previous year, responded by letter to NAACP concerns raised previously, approved two student transfer request and took a third under advisement. All transfers involved the Noxapater and Nanih Waiya schools.

The Board approved the continued drug testing program already in place with the same policies as the previous year. The policy requires random testing, retests on a monthly basis for those who test positive and includes all students who participate in extracurricular activities. Assistant Superintendent McMullan indicated that no females had tested positive in any previous random tests.

Superintendent Wade informed the Board that the Department of Agriculture policy of school lunch reimbursement will unfortunately cause an increase in school lunch prices in the upcoming school year. Lunches will go from $2.00 to $2.25 and adult lunches will increase from $3.25 to $3.50. Board members and administration wanted the public to know that this increase is not coming from the school district but from the federal government. Failure to increase prices could eventually lead to loss of federal reimbursement.

The Board also approved the food service policy for the upcoming year, met with Forestry Commission personnel on programs for timber management on 16th section lands and cancelled and/or advertised several 16th section leases.

The Board's attorney indicated that in reference to 16th section leases, their office could find no incidents of school boards not following the advise of the Secretary of State concerning lease terms and advertisement. There is some local concerns over three remaining residential/agricultural leases and their renewal procedures.

The Board entered into executive session to discuss personnel matters, a specific student transfer issue and the approved substitute teacher list.

The next board meeting is scheduled for August 14th at 5:30 pm.

LHS Introduces New Baseball Coach

Bruce Lee, Rotary President welcomes
new coach to Louisville

 Louisville High School Assistant Superintendent Ken McMullan introduced  the school's new head baseball coach to the Louisville Rotary Club on Wednesday (July 18). Hayden Cox comes to the Wildcats from Petal High School where he served as an assistant coach for eight years. During his time at Petal High, the school won six division championships, five south state championships and two state championships.


Cox started his career after playing collegiate ball at Faulkner State Junior College in Alabama and William Carey College in Hattiesburg. He served four years as an assistant coach at William Carey, one year at East Central Community College and eight years at Vancleave High School, (six years as head coach). During his time at Vancleave, teams reached the state playoffs for seven of the eight years.

Cox received a warm welcome from Rotary members and is currently in the process of moving to Louisville.
W. McCully

Asst Superintendent McMullan and New
Head Baseball Coach Hayden Cox

Louisville Board of Aldermen Meet on Tuesday

The Louisville Board of Aldermen convened on Tuesday in a regularly schdeuled meeting. The following is the agenda with decisions:

A.  Proclamation for Karen Davis-Proclamation read, will be presented to Karen Davis at a later date as she could not attend meeting.

B. Rita Tanksley from County Extension Office gave a presentation to the Board on the Childhood development program, Excel By 5.

C. Acknowledged 2010-2011 audit completion and give public notice of availability of the audit-  

D. Made payment to Watkins, Ward, and Stafford LLP for $19,500.00 for annual audit-   

E.  Held a hearing on Unclean property located at 332 Miller Avenue owned by Lula B. Ashford-The property has been cleaned and removed from the list.

F. Held a hearing on Unclean property located at 104 Thompson owned by SKL-Have done some clean-up on property and board gave deadline of August 21 for rest of clean-up.    

G. Adopted a Resolution attaching lien to unclean property located at 114 Eiland Avenue for $3,076.14 (Paid to Baker’s), property owned by Lillie Griggs.
H. Accepted quotes for Church Street Sidewalk project, to be paid by Small Municipalities Grant.   
 I.Approved a request for Budgetary training for Wanda Hudson at BBI in Flowood $150.00 registration and travel expenses on August 21.
J.  Approved a request for Police Training for Gerald Hayes to attend the Mississippi Command College at University of Mississippi on July 29-August 3, $325 registration fee plus evening meals and lodging.
K.  Approved a request for Homeland Security training for Vernon Eichelberger and Keith Alexander to attend FFO  in Pearl on July 30-31, no cost to city.
L.  Approved a request for Homeland Security detail for Vernon Eichelberger and Keith Alexander to attend in Tunica on August 8-12, no cost to city.
M. Approved a request for Police Training for Patrick Estes, Chris Robinson, Ed Hunt, and Karl Black to attend the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERT) for Basic Active Shooter Level I on July 18-19, in Starkville, no cost for training.
N. Approved a request for Fire Training for Chief Terry Johnson to attend the Mississippi State Fire Academy for the NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector Course to maintain qualification as Fire Inspector (10 year expiration), July 30 – August 9, cost $975, 006-161-676 (Code Training) –see enclosed.
O. Approved a request for Fire Training for Engineers Michael Moorehead and Sam Pennell to attend the Meridian Fire Training Center for NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor 1, August 6-14, $984.00 total for both men.
P.  Approved a request for Fire Training for Chief Terry Johnson and Captain Mike Towne to attend the National Fire Academy Course “Managing Change”, August 22-23, no cost for training.
Q. Approved a request for Fire Training for Chief Terry Johnson, Captain Mike Towne, Captain Brian Collier to attend the Mississippi State Fire Academy for Electric Vehicle Extrication Course Train the Trainer, August 28, no cost for training.
R. Confirmed the hiring of Deterron “Ty” Hardin effective July 10 at $9.50 in the Recreation Department.
S.  Received notice of Historic Preservation Board three year appointment for August 1, 2012-2015, Mrs. Frances Edwards term ends August 1.
T.  Discuss budget- Will discuss at next board meeting after Board has time to review.

The Board's next meeting is scheduled for August 6th.

Winston County Supervisors Have Short Session on Monday

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Winston County Board of Supervisors on Monday was dominated by typical business items ranging from homestead exemption re-instatements to approving invoices and payments. The highlights follow:

• Received an invitation to participate in the Excel by 5 Program  from Winston County Partners for Community Living members, Rosie Harris and Larry Veazey. Excel by 5 is an early childhood development program that is community based. Board members agreed to participate and attend the next meeting if possible.
• Accepted petitions for Election Commissioner Candidates including Shawn Butts - dist1, Dell Gillett - dist2, Dean Miller- dist3, Mattie Cooper - dist4, and Mary Reed - dist5. There are only single candidates for each district and the position will be on the November ballot.
• Opened bids on a backhoe for District 4 and a dump truck for District 1. There was one bid for the backhoe and three for the dump truck however one was disqualified because it failed to meet the bid specs.. The Board took the bids under review.
• Heard from County Prosecutor Kiley Kirk and a request for financial assistance for secretarial pay when working on county business. The Board took no action pending final budget submissions.
• Approved the resignation of two employees at the WCCRCF and approved the hiring of an additional employee.
• EMA Director Buddy King brought some clarification concerning the 911 setup in the county after some concern was expressed in the previous meeting about use of first responders and the interlocal agreement with the city. King indicated that issues had been clarified and that further issues could be resolved by having a more active 911 advisory board. King recommended that the advisory board meet monthly for the forseeable future, starting next Monday, July 23. The 911 Advisory Board is set by statute and includes the; sheriff, police chief, EMA director, fire chief, hospital administrator, post masters and the president of the fire association.

The Board remained in session to meet with Golden Triangle Planning and Development in the afternoon. The Board's next meeting is August 6.

# 3 in the Janie Sharp Series - The First Trial

This is the third in a series of articles about the murder of Janie Sharp in rural Winston County in 1910. For more details about the series, see the previous articles on WWN. This article concerns the first trial of the only person indicted in her death.

The First Trial

Charges were brought against Swinton Permenter for the brutal murder of Janie Sharp. The two other individuals brought in for questioning were released and the authorities believed they had their man. A significant amount of circumstantial evidence existed:

A handkerchief believed to be the victim's in Permenter's possession.

A reasonable match of shoe size to some of the tracks found near the murder area.

His proximity to the area and time of the crime.

The bloodhound's tracking of Permenter to his family's home.

His strange and, at least to some, misleading behavior during the search for Janie.

There were rumors also. Some claimed that Swinton Permenter made some remarks indicating his desire for Janie's affection and that he had made some vague threats against Janie's Father, possibly because he prevented Permenter from pursuing Janie.

This circumstantial evidence against this young man was significant - If it was accurate.

Contrary to modern day criminal trials, things advanced quickly. The trial was set in Louisville in early October, 1910. The case was heard before Judge McLean with prosecutors,Lamb, Gully and Jones and defense attorneys, Rodgers, Brantley, and Hopkins.

The Winston County Journal made much of Swinton Permenter's calm and composure throughout the trial and speculated that this worked against him in the minds of the jury. After ten days of testimony, cross examinations and lawyers' summations, the jury had the case. It didn't take long. They returned within minutes with a guilty verdict and indications were that they reached agreement on the first ballot.

Based upon the crime, the sentencing was without question. Before passing sentence, Judge McLean asked Permenter if he had anything to say. His only answer: "I AM NOT GUILTY." Swinton Permenter was sentenced to hang on November 25, 1910, only four months after the crime was committed.
A motion for a new trail was made but denied and an appeal was immediately started for the State Supreme Court. In the meantime, Permenter was carried to the penitentiary in Jackson for safekeeping. With an appeal before the Court, his execution was on hold and he seemed to make friends among jailers and prisoners alike while in custody. News reports from the Jackson Daily News showed that many who came in contact with him, soon believed in his innocence. Witnesses indicated that Swinton believed two other individuals actually committed the crime and that they were involved in the case against him - possibly as witnesses.

On April 24, 1911, The Supreme Court of Mississippi "reversed and remanded" the verdict against Swinton Permenter. According to newspaper reports, the Court reversed the ruling and even indicated that it had doubts about his guilt. The grounds for reversal was based upon an instruction given to the jury concerning the use and validity of circumstantial evidence.

Considering the time he had already spent in jail and the Court's ruling, Permenter would be eligible for bail. In May, 1911, Swinton Permenter was released from prison on a $10,000 bond. Reports were that he returned home at least temporarily to the Rural Hill area.

His case would go back to Winston County for a retrial, but a change of venue due to all the publicity was granted and the next trial would be held in the City of Winona and was scheduled for October 1911. It would actually be more than a year before the final trial of Swinton Permenter. The October 1911 trial was indefintely continued due to non-appearance of several witnesses including Swinton's sister who was ill at the time.

The events between the October continuance and the final trial only added to the tragedy and mystery surrounding the whole case. Two additional unsolved murders, a possible alternative suspect and bribery charges created doubts, distrust and served to widen the breach between those convinced of Permenter's guilt and those who supported him.

William McCully

ECCC Workforce Development Offers OSHA ‘HAZWOPER’ Refresher Course

OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher Course, annual training required to maintain HAZWOPER certification, is being offered at the East Central Community College Career Advancement Center located in the old Spartus facility at 923 South Church Street in Louisville. This eight hour course provides training in remediation and clean-up of an uncontrolled hazardous waste site.  In addition, emphasis is placed on site safety and health plans, response protocol, confined space entry, emergency planning, decontamination, trenching, and excavation. The course is being taught by Ben Rosenkrans, experienced HAZMAT instructor and is required for persons working the American Creosote Site.  Pre-registration with payment and 100% completion of the course is required.Training will be held Thursday, July 19, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Cost of the class is $100 per trainee.For more information and to reserve your seat, contact Chris Clark, ECCC Workforce Development Center Coordinator, Phone 601-635-6245 or Shelley Thomas, ECCC Louisville Site Coordinator, Phone 662-536-1150. Their email address is cclark@eccc.edu or sthomas@eccc.edu.

Local Fire & Police Department Chow Down to Benefit Burn Center

The Louisville Fire Department and Police Department chowed down on Saturday to raise money for the Mississippi Burn Center. The teams faced off at Luigi's Restaurant   in a slider eating contest. The three member teams (with substitutes) downed slider after slider in the ten minute competition. A little trash talk started the contest as the Police Department took an early lead and were up by as many as three sliders. But a late rally by the Fire Department in the final minutes led them to victory.
Kevin McCool with the Police Department team ate the most individually as he consumed 11 of the sandwiches. Luigi's donated $4 on selected meals sold during the event to the Mississippi Burn Center.

Video from Saturday's Eating Contest - LPD vs LFD

Recent Hot, Dry Weather Putting a Hurt on Crops

MISSISSIPPI STATE – An ideal growing season through mid-June turned into a hot and dry situation that stressed the state’s crops until widespread rains came after the Fourth of July.

The state has experienced very hot and dry weather in the last several weeks, but Mississippi State University experts remain optimistic about the overall potential.

Trent Irby, soybean specialist with the MSU Extension Service, said 90 percent of the state’s soybean crop was in the reproductive growth phase by the second week of July.

“Severe drought stress during reproduction can impact yield potential,” Irby said. “Lack of moisture affects the pod load of the crop -- or the number of seeds within a pod and their size. The scattered showers were welcome, but there are still areas that are very short on moisture.”

In mid-June, corn looked like it might break record yields. By mid-July, Erick Larson, Extension grain crops agronomist, said the outlook was less promising but still better than the last three years.

“Dry land, or non-irrigated, and later-planted corn was hurt most by the recent heat and dry conditions,” Larson said. “The rains should help corn that is still green, but stressed corn does not really recover.”

Dennis Reginelli is the Extension area agronomist working with row crops in Webster and Noxubee counties.

“Soybeans will be the biggest losers from the heat and drought of June,” Reginelli said. “We planted in early April but didn’t get any rain during June, so we lost our bloom set in the crop. Foliage is great, but the yield potential will be down.”

Reginelli said because the corn in his area was planted early, dry weather should not reduce its yield significantly.

“If this crop had been planted in early to mid-April, it would be a disaster,” Reginelli said. “We have irrigated corn fields that should yield 220 to 240 bushels an acre.”

Historically, much of the row crops in east Mississippi have been grown on dry land acres, but Reginelli said local suppliers have seen their orders for irrigation pivots double from last year.

Jay Phelps, Extension area agronomy agent in north-central Mississippi, said the 100-degree, dry weather hurt crops in his area. Only about 5 percent are irrigated.

“High temperatures resulted in poor pollination of some corn,” Phelps said. “None of our crops are a complete loss, so the rains that just came will improve their overall condition and potential yields.”

Heat and drought do not have as much impact where irrigation is plentiful, such as in the central Delta, where Jerry Singleton, Extension area agronomy agent, works. Up to 75 percent of the Delta soils are irrigated, and these acres look good. It is the dry land acres that are suffering.

“Soybeans planted following wheat have been severely hurt by the lack of moisture and hot weather,” Singleton said. “Current rains will help the surviving plants, but the average yields will be significantly down.”

Mississippi’s decrease in yield potential is less than the expected national decrease. John Michael Riley, Extension agricultural economist, said prices for some row crops have gone up significantly as growing conditions went bad.

“September corn futures are trading around $7 a bushel. These same futures were trading around $5.20 a bushel in early June,” Riley said. “Prices have been surging since mid-June as the condition of the crop has deteriorated.”

At the beginning of June, just 8 percent of the national corn crop was rated “poor” or “very poor” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dry, hot weather pushed that number to 30 percent. As a result of these conditions, USDA now estimates a national corn yield of 146 bushels an acre, 20 bushels lower than their June estimate.

“There was an expectation of a bin-busting crop when plantings got off to an early start, and that expectation pushed prices lower,” Riley said. “Now that the drought has worsened and encompassed more and more acres, that expectation has gone up in smoke.”

Soybean prices have experienced a similar trend.

“In early June, the September futures contract was trading near $13 per bushel but are now around $15.50,” Riley said. “The national soybean yield estimate was lowered to 40.5 bushels per acre in the recent USDA report, a drop from 43.9 bushels an acre a month ago.”


By Bonnie Coblentz
MSU Ag Communications