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quote:
Originally posted by themax:
There are a lot of storys that I have heard from very reliable sources about the Dawsons. So reliable I would never even think about posting them on a public forum.


Did you know the Dawson brothers? well I'm just curious because i'm related to them some how and have their photo albums in my garage. My grandmother use to tell me many stories when i was little and some of them were about the three brothers. I've been trying to find out what i can about them but so far turned up empty handed , so anything anyone can tell me about them would be great.
does anyone out there remember black cat, doghouse, escape lounge asnd circle e club which was owned by james eddy. dewitts brother in law was bartender,bouncer at the black cat. his name was ray bevis. i used to go to all these places and learned that you will be treated good so long as you minded your own business. I had alot of friends that used to also make the rounds. dewitt was not the monster that some claim. the balentines were good people also. also back in 60s used to go to el rancho club. good ole days
Does anyone remember the Joe Wright, James Balentine and Johnny Hood murders that took place back in 1974 and 1975? It is believed that Johnny Hood shot James Balentine at his tavern on 43 (just north of the AL. State line); then someone went in and shot up Johnny before he could stand trial for James' murder. Joe ended up dead after James' son Charles shot him 3 times with a sawed-off shotgun on Cowpen Road just south of the Tennessee State line. I was Joe's step-son and I moved down to Iron City with Joe, my mom and my two sisters back in 1971. It is believed that my mom was having an affair with Abe Gable (Sheriff of Iron City). She is buried in Greenhill and her tombstone says Mother...she was 25 (died on February 4, 1973). Old Joe was put to rest a little over 2 later (April 24, 1975). This whole blog covers a lot of stories about people that I can remember hearing Joe talk about when I was a kid. I am not looking for any kind of trouble here, that stuff took place many years ago and I enjoy doing research on the crazy things that took place on the back roads and Highway 43 between Florence and south Tennessee back in the early 1970's
themax, this was started before my time here at the tdf. How fun, I totally enjoyed reading thru it. Sadly enough, Mr. Parker passed away a couple weeks ago. I have an old album that was made in the 70's by the old gang from Johnny's Club. The album cover is a picture of the band in front of the club. It's frame worthy.
quote:
Originally posted by themax:
Wow, I couldn't believe it when I saw it. An old thread I started back in 2006, was on the 1st page. It brought back many old memories, some I'd like to forget.


Did you know James Balentine, Charles Balentine or Joe Wright? How about Mitchell Simpson; I heard he shot himself about a month or so ago.
quote:
Originally posted by WesternOne:
themax, this was started before my time here at the tdf. How fun, I totally enjoyed reading thru it. Sadly enough, Mr. Parker passed away a couple weeks ago. I have an old album that was made in the 70's by the old gang from Johnny's Club. The album cover is a picture of the band in front of the club. It's frame worthy.


That would be the Dry Creek Band. They were a great band, I always loved the song Matilda.
Here's a version of it on youtube. Its not by the band but by the original singers. Wink

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jLn1_shQXQ

And another one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRC_ZS2ROqE

I wish you could upload that album you have to youtube.
quote:
Originally posted by The Fonze:
Johnny Hood was a bank robber. He and a gang of bandits used to rob banks around this area. He was laid to rest in a red velvet casket at his own request. All of his gang members wound up killing each other. It made the FBI's job easy.


Before Johnny opened the bar he was a barber, I didn't know him myself as this was a bit before my time but EVERYONE I know that did know him has had nothing but good things to say about him, at least till I started reading this thread.
quote:
Originally posted by The Professor:
[QUOTE] How about Mitchell Simpson; I heard he shot himself about a month or so ago.


This just got interesting, I have not seen Mitchell in years but even as an old guy he was a pistol and had a wild side. I checked out his obit and it said he died after an extended illness. nothing about shooting himself. Anyway, I thought the world of Mitchell and would love to hear some tales from when he was younger.
Hi BFREDo7,
I drove through St Joe. on August 8 and I stopped by city springs to see the old swimming hole. Mitchell's daughter (Shirley) was there with her grand kids. My wife struck up a conversation with Shirley (I had no idea who she was when we walked past her to get to the waterfall...I had not seen her in nearly 40 years). When my wife told the lady (Shirley) who I was, she could not believe it. Shirley then walked up and told me that she was Mitchell Simpson's daughter. She then told me that Mitchell had shot himself in the head during his last days of fighting prostate cancer. Mitchell was with Joe when Charles Balentine Shot Joe Wright on Cowpen Road. In fact, he was arrested along with his daughters boyfriend (Randy Wilson) and Charles B. Mitchell and Randy were released the next day, and Charles was charged with Joe's murder.



quote:
Originally posted by BFred07:
quote:
Originally posted by The Professor:
[QUOTE] How about Mitchell Simpson; I heard he shot himself about a month or so ago.


This just got interesting, I have not seen Mitchell in years but even as an old guy he was a pistol and had a wild side. I checked out his obit and it said he died after an extended illness. nothing about shooting himself. Anyway, I thought the world of Mitchell and would love to hear some tales from when he was younger.
quote:
Originally posted by BFred07:
...
Before Johnny opened the bar he was a barber, I didn't know him myself as this was a bit before my time but EVERYONE I know that did know him has had nothing but good things to say about him, at least till I started reading this thread.


I knew Johnny since i was a kid, also knew his parents. The Johnny i knew was a good person.
quote:
Originally posted by blue's:
Them were the days of old and should be forgotten and laid to rest.

Royal flush
Straight flush
Four of a kind
Full house
Flush
Three of a kind


Hi blue's.
I hope that I didn't "strike a nerve." I was just caught up in the whole mess when I was a kid, and I enjoy researching and sharing what I know. As I said before, I am not looking for trouble here; I have long gotten over what took place down there. No hard feelings of any kind.
Two pair
One pair
High card.

Enough said.
Yes, this has been fun. I roll through Saint Joe, Iron City, and the "Coon-dog Cemetery" in Cherokee Alabama on a regular basis (2 to 3 times a year). I always drop off on 412 west to hit 43 South. I stop at (when headed south) the St. Joe Cemetery off of main street to see old Joe (Wright), then I drive past my old house on Davis street (where I found my mom dead)... gunshot through the heart (suicide,,,didn't want to mess up her pretty face at 25 years old). I will post more on the "pre-Joe wright, Balentine episode" in a few days. I still have a scar (at 43 years old) on my right hand where the palm meets the thumb, from a 38 caliber chrome pistol that old Joe tried to teach me how to shoot; I was and am left handed. Peace out and love for now, I want to concentrate on putting together all of my research....P.S. don't speed past the Shoal creek bridge in Iron City (227); those young Cops will write you a well deserved ticket; I remember reading about a fool that tried to burn up his truck after he hit a lady,,,, then decided to cover his tracks by committing murder.

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