Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land pirate
By J. R. S. Pitts
Length7h 1m
About this audiobook
In "Life and Bloody Career of the Executed Criminal, James Copeland, the Great Southern Land Pirate," J. R. S. Pitts meticulously chronicles the notorious exploits of one of the South's most infamous figures. This gripping narrative intertwines elements of true crime and historical biography, reflecting the intricate tapestry of 19th-century American society. Pitts employs a vivid and engaging prose style that immerses readers in the perilous world of piracy, lawlessness, and moral ambiguity, showcasing the regional peculiarities and cultural dynamics of the Southern frontier. Through meticulous research, including primary source documents, Pitts situates Copeland within the larger narrative of American criminal history, illuminating themes of justice, retribution, and societal fascination with outlaws. J. R. S. Pitts, a historian and biographer specializing in American criminality and folklore, draws from extensive research and personal interest in the historical narratives of outlaws. His passion for untold stories of the American South informs this examination of James Copeland, whose life encapsulates the era's turbulent intersections of crime and society. Pitts's expertise, steeped in historical context and his understanding of the social fabric of the time, lends authenticity and depth to the narrative. Recommended for scholars of American history, enthusiasts of true crime, and readers drawn to compelling biographies, Pitts's work offers profound insights into not only the life of James Copeland but also the societal attitudes towards crime and punishment in Southern history. A must-read for those interested in the complexities of morality and the human condition, this book provokes reflection on the very nature of criminality and its representation in American culture.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.1 (18)
Includes Amazon, Goodreads
GenreTrue Crime
Length7 hrs 1 min
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateMar 2, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1INTRODUCTION.
2PREFACE.
3POISONING THE OVERSEER.
4MURDER OF THE TWO MEXICANS IN TEXAS.
5WELTER AND HARDEN’S DECEPTION—WELTER ACTING AS UNITED STATES MARSHAL.
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6WAGES’ AND HARDEN’S PLOT TO KILL ROBERT LOTT AND THOMAS SUMRALL.
7MR. MOORE AFTER PREACHER M’GRATH, IN TEXAS.
8M’GRATH IN DISGUISE.
9MURDER OF O’CONNOR ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
10MEETING OF THE CLAN IN MOBILE, ALABAMA.
11BURNING OF ELI MAFFITT’S HOUSE, AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HIS WIFE.
12WAGES AND M’GRATH KILLED BY HARVEY.
13REWARD OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OFFERED FOR HARVEY’S SCALP.
14PRESENTIMENT OF POOL’S DEATH.
15THE FAMOUS HARVEY BATTLE.
16TRIAL OF JAMES COPELAND.
17THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
18GRAND JURY.
19WITNESSES.
20MEMBERS OF THE COPELAND AND WAGES CLAN.
21LETTER OF JAMES COPELAND TO HIS MOTHER.
22MYSTIC ALPHABET
23S. S. SHOEMAKE, THE ARCH-MONSTER OF ATROCITY AND THE PERFECTION OF DECEPTION, WITH HIS JOHN R. GARLAND LETTER.
24SHOEMAKE VISITS THE SHERIFF IN PERSON WITH HIS BOGUS AUTHORITY FROM THE PROBATE JUDGE OF KEMPER COUNTY.
25SHOEMAKE RETURNS WITH A WRIT FOR THE SHERIFF’S ARREST.
26SHOEMAKE’S OBJECT WAS ASSASSINATION.
27IMPORTANT INFORMATION GATHERED ABOUT THE BURIED TREASURE.
28PRELIMINARY REMARKS TOUCHING THE TRIAL.
29THE RECORDS OF THE TRIAL FROM THE CITY COURT OF MOBILE.
30COMMENTS ON THE RECORDS.
31SHOEMAKE AND B. TAYLOR IN COURT.
32M’LAMORE FELL A VICTIM TO THE VENGEANCE OF THE CLAN.
33G. Y. OVERALL PROVES AN ALIBI
34THE ARGUMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES.
35THE COURT AND THE JURY.
36TAMPERING WITH THE JURY.
37SYMPATHY AND REGRET AS EXPRESSED BY SEVERAL JURORS.
38FAILURE OF PETITION—RECEIVES THE KINDEST TREATMENT WHILE IN PRISON.
39THE CLAN GROVELLINGLY PENETRATES PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS.
40MISS BOWEN’S LETTER.
41DR. BEVELL’S LETTER TO MISS BOWDEN.
42MISS BOWEN’S REPLY TO DR. BEVELL’S LETTER.
43AN EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF THE DEFENDANT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
44A LETTER FROM A FRIEND IN TEXAS AFTER DEFENDANT’S RELEASE.
45A LETTER TAKEN FROM THE “TRUE DEMOCRAT.”
46THE CHARACTER OF THE PROSECUTOR.
47THE CHARACTER OF THE PROSECUTION.
48CONCLUDING SKETCH OF THE TRIAL.
49ANOTHER DESIGN OF ASSASSINATION.
50SHOEMAKE AGAIN.
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