Appalachias Deadliest Preacher: The True Story of Billy Dean Anderson
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Appalachias Deadliest Preacher: The True Story of Billy Dean Anderson #fbimostwanted #billydeananderson #fbi #appalachianhistory #appalachiasdeadliest
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Note: This Video Represents History. The video has been uploaded for educational purposes and commentary and critique on the topic.
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I am subscribed on different devices under different emails. I enjoy listening & have played a few of your stories for my wife & my mother who are now subscribed. We live in NC and love the Appalachian history we hear in your videos. Thank you & be blessed
@@Joseph-ym8jm Thanks so much for your support my friend, appreciate you all!
What a life, and told so well. Too bad he wasn't a friend of Bill W.
I just found this channel I really like it
Where in NC. I live in Troy NC
You were made for Appalachian Storytelling. Great work and great story!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!
God bless your story telling voice, another amazing tale. 👏 ❤️🇨🇦
Thank you Marion!
Still binge-watching/listening to you tell stories. It is addictive, to be honest.
While traveling for work or on the hotel after 10 hours, I look forward to decompressing with your stories.
Thanks, JD!!
Thank you, brother. Be safe out there. I really appreciate you.
My Family's from the Mountains of West Virginia.
I've been digging into our Family past. I found out my Great Great Grandmother was the Daughter of a Moonshiner & had to stay home from school because she was His lookout for law while He was Running His Stills up on the Mountain.
I love your Channel! Thanks for keeping the History Alive!!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Thank you Austin, have a good one my friend
You tell these stories so well! Just the right amount of gravel in your voice, with a cadence that reminds me of a rocking chair.
I love this comment!
This gravel and rocking chair comment just perhaps unraveled my addiction to his storytelling! I'm currently in hospital and came upon one of his stories at night and feel so comfortable and intrigued by these stories. I'm on playlist and have at least listened to 10 stories an can't stop! 😂
Good morning JD from Humboldt Iowa
Thank God I've been clean+sober for 30 years now. Y'all stay safe out there 🙏
Congratulations BigIron, that is a life achievement to be proud of.
Interesting and well told story of B.D. Anderson. Thank you for sharing
Thank you
❤ What a great voice and what a great storyteller you are.
Thank you so much!
What a messed up life. From God fearing preacher to a lawless, Godless hoodlum. It's a sad message of how easily we can fall from Grace. Thank you for sharing this story.
Well said Michelle, have a blessed day
He was never a Christian, just a parrott.
It is so True Honéy Kimberly Grace Anderson & i tore up the South i met her at Ear Robértsons farm I was in the barn On a 2 yrd hay bail with a Mamma raccon i saw Her an bam pills here killed it prescibed all Crocks here i mean bad
Satan can have that effect.
Sorry dear he was never god fearing....if you actually read the whole Bible ....it's VERY for violence ...I mean come ON....IF it's in favor of god and all that junk. 🙄😮💨
But the you think he EVER feared god? LMFAO
Nooooo he was playing like most of them....gotta make that $$!
I've been binging all day. I have to be in bed for awhile. I've really enjoyed your stories. I joined yesterday. Ty. Pleasant voice.
Awesome! Thank you!
I know this story!! I am from southwest Va!! I live about an hour from Bristol Va!! I have lived in these mountains all of my life!! I love this channel!!
Glad you are here my friend
What a life of crime! I’d never heard of him but I won’t forget him. Thanks for the story.
It’s a heck of a story for sure, have a great weekend!
As I get older I love hearing more and more stories from the hills back home. Endless. Thank ya sir for sharing them with us, you find some damn good ones!
preciate you my friend, thanks for your support ant kind words
JD you my friend are great at telling these stories. It’s like you are there watching and telling the story as it happens. Be safe my friend and GOD BLESS
Thanks Randle, When I write these, I research all the facts and then try to put myself in the mind of the person Im telling the story about.
I am soooo hooked on these stories. Everyone is getting mad at me bc people are waiting on me to be here or there or wherever I'm supposed to be but I'm stuck at home binging on these stories and can't put my phone down. The time is flying by and I'm being late for appointments etc bc I just can't put the phone down long enough to stop listening to these stories. They are told so well and I'm just mesmerized by them. What a great storyteller you are.
Thank you so much my friend!
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller You're welcome
Wowza! What rollercoaster life!
Exactly
I just came out from anesthesia❤
I've been gone a long time.
RN CCRN THANK YOU 👍👍
Glad to have you here my friend
I just had major surgery myself two days ago, and I am really enjoying these stories as I am recovering. Good luck to you too.
I love you content! Being from East TN and growing up close to my great-grandmother, it hits home.
Thank you Jennifer, I appreciate your support and kind words. Have a blessed day my friend
This story makes me so sad to think he was saved and preached at same church where he was buried, in cemetery, a lost man! When preachers say that once you are saved you can't be lost, they need to hear this story. Choices made dictate the lives we lead.
well said Traci
More than likely, he was never genuinely saved. True conversion changes a man from the inside out. Very Sad.
I think he liked the exhilaration of seeing someone get saved when HE was “preaching;” he probably felt like his ability in speaking held power over that person, but the Word of God was what saved them. He himself said that he liked the feeling of power that came over him when he committed his first robbery more than preaching. 1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
He was never saved. He believed a false gospel.
@@gisellem927amen!
You can tell a story like no one else...Really enjoyed it...
Thanks so much! Happy Independence Day my friend
Great story. This needs to be made into a movie. From Cairns, Australia.
Thanks so much! Greetings from the mountains of East Tennessee
I'm from close by and have spent a lot of time and had my share of troubles in JimTown as a young, misguided man in the 80s. Although I knew a lot about this ole boy, I learned a few things here that I didn't know. Thanks for another great, true story. 👍👍
Thanks so much John, I spent quite a while researching his life before I tried to tell his story. A very conflicted man, but a very interesting life
What's your point?
I grew up in Armathwaite TN. Not far from PallMall. I remember reading the county paper about Billy Dean with photos of him and his entire story of his life
My grandpa was from Jamestown TN and knew some of his family. He was moms stepdad and he moved to Albany Ky. He took my uncle hunting in Fentress county back in the 70s when Billy Dean was known as a wanted man. They stopped at maybe it was Forbus general store, and grandpa was talking to several men there. Later my uncle asked who they were and grandpa said one of them was Billy Dean Anderson.
seems everyone liked him round here
My family is from Sevier Co. I have heard this man''s story. I spent time caving up in the area. Especially in Wolf River Cave.
Oftentimes, truth is stranger than fiction! What a great way to start off a Saturday! JD you've knocked another one out of the park friend. God Bless and I'll see ya next week.
Thank you Scott, happy 4th
Like a lot of "holy men,"
also a massive hypocrite...
You Sir have a gift for storytelling.
Many thanks, much respect and greetings from the UK 🙏🇬🇧❤️
Thank you Alan! appreciate your watching and commenting! Greetings from the mountains of East Tennessee
Thank you so much for all your hard work & truly dedicating a channel about true crime/history in Appalachian America. I was born & grew up in West Virginia. I feel like so many people don't address things enough as they should in our culture or appropriately.❤
Thank you, doing my best to make sure these stories aren’t lost to time
I read every story or documentary I can about Appalachian America I’m from Oklahoma born and raised but have been all over them parts and I absolutely love it everything about it.
You are an amazing storyteller! I love to listen to your videos as i go about my day. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your support!
Wow! What a story! You’re an amazing storyteller. I literally sat up in my chair listening to this story. Well done as always! 👍🏻❤️
Thank you so much Catherine!
Agreed;)
Mr. Narrator, you have an absolutely beautiful voice. *Swoon*
You make me feel like I’m on the sidelines watching the action in real time. What a storyteller you are. Thank you for your time and thank God for your gift.
Thank you so much for those kind words, I really appreciate them. :)
And I’ll say Amen to that!
Not many story tellers can keep my attention, but this was interesting and you told it very well.
wow, im honored, preciate you listening my friend! Check out some of my other stories while your here. Have a great day!
I completely enjoy your stories. Thank you for sharing your stories with us
Thank you so much my friend and
What a crazy man. You did an amazing job at presenting this story. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. Thank you again ❤
Thank you!
Wow! I live in Eastern Kentucky and I'm an amateur historian. But I'd never heard of this story. Very interesting ! Thank you.
thanks so much my friend, have a blessed day
I think it’s interesting that he and Sergeant York (most decorated American of WW1) and he were both from Pall Mall. While Sergeant York started off on the wrong path and found God, Billie Dean started off on the right path and got turned around. I looked it up and they are both buried in Wolf Creek Cemetery. They were contemporaries so you have to believed their paths crossed at some point.
very good observation... and Sgt. York got saved in the same church Billy Dean Anderson used to preach in.
I wish I had known about Billie Dean a few yrs ago. I made a pilgrimage to se the Sergeant York home place and visited his grave.
That’s so freaky cool, thank you for adding to the tale.
@@jhnhnry40511 don't feel bad, I filmed Sgt. Yorks grave a few weeks ago and literally parked in front of Billy Deans grave and didn't even know it, even tho I was there to film the church because of him.
Lived in Jamestown TN. Knew Sergent Yorks Son through church. Very interesting story. Loved the video!
New sub, watching from the U.K.
What an interesting way to present true crime.
You're a really talented storyteller.
Fantastic channel friend! 😊
Thanks so much! Preciate you, and welcome !
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller 😊
Everyone loved this man. Love his family too.
❤️
Just drove thru Jamestown today! What a wild life Billy Dean had!
He was a character for sure
Another great story! I wish you had some pictures of the paintings he did. I’d love to have seen them. Maybe google will be good for something and have them on there.
I do have pictures and videos of his paintings. When I was recording this video, I was filming the outside of the church, when a deacon of the church pulled up, unlocked the door and let me film inside. The walls were covered with his paintings, quite beautiful. However, when I pressed for information about Billy Dean, he didn't seem to want to talk about that era of the churches history, instead he would always shift the conversation to Alvin York attending church there. Out of respect for the church, I decided to not post the paintings and cause a ton of strangers to descend on their small church wanting to look at the paintings. Maybe some day, ill release a behind the scenes of the making of this story and show the paintings then.
JD this was a riveting story about Billy Dean. I couldn't stop it even if I has to go do something. I told my wife hold on. I had to finish this story. Sad that he fell so far down and end up that way.
Preciate you sticking with it til the end, y’all stay safe out there
Love the stories and the way you tell them.
Keep them coming!
Thank you Tammy
Thank you for this story--I'd never heard of this guy before. I grew-up in Appalachia and I had to get out. I will never fully understand the compulsion of folks who live there (including some of my own family) to protect a criminal while denying the truth of their misdeeds.
Hey hun, I live in East Tennessee and I'm a mountain woman. I know where your coming from on the not understanding. Best I can explain is a lot (not all) of these outlaws are actually good people that would give you the shirt off of their backs, but as kind as they can be, they are equally as mean when required. There are those few though, that are mean regardless and those are the ones we Won't protect. And around here, your family name can get you in trouble even if your the nicest person on earth. It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch! God Bless and I hope that helps a little on the understanding but I'm 40 and still trying to figure it all out, hehe.
@@lesliemathes3723 I live in a different area, but know how certain family names can be despised. When my vehicle broke down, there was a man from one of those families who stopped and helped me, and went out of his way to make sure I got to a good mechanic to repair it. Thanks to him, I only lost one day of my hunting trip. Couldn't have asked for a more helpful and friendly person, who helped a total stranger.
Sounds like democrats "denying the truth of their misdeeds." lol
@@allamericanveteranaav5234 The last thing on my mind when I commented was politics.
@@YesAndJWApparently it was the first thing in his mind when he read the respective remark.
Which is exactly what he said...
He didn't accuse you of it, it just reminded him of a certain political party... 😏 And he ain't wrong.
As for your comment..
Sometimes good people can run afoul of authorities.
Sometimes those authorities can be corrupt and it's *they* who are the criminals.
Also, there's that one thing within our American judicial system that our founding fathers put in place that separates us from other countries.. and that is "innocent until proven guilty by a jury of our peers."
This is the first of your videos that I've ever watched, although I subscribed quite a while ago. It was very well done, and I'll be watching more in the future.
Like the initial narration in Billy's voice said, there comes a pivotal moment in each life that determines which way their life will go. Billy's was sudden and shocking, and I wonder if even he knew at that moment just what he was actually doing.
He could've done so much good, but, instead, his life took a different turn. It happens so often to various people, sadly.
Ever since I read the book Christy as a child, I've been intrigued by the Appalachian mountains and the people who live in them, particularly in Tennessee and Kentucky, and how very closed their are to the outside world. So insulated, but with a very rich and vibrant culture all their own.
I also read the book Christy. I have felt the same way all of my life. I love these stories
Well said my friend
@@christieneal3392
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller thank-you.
I just found your channel tonight and I love it! You are an exceptionally gifted storyteller! Can’t wait to watch more!
X, Cheers!
Yeah! Welcome ! Glad to have you here
This channels grown a lot since I subbed and rightly so. Great channel, great stories, great storytelling.
Thanks Ninja, working hard on each story to make it the best I can
Your such a wonderful storyteller. Thank you for sharing this story about Billy Dean. I really enjoyed hearing it. We live next to Fentress county s I’ve spent quite a bit of time over in that area.
When I was young my first boyfriend had relatives from Jamestown who were Anderson’s. Several of the family had moved to Muncie so I can’t help but wonder if they were all part of the same Anderson family. I’m still in contact with some of the family members so I’d like to share this story with them, if you don’t mind. I can’t help but wonder they might even have some more to add in about his life. He was definitely an interesting person. Hearing his story really helped me understand how easily a good person could go bad.
Again thank you for sharing his story with us. I’ve greatly enjoyed listening to it. Take care 👋🏻
They were probably related, feel free to share, thanks for your kindness
Thanks!
Thanks so much James! Preciate that very much my friend! Have a happy 4th
Of course I liked and shared😊 Great story!
You're the best! Thank you Sharon!
What a story... I vaguely remember hearing about him back then... Makes me wonder how someone can turn out like that...smh but I guess somebody has to live the stories so somebody can write about them.
Thanks JD... Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸
Thanks Kathy! Happy Independence Day!
Hi JD! It’s a shame he chose the wrong path to go down. What a life he must have had. Thanks for sharing and have a blessed weekend and Happy Independence Day!
Thanks for watching Willow! Happy Independence Day to your family
Brilliant pieces of work , love these stories, thanks for sharing with us all , kind regards Ady southern England 🇬🇧
Thank you 😊
Loved that story. LOVED IT!!! ❤
Thanks James, preciate you brother!
Loved listening with my husband at breakfast this Sunday morning. ❤❤
Thanks so much, glad to have you here
Pretty cool story. My mom and dad run off to Jamestown when they were 16 to get married. 1956. Drove from Louisville and back in one day and didn’t tell anyone. Just went back to life. They were married till the day he died.
that’s amazing
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller was talking to my mom and she said they “borrowed “ the neighbors car. The neighbors were on vacation 😂😂😂
What a lovely memory.
what amazes me the most is how people from far away pick little ole jamestown to travel to of retire to.i was born and raised in jamestown and always wonder why people pick this place of all the places they could go.
@@kennethv5250I think maybe everyone needs a little "small town" in their life at some point. If you've lived in different places and different environments, you'll notice that small towns have more people willing to help if need be. And you can actually rely on your neighbor, sometimes more than family. Small towns are just different I guess, even the bad people will help you out. Anyways, have a good day my friend and God Bless.
I love your stories. I have to listen to a couple before i go to bed. Thank you. Greetings from north Florida
Thank you, greetings from the mountains of East Tennessee
This was done very well!
Thanks so much! Preciate you
I'm a new subber to this channel and enjoying it very much! Thanks for all you do to makes these stories come alive!
Glad you are here! I do my best to transport the listeners into the story like they are part of it
I grew up in Jamestown and remember Billy Dean and when he was finally killed. His cousin Kay Woods wrote a book about him.
That was the Twilight Drive-in that he did his first robbery.
thanks for sharing my friend, have a good'n
Were you his moll Elaine?
thank you JD, i always look forward to these stories. you do such a great job. this is what happens when you take the devil in your mouth. any man can fall or back slide, the problem is he most likely never slid in! wow! what a story, one thing for sure, he now knows the truth,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Thanks OlSchool, have a good’n
Thank you for doing this story! Appalachian people dont trust the police, and they frown on any snitch, even kids who "tattle or tattletale." I think the legends that come out of Appalachia are, like Billy Dean, are viewed so because of the belief that no one can judge someone except the Good Lord.
Well said my friend
Amen to that
Aren't they judging the police? Many innocent people were hurt because they covered for him. I doubt very seriously that he was unarmed or didn't resist when he was shot.
What a terrible price to pay for such a false belief system. Not to mention the tragedy caused to so many innocent people. All because of refusing to live with respect for authority and the understanding of the judgment God has deputized to enforce law and order.
Thank you for sharing this story with us. God bless you and your family 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you brother, have a blessed day
Are there any movies based on this story?...... Great story & once again another outstanding video from you ❤️ loving em all, I really dig it
you would think there was a movie on this guy, but this is literally the only documentary out there on him. However, as I have seen in the past... a couple screenwriters keep an eye on the stories I put on here.... and they end up writing a screenplay based on them... so who knows if ol' Billy Dean will show up on the big screen one day...
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller It would be a great hit for damn sure.
Hopefully something will become of it👍🏻
I greatly enjoy watching your channel, your content is great & I'm into these & those topics of Appalachia in general 😊🍻
**Best storyteller I've come across** 💙🕊💙
Thank you so much my friend, I appreciate your support!
Hi cool dude! I have been enjoying your films, narraration, voice acting, and research. You are a natural. Thank you!
Hey, thanks!
I remember them looking for Billy. In 1978 we were heading back to NC from AZ. We had decided to go thru Tenn to Asheville NC and the mountains. When we planned our trip we didn't know anything about Billy we started hearing about a man hunt and it warned people not to pick up hitch-hikers and be prepared to stop- on the radio. We also went thru several road-blocks. Now I know who they were looking for. Gee what a small world. 🙂
Wow
Amazing tellin.
The climax of the popcorn scene- wow.
You have become my favorite teller of tales!
Thank you so much Joel!
I love all the stories you tell, I love your channel ❤😊
Thank you so much Betty
You're a great storyteller. Thanks for all the great stories, very entertaining and touching.
Thank you so much!
I listened to the whole thing and I never heard of a moment as a teenager he ever repented and trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord. He had no business “preaching” as kid when he didn’t even know the One he was talking about. It honestly sounded like he just enjoyed being the center of attention and having authority over a small group of people.
Most crazy cults begin with some person that picks up a bible and that person has never been changed by God’s grace. Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes are two prominent cult leaders who reject the clear teachings of the Bible. Unfortunately conmen like them give Christians a black eye with their lives of greed and arrogance.
you mean he was just preaching by rote? hadnt really thought of it like that. good obseervation
Good points, thanks for sharing
Some may say to say you know what happens after we die is arrogant???
@@steveschatz6256 It’s not arrogant to believe the Bible.
Love your story telling I am Irish and storytelling is part of our heritage too. Thank you so much ❤
Thank you Kathryn! ❤️
What a great story and production.
Thank you Scully, a lot of work went into this one
That was certainly an incredible piece of history, masterfully told. Thanks!
Thank you so much
I love your storytelling and look forward to seeing your videos, keep them coming 😊
Thank you!
You're an amazing storyteller, liked and subscribed. Cant wait to dive in to more of your content!
welcome my friend, glad to have you here!
Great piece! Love the tunes used in the soundtrack. What a crazy life!! Thanks and Happy 4th of July 🇺🇸🧨🎇
Thanks Jane, I focus on the music as much as I do the story
Great story and your the best at telling them..keep up the good work
Thanks so much! Have a blessed day
That’s crazy! How Billy the career criminal got off with such light sentencing is insane! I thought it was bad these days!!
He had a heck of a life
Great video. I found your channel while doing research for something, and continued to watch because I enjoy your videos very much.
Thanks so much, glad to have you here
Thank you for the stories. Love them.
Thank you so much!
Loooord what another EXTRY GOOD'N brother! Have a good'n JD
Thanks Jared, have a blessed day my friend
This one I’ve heard of. Happy Saturday! By the way, your channel gets suggested on google when you look up Appalachian history. Pretty cool.
That is pretty cool 😎
I just started listening to your stories you do a great job Billy proved that he could get away for a long time but you never get away from the man or God
Glad you enjoy this story my friend!
Outstanding video. 👍
Thanks
Thanks Gary!
Love your voice love the music for a great story. You are so refreshing.
Thank you so much Linda!
Great video never heard this story before. Great job on producing our Tennessee history
Thanks so much Chris! Happy Independence Day to your family
Enjoyed this story very much. Well done J.D. 👏👏👏👏👏 One of your best yet.
Happy Independence Day from your northern neighbour. 🇨🇦❤🇺🇸
Thank you! Have a great weekend my friend
L9ve your story telling. It's so relaxing and interesting.
Thank you so much!
This would make the best movie!
It really would
I love this channel! I could listen for hours. 🤙🤙🤙🤙
Thanks so much my friend
Spiraling out of control is a understatement
he had a heck of a downfall
Great story telling! My takeaway is nothing much has changed in 80yrs. From every aspect of this. Every, all of the behaviors!
Thanks so much ❤️
He was my relation, my mom was an Anderson, the fbi even searched our house in Muncie Indiana when I was a little girl,I had even met him on several occasions, and everyone I knew loved him,they had my grandfather's house, Jesse Anderson stacked out for several years
How bout that, I was wondering if anyone from Muncie would chime in here. I would appreciate it if you could share this video out in that area, im sure many have stories about Billy
My dad (Archie Anderson) was Billy’s “double cousin”. I never met him because he was killed when I was a baby. My dad was also a artist as am I…..must be a family thing. I remember we had a wooden Jesus on a cross that Billy had made….complete with blood on his hands and feet.
I have no clue what happened to it…but it’s out there somewhere…and it’s pretty creepy. Lol
I do remember my dad talking about how Billy complained that Banks in Muncie was nearly impossible to rob because of the trains.
If you live in Muncie, you will get a good laugh from that.
Archie was my uncle
Thank you my friend I really enjoyed your video I love how you tell the stories much love from the UK 🇬🇧
Thank you so much, greetings from the mountains of East Tennessee
My oh my..that boy was into everything. It sure is a shame how he wasted his life. That was an excellent story JD. I pray you all have a Happy Fourth of July and stay safe 🙏 ❤
Thank you Della
I absolutely love this channel!!!
Thank you ❤️ check out the newest episode of Appalachias deadliest out today
Great, but tragic story. Thank ya, Brother.
Yes indeed, preciate you
Enjoyed again, moonshine works in mysterious ways Thanks for sharing
❤️
Thanks for a real enjoyable story. Reminds me of old times around the fire.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much!
For some reason, the people in that neck of the woods looked at Billy Dean as some sort of hero. My brother was teaching school, and something was said about Billy Dean and how the law couldn't find him and how no one knew where he was and one of my brother's students spoke up and said, "I'm not sure where he is right now but I know where he was last night because he was at our house having dinner." For YEARS people in that area helped him elude the law. I'm not sure why. I don't know what there was about Billy Dean that anyone could view as being heroic.
My husband has the same last name but if there was any relation, we were not able to find it and I don't remember whether my husband ever even met him. He lived down in the Pall Mall area and my husband's family lived up on the mountain in Armathwaite. I think for years he hid out in caves down around Wolf River and the local people would wash his clothes and give him good home-cooked meals occasionally. The only thing I know good about him is that he was a fairly good artist. I don't think he ever received any training but he had a lot of time to practice while he was sitting in jail for various illegal activities and he became quite good.
Thank you for this story about him. I had not thought of Billy Dean for YEARS and I enjoyed hearing his story again.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, I enjoyed reading them. For me, I think most folks just didn't trust the law at all back then and the idea of a rebel who was in some ways above the law, uncatchable and unstoppable, made him a folk hero. Most folks distrusted the law so much, they believed that most of the stories of crime about Billy Dean were simply "manufactured" by law enforcement as propaganda to force folks to turn on him and turn him in.
They helped him becuz law enforcement was so corrupt in the area, fentress county is an outlaw county most would side with outlaws
I've seen men like this my whole life, they are lazy . Instead of working they had rather steal than work. That's probably why he was gonna be a preacher, easier than working for a living .
Me growing up in the hills and Jamestown was the closest town never knowing this story--thank you for it!!
There are SO MANY stories like thos from fentress and morgan county
Got another one I should look into? Email me at theappalachianstoryteller@gmail.com