NOTE: The early reports on the case gave the name as “Mrs.
J. C. Powers.”
***
FULL TEXT: Macon, Ga., June 4 – Evidence purported to
uncover a murder and arson mill supposedly conducted by Mrs. J. C. Powers, 71,
roominghouse keeper, that took an unknown toll of life and insurance money
during the last decade, was laid before and insurance money during the last
decade, was laid before the Bibbs county grand jury.
Indictment of the woman and Earl Manchester, 21, who
admitted he slew his roommate, James Parks, 25, at her insistence, was asked by
Solicitor Gen. Charles H. Garrett.
~ Payment Held Up. ~
Parks was slain May 27 after he had gone to live at Mrs.
Powers’ home and named her beneficiary of an insurance policy on his life.
Mrs. Powers sought to collect $14,000 on the policy after
Parks’ body was found on the bank of the Ocmulgee river, but payment was held
up and an investment revealed the plot.
~ Two Other Deaths. ~
The death of Sam Wright, overseer on Mrs. Powers’ farm in
1924, and that of a colored tenant on the place are attributed to the woman by
insurance company detectives, who likewise believe her guilty of burning houses
on which she held fire insurance policies.
Mrs. Powers received insurance money from policies on the
lives of both Wright and the negro.
[“Grand Jury is Told Woman, 71, Ran Murder and Arson Mill;
Boarder’s Slaying Reveals Two Other Killings,” Jun. 5, 1929, p. 31]
***
~ Confessions of Sara Powers & Earl Manchester Confession,
May 28, 1929 ~
EXCERPT: Sheriff James H. Hicks, co-operating with Police
Chief Ben T. Watklins, announced the two confessions.
The woman’s:
“I put an advertisement in the papers (several weeks ago)
for a young man to help drive a car and work about the house. Both Parks and Manchester
came in response to the advertisements.
“I insured Parks . . . about four weeks ago. I didn’t have
any money and needed it badly, so I began to think about collecting the
insurance on him.
“I talked to Manchester about it for the last two weeks and
finally he agreed to it. He was to get $1,000 out of the insurance money when
it was paid to me.
“I gave him the pistol (found by officers in a wardrobe at
her home today) and he carried it for several days. Monday night he came in and
handed it back to me saying he had ‘Done the job.’ I did not inquire into the
details”
Confronted with the woman’s confession, Manchester signed
one:
“The old lady talked to me about bumping off Parks for two
weeks or more. Finally I agreed and she gave me the pistol. I tried three
nights in a row but it was the third night before I had the opportunity.
“ . . . but Monday about dark I told him we would go on Water
street in East Macon and lay for a liquor car. He went along all right thinking
we were going to hijack somebody.
“We lay down on the grass . . . and when he turned his back
on me, I let him have it his head.”
NOTE: Sara Powers later recanted. Earl Montgomery later
revised his confession to implicate Mrs. Powers as well.
[“Mystery Murder, Disappearance, Arson Linked With Macon
Landlady in ‘Insurance Slaying,”
The Atlanta Constitution (Ga.), May 30, 1929, pp. 1, 8]
***
FULL TEXT: Macon, Ga., Oct. 11. – A verdict of guilty of
first degree murder without recommendation for mercy was returned by a superior
court jury here today against Mrs. Sarah Powers, 71, tried for the “insurance murder”
of James W. Parks, 18.
At the verdict, a mandatory sentence to death, Judge H. A.
Matthews fixed the condemned woman’s date of execution in the electric chair as
of November 29th.
The aged land-lady was specifically charged with being an accessory
before the fact by plotting the death of the young Atlanta printer for a $14,000
insurance policy which named her as beneficiary.
[“Plots Death Of Printer, Age 18, For Insurance – Jury Brings
in Guilty Verdict Without Reccommendation [sic] of Mercy. – Death Is Mandatory –
Judge Immediately Fixes Date of Execution For November 29.” The Seminole
Producer (Ok.), Oct. 11, 1929, p. 1]
***
~ Sara’s 1929 Trial ~
FULL TEXT: Macon, Ga., Oct. 11. – A verdict of guilty of
first degree murder without recommendation for mercy was returned by a superior
court jury here today against Mrs. Sarah Powers, 71, tried for the “insurance murder”
of James W. Parks, 18.
At the verdict, a mandatory sentence to death, Judge H. A.
Matthews fixed the condemned woman’s date of execution in the electric chair as
of November 29th.
The aged land-lady was specifically charged with being an accessory
before the fact by plotting the death of the young Atlanta printer for a $14,000
insurance policy which named her as beneficiary.
[“Plots Death Of Printer, Age 18, For Insurance – Jury Brings
in Guilty Verdict Without Reccommendation [sic] of Mercy. – Death Is Mandatory –
Judge Immediately Fixes Date of Execution For November 29.” The Seminole
Producer (Ok.), Oct. 11, 1929, p. 1]
***
~ Sara’s 1931 Re-trial ~
FULL TEXT: Macon, Ga., June 11. – A jury in Bibb County Superior
Court at 6 p. m. brought in a verdict of guilty of murder, with recommendation
of mercy against Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Powers. Under the Georgia law this
automatically means a life term in prison.
At the first trial she was sentenced to die in the electric
chair.
Mrs. Powers, 74-year-old former house proprietress, was
convicted on plotting the death of James W. Parks, 19 years old, Atlanta orphan
whom she had befriended. Earl Manchester confessed to the killing and said Mrs.
Powers promised him $1,000 of the $14,000 insurance she held on Park’s life.
Manchester is under death sentence.
When the jury announced it had reached a verdict, Mrs.
Powers was brought into court from the jail, accompanied by a deputy sheriff
and her daughter, Mrs. Lee Tharpe, who has been her companion almost every day
since her arrest.
Mrs. Powers showed no emotion when the verdict was read. Her
daughter became hysterical, but was calmed.
Judge H. A. Mathews immediately pronounced sentence of a
life term in prison. Then the elderly woman was taken back to jail.
[“Woman, 74, Is Given Life Term In Prison – Mrs. Powers In
Georgia Again Convicted of Killing Youth She Befriended,” The Miami Herald
(Fl.), Jun. 12, 1931, p. 1]
***
~ Sara’s Past ~
EXCERPT: From those who knew her she demanded all the
respect of a lady, but here and there over Macon they will tell you that she
has a past, that she operated a place on the south side of town, which police
closed, and opened another in a different section and was “run out” again.
At the boarding house where she employed young Jimmy Parks
and Earl Manchester in what appears to be a deep-laid plot to kill, the boys
about town saw her “paying guests” permanent, or transient, could get what they
wanted.
The police admit they have eyed Mrs. Powers and her
establishments, for “paying guests” for some time, have even gone so far as to
conduct quiet raids, but they never really “got anything” on her.
Of Mrs. Powers’ earlier life, Macon knows little. She is the
widow of J. C. Powers, said to have been an Atlanta gambler who flourished in
the old days. Since the death of Powers, who had previously had separated from
her and gone to Florida, the woman is said to have married again but nothing is
known here of the second husband save that there was one.
[“Sedate ‘Society’ Landlady Was Familiar Figure in Downtown
Macon Has ‘Past,’ Police Allege,” The Atlanta Constitution (Ga.), May 31, 1929,
p. 3]
***
~ 2 Deaths: Samuel B. Wright & Unnamed “Negro” ~
EXCERPT: Detectives and insurance operatives today said that
they had evidence that Mrs. Powers had been “preying on insurance companies for
about 15 years.” Burning of houses belonging to her, the death of an overseer
on her Jones county farm, Sam Wright, in 1914, and the death of a negro, all
were under investigation. The negro’s and the overseer’s lives were insured in
Mrs. Powers’ name, as were the houses.
[“More Crimes of ‘Serious’ Nature Will Be Charged To
Landlady, Police Say – Detectives Claim Aged Woman Had Preyed on Insurance
Companies for Past Fifteen Years.” The Atlanta Constitution (Ga.), Jun. 3,
1929, p. 2]
FULLTEXT: Macon, Ga., June 22 – The affairs of Mrs. J. C.
Powers, awaiting trial on a charge of murder, and of her son-in-law, Lee H.
Tharpe, are likely to be thrown into court in a civil suit by the heirs of
Samuel B. Wright, former employe of Mrs. Powers, it was indicated today by
Charles H. Garrett, solicitor-general.
Tharpe signed a $12,000 bond ten years ago for Mrs. Powers
to administer the estate of Mrs. Wright, Mr. Garrett said. Relatives of Wright,
Mr. Garrett said. Relatives of Wright were not informed of the death of Wight;
never shared in the distribution of the estate, it is claimed, and Mrs. Powers
has never been discharged as administratrix of the estate.
Mr. Garrett said that he had received letters from relatives
of Mr. Wright in North Carolina, indicating that they are contemplating legal
action to recover damages. He said that while the insurance policies on Wright’s
life was assigned to Mrs. Powers, the heirs would only have to show a plot to
murder him. “There appears to be ample evidence to establish that ass a fact,”
said Mr. Garrett.
Solicitor Garrett will contend, he said, that Wright was
killed by Mrs. Powers in order to collect insurance on his life, just as it is
alleged that James W. Parks was killed in order to collect $14,000 insurance
which she carried on his life. Wright, employed by Mrs. Powers on her farm in
Jones county, died December 3, 1918.
[“Civil Suit – Threatens Mrs. Powers,” The Atlanta
Constitution (Ga.), Jun. 22, 1929, P. 27]
***
~ Burnham Murder Attempts & Arson for Hire ~
EXCERPT: Macon, Ga., June 9. – Two deputies returned to
Macon at 1 o’clock this morning, with Claude P. Burnham, 23, arrested on a
warrant charging arson. He is wanted here for questioning in regard to the
burning of two buildings owned by Mrs. J. C. Powers, aged landlady who now is
held in connection with the death of James W. Parks. . . . With the arrest of Burnham, the officers claim
to have tightened the chain of evidence around Mrs. Powers. Burnham told the
deputies that one night he was given barbeque sandwiches with a tainted odor.
He didn’t eat any. Another night he said he found a gas jet turned on in his
room, though he was certain the jet was closed when he retired.
[“Mrs. Powers’ Former Aid Jailed At Macon – Man Accused as
Accomplice in Arson Plots Brought Back.” The Atlanta Constitution (Ga.), Jun.
10, 1929, p. 2]
***
~ Charles Geeslin, attempted murder 1928 ~
EXCERPT: Charles Geeslin, also a former roomer in Mrs.
Powers’ house … also charged in his statement that Mrs. Powers had attempted to
poison him just before he left her boarding house in 1928, and had threatened
him on another occasion. The alleged poisoning attempt, the affidavit said, occurred
shortly after Geeslin had taken out life insurance, payable to his estate.
[“Earl Manchester Given New Trial; Extraordinary Motion
Granted on Plea of New Evidence.”
Atlanta Constitution (Ga.), Feb. 23, 1932, p. 8]
***
~ Hybristophilia ~
EXCERPT: Manchester was visited by scores of “flappers,” as
many as could gain entrance to the jail. They carried with them cigars,
cigarettes, candies, cakes, etc., and in some cases, money.
[“Doctors Say Landlady Able To Stand Trial – The ‘Perfect
Health,’ Physicians Report After Examination of Macon Women.” The Atlanta
Constitution (Ga.), Jun. 20, 1929, P. 23]
Wikipedia: Hybristophilia is a paraphilia
in which sexual arousal, facilitation, and attainment of orgasm are responsive
to and contingent upon being with a partner known to have committed an outrage,
cheating, lying, known infidelities, or crime—such as rape, murder, or armed
robbery. In popular culture, this phenomenon is also known as "Bonnie and
Clyde Syndrome.”
***
Mrs. J. C. Powers, Sarah Elizabeth Powers – Career
Criminal
Suspected Victims (5 deaths, 2 survivors): “Colored tenant,”
E. E. Valentine, Sam Wright, Claude P. Burnham (“Durham”) (2 attempts), Charles
Geeslin (attempt), Hollis J. Mullis (target), James W. Parks.
CHRONOLOGY
1858 Ca. – Sarah born. Powers was husband #1; he divorced
her; name and fate of husband #2 unknown. She was involved in bootlegging and
in running several houses in Macon with “guests” which were repeatedly raided
and shut down by police. She advertised for a $5,000 investment in a real
estate development scheme.
Year? – “colored tenant” on Sarah’s farm, dies; life
insurance policy.
1904? / 1914? – Farm house and barn burn, killing several
horses and mules; insurance paid for buildings and animals.
Dec. 3, 1918 – Sam Wright, handyman on Powers Jones County
farm, dies; 3 life ins. policies, $5,000 & 2 totaling $3,000. [“1924” (?)]
1921 or 1922 – Charles H. Davis, from “another” insurance
company recalls payout to Sarah of about $5,000 on the death of a man; name is
forgotten.
May 17, 1925 – Sarah’s house on Houston St. burns; fire
insurance; burned 2 houses.
Ca. 1926-27 – another Sarah’s house is burned.
Ca. 1926-27 – Sara’s automobile burned, insured; Burnham
later accused.
1927 – Claude P. Burnham (“Durham,” “Burham”),
tenant, disappeared. Sarah cashes in $5,000 life insurance policy in 1927. He
goes to St. Petersburg, followed by Sarah who solicits a murder plot.
1927 ca. – E. E. Valentine,
insurance agent on Burnham (“Durham”) policy, mysteriously slain “several
months following Durham disappearance; ruled suicide despite suspicion of
murder.
1928 – Charles Geeslin, attempted murder.
Feb. 4, 1929 – Hollis J. Mullis, tenant; probable target;
insurance policy. Sarah sends him for a physical exam for $12,000 insurance policy.
Early May 1929 – T.S. Martin answered Sarah’s ad. $1,000
life insurance policy about to run out. Sarah offered to pay premiums.
May 17, 1929 – Sara sends $10 to James Parks living in
Hapeville, asks him to return to Macon.
May 27, 1929 – James W. Parks (25), orphaned at 5 mo.,
tenant, murdered; promised $1,000 by Sarah; $14,000 double indemnity policy.
May 28, 1929 – Parks body found by Ocmulgee River; 2
bullets.
May 28, 1929 – Sarah (71) arrested for causing Parks murder;
Earl Manchester (19, “21”) arrested; tenant, native of Toronto, roommate of James
Parks. First confession says he fired both shots, despite rumors Sarah had
participated. Sarah bought the pistol. Roomer R. C. Compton (19) arrested as
well.
May 29, 1929 – Sara repudiates her confession made the
previous day.
Jun. 9, 1929 – Claude P. Burnham arrested; 2 attempts to
murder him (poisoned sandwich; gas) suspected of 2 acts of arson.
Jun. 19, 1929 – Manchester convicted; death sentence.
Jul. 19, 1929 – Sarah’s trial postponed until Oct.
Jul. 20, 1930 – State SC upholds Manchester death penalty.
Sep. 21, 1929 – Judge H. A. Matthews, Bibb Sup. Ct., takes
under consideration Manchester’s application for new trial.
Oct. 3, 1929 – Reports that Sara’s attorney, E. W. Maynard,
unsuccessfully offered a plea deal to prosecutor: guilty plea in exchange for
life sentence.
Oct. 11, 1929 – Sarah convicted as accessory before the
fact; without recommendation of mercy; Sentenced to death.
Nov. 5, 1929 – State SC hears Manchester’s petition based on
new evidence.
Nov. 29, 1929 – the date set for Sarah’s execution.
Dec. 7, 1929 – Wright’s widow, Mrs. John Coder, sues Sarah
for $9,000.
Dec. 15, 1929 – Earl Manchester changes confession; says
that he fired the first shot and that she fired the kill shot. Shot in bathroom
at boarding house (housed in a bank building). Asserts there is a corroborating
witness (a stranger). Stranger carried Parks to the river.
Aug. 9, 1930 – Manchester files for rehearing. Corroborating witness located.
Jan. 24, 1931 – Sarah, new retrial awarded; Georgia Supreme
Court.
Jan. 26, 1931 – Sarah re-indicted.
Jun. 11, 1931 – Sara convicted in retrial; mercy recommended
(life sentence).
Jan. 15, 1932 – commutation of Manchester’s death sentence.
***
[Apr. 20, 2020; 137-1/3/2021; 351-7/16/22; 1531-9/12/22]
***
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