The Voodoo Preacher and Harper Lee
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Today, we have a strange true crime story. In the 1970's, Robert Burns murdered Reverend Willie Maxwell. The case was so bizarre that it caught the attention of author Harper Lee...but the book never came to be. Why is that? Let's explore this case and see what we can come up with.
Got a story you'd like us to explore? Drop us a comment or email and we'll see what we can find.
Interesting case. So this one man had people dying around him, he collected life insurance payments from their deaths, and no jury found him guilty? No, not suspicious at all……
Exactly
It’s amazing how much hold the preacher had on some of the residents. Very scary he could get away with this for so long.
That's court work in the tradition... long John chew root and a few others. Get you out of any court trouble
@@southphillylilly I was just reading about root chewing the other day.
So.... would this be more hoodoo than voodoo? I know that, to some people, they are interchangeable and they are similar in a lot of ways. Anyway, great story! Listening in Southeast TN.
Harper Lee was an interesting woman. I have both To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman here at the house. I would encourage anyone to visit her hometown sometime. Plan to spend the day and go slow.
I need to. It's not far at all from me.
Thank you for this interesting story! When I think of Harper, Capote immediately comes to mind. Truman Capote and Harper Lee - so much history between them, growing up together as neighbors in Monroeville AL, continuing their friendship into adulthood. Capote must have certainly known about her work on this story/book. It makes you wonder if this manuscript of 'The Reverend' could still show up, in somebody's dusty attic... 🙏
What I found interesting is that she helped him a great deal with on the ground research for In Cold Blood. Looks like she got the true crime bug and wanted to write one of her own. Or she wanted to trump him with her own, and perhaps better book, because he didn't give her much credit for all of her help on his.
See ! You have to be careful as to who you call Reverend. Thanks for telling this story. It actually had My mouth opened.
I thought they were cousins.... 🤷
I got the idea that apart from his visits with Sook/"Miss Rachel", they didn't spend much time together, even before _In Cold Blood._
I suspect that Ms. Lee, Nelle, just found it an interesting story. According to an old family friend, she determined after TKIM never to write again because "I've said all I had to say," and because the fuss and furor after TKIM was released was unpleasant to her, and she didn't want to go through it again.
Wow! What a wild story! I hope you keep digging to see why Harper Lee clammed up & the book never hit the presses! Me thinks there’s a little hocus-locus going on with this book that was finished but never was published or never was found! Thanks for sharing this amazing story! Blessings always my friend! ❤️😊✝️
Thanks. I sure hope that book is found some day.
@@DixieAfterDark You’re welcome! Me too! This has more twists & turns than a barrel full of snakes! Lol
'Man of the Year', I love it. Yeah, Ms Lee would've wanted to know him. And despite no book here, she can still rest on her laurels. Good story.
Thank you. I sure hope the book is found one day if it actually was finished.
Wow! How interesting! This would make a good book and movie! Love your channel and all the tales nobody else talks about!👍🏻
Thank you so much 😀
Cool story. Thanks for sharing, I always look forward to your stories about the South! Just as a sidenote, Canada has PLENTY of connections with the Southern U.S. As an example, there were many Confederate agents working for Jeff Davis in Canadian cities such as Montreal and Toronto and Niagara Falls, and Kingston, Ontario just to name a few. Apparently there were quite a few Canadian politicians who were sympathetic to the southern cause... something about not wanting to lose important and lucrative trade agreements with several of the Confederate States. Interesting stuff, and this is only one example of the many connections between Canada and the Old South. History can be strangely odd at times, no? Cheers from Canada!!!
Ah, I wasn't aware of any of that. Thanks. I'll start looking into all that.
Also, French Acadians in Louisiana have a connection to Canada
Hello Storyteller
Sundays bring me joy. Thank you for another fine story.
I remember the shooting of the Voodoo minister… but hadn’t ever heard about Ms. Lee’s interest in it. It would be a great read! We can hope that it’s found!
Bright Blessings
~Linda
I hope it's found one day too!
Great video! I'm surprised this isn't a better known story. Casey Cep wrote a great book about this... It's a quick read if you haven't read it already as part of your research.
I haven't. Most what I had was multiple news articles. I'll check that book out. Thanks for that.
Poor Shirley Ann. Can’t imagine what life she had with this preacher before her death. All so sad. What a strange story! Thank you. I just loved Harper Lee. Interesting she passed only several months after going to assisted living, which is way more independent than a nursing home.
I'm not sure how long she was in assisted living. In my presentation, she passed a few months after the article about the missing manuscript came out. Sorry for the confusion.
Thank you! As a fan of both true crime & Harper Lee, this story was a great find for me. Wild story & would make an interesting drama. Maybe someone else will give it a shot in spite of the missing attorney records. Appreciate your efforts.
Thank you!
Wow, great story! Thanks! I enjoy your work ❤
Thank you! 😊
Also, my sister knew her many years and doubts this tale..I never heard any mention by others close to her of the proposed crime novel.
interesting. Thanks for the additional insight. This one is more of a mystery than anything. If the tales about the manuscript is true, I hope it is found one day.
This has got to be the wildest story I have ever heard. Thank you for bringing it to us.
Glad you enjoyed it.
This is very interesting. Harper Lee was a wonderful author. It really makes you wonder what all she did learn. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another great story. I have never heard this. Glad you put it out there. I love hearing about thing going on in dixie.
Glad you enjoyed it
I first heard about this from a paranormal show on the Travel Channel. There were problems with the reverends house being haunted. Everything Ms Lee tried to investigate, something paranormal would happen to her. She backed away from writing the story out of sheer fright.
oh wow, that's interesting. I need to dig deeper into that. Thanks for the heads up.
Well Dixie that was an eye opener! I can’t believe that man got so many payments for the LIfe Ins. On so many people. Voodoo? Chickens adds up to me! Great story. Perhaps some where some one will buy a box of papers for around $20.09 and find something special? Ya never know. Thanks
I'd love to see the book found.
Me Too! I love to shop in little mom and pop thrift stores, yard sales, antique stores . I am always looking for something rare or unique. Mostly I am Always Hoping that I will Find that one rare find. The sad part is I live on the West Coast and not much history or artist's were from this area
With the exception of Lewis and Clark memorabilia or thing's from the Oregon Trail not much Hope but I still poke around.
Whoof, what a story! Your channel continues to delight and mystify. Glad to see your subscribers growing by leaps ad bounds. Thanks.
Thank you so much!
Absolutely fascinating story. Maybe it will come out after anyone who would have been incriminated has also passed or their family is no longer in the area. Makes you go hmm
That's kinda my thoughts too.
This was a nice change of pace. More of a true crime episode than supernatural spine chiller.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much. I do try to mix things up now and again. I love some true crime as well, and if I stumble across a case with a touch of weirdness to it, rest assured I'll see what I can put together.
@@DixieAfterDark Oh, this episode definitely has that touch of weirdness. I think it fits well with other Dixie After Dark subject matter.
Great story! But but no commercial! Strange!
Thanks
What a great find your channel is! I look forward to listening to more of your tales. Harper Lee has always fascinated me, both her limited, though exceptional output, her private nature, and her relationship with Capote. I’ve often thought that there is a book or movie in her contribution, by smoothing the way & companionship, to “In Cold Blood”.
I do hope this lost manuscript us found one day.
My guess is Ms Lee found evidence of the lawyer who represented Burns doing questionable things in The Preacher’s trials and/or things with the judge who presided over The Preacher’s trials. It’s possible the same judge presided over more than one trial of The Preacher as well was the same judge in Burns’ trial.
That's a strong possibility
Very interesting story. Im glad you covered it. You did a great job telling it.
Thank you!
What an interesting case. I really hope the manuscript is found, most people on here would love to read it I imagine.
I wonder if it has been destroyed though by folk who don't want stuff coming out about them.
That's a strong possibility.
@@DixieAfterDark Are there any court documents available to read fully about all the evidence with all names and allegations?
@@esmewitch not that I immediately found. I'm sure there are, just not freely published online as of yet.
This story is so interesting I had to listen to it multiple times. The only thing I have a question about is how would Mr. Burn's attorney, Tom Radne (sp?), turn over his case files to Harper Lee? Wouldn't that involve violating attorney/client privilege? Did Burns allow him to do so ?
Love, love, love your channel !
good question. I would assume Burns' maybe allowed it since she was interviewing him as well? That's just a guess though.
@@DixieAfterDark I also thought that Burns might have allowed it because he was found not guilty of murder, so they couldn't charge him again no matter what was in the notes.
Hey Dixie 😊 you fid it again 🎉🎉 made my nite, im really interested in southern occult and related xx
Glad you enjoyed this one. I've been sitting on this idea for a while, trying to figure out the best way to present it. I sure hope this book is found some day.
Wow great story thank you I loved this ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!!
Thanks for this one! The mystery continues...
Glad you enjoyed it.
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite book.❤ I swear idk why. Always stuck with me❤❤❤❤
It's a good one, thanks for sure.
Loved Ms lees book!thanks for the video!!!
You and me both!!
Love your videos!
Glad you like them!
I love Harper Lee. I am sorry that she did not finish her book. Hopefully the mansucript comes to light and gets published, but now you will have me wondering all day just what did she learn outside what we know that she felt best be suppressed? As always another great mystery from the Deep South.
I hope the manuscript is found one day too. This one's always going to be at the back of my mind.
My inattentiveness almost caused me to miss this session of "Dixie After Dark;" accordingly, a horrific fate, almost as scary as some of the stories on this site. Brrrrr!
Glad you made it by 😃
Wow! Great story!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have the book "Furious Hours - Murder, Fraud & the Last Trial of Harper Lee" written by Casey Cep on this subject. If you're a reader & haven't read this book I highly suggest doing so. It's an absolutely fantastic story & goes into great detail about the case & Ms. Lee's investigation of it. I also have "Mockingbird Songs" written by Wayne Flint, who was mentioned in the video, about Harper Lee. It's a great book as well.
Awesome! Thanks for the book recommendations. I've been needing a new one to start reading.
As an history/theatre teacher from Mississippi this is right up my alley. If they want to make a movie out of this, look no further I got the accent, understand of the culture, etc... Just give me a call
I hear ya!!! I know I'd watch it! Here's hoping you get that call.
Very interesting case. It seems the Preacher’s voodoo finally exacted its payment in a most unusual way.
Oh well…at least he died at the funeral home. Great job, DAD, keep the stories coming! Great channel!
Thank you!!!!
Very interesting 🤔 Great story , you sure find some good ones😊👍👍👍I hope all is well with you ! Many blessings to you and your family 🙏❣️
Thank you. All is well here. I hope it's the same with you too.
Merciful lord, that's creepy. What if the townspeople started seeing the dead man walking around town in the dead of night, looking like a zombie & shuffling around?
That town would have fallen apart at the seams I would guess.
Congrats. You did a good job on this. Look how long it was before "Go Set a Watchman" was found.
excellent point!
Well yes, but Watchman was a first draft of Mockingbird, it was already written, a long time before. She seems never to even attempted to write anything after publishing mockingbird.
Wow great story and video. Thank you for sharing this.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you 😊
There’s a story about a young lady who lived in a home haunted by that voodoo pastor.
Really? Seems like I need to dig a little further. Thanks for the heads up.
❤ Awesome as always thanks
glad you enjoyed it.
Crazy story. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it
Im going to share this so everyone in Monroeville Alabama where our beloved Author lived and died. If you want go know anything about Ms Harper Lee, come on down to Monroeville Alabama, to our square where her daddy was a lawyer.
I'll have to do that soon.
A brilliant story and the music was cool to
Thank you so much!
Another excellent video. I actually read To Kill a Mockingbird in school back in the day. Can you imagine if that book does indeed exist the value of it? Not only that but Radner's estate will probably go after at least half its worth in court. Most excellent. Liked and saved. Blessings
If it does exist, I hope its found.
Harper Lee obviously did something she hadn't intended to do: write a factual documentary wrapped in a piece of fiction. She was a very conscientious woman who would never have hurt a living person that didn't deserve it. I believe that once the innocent surviving folks who could be wrongly incriminated have passed away, Harper Lee's entire book will 'magically' reappear and become her next great novel! She was one of the best writers, ever! She understood the power of words. No one would be hurt because of her.
Very well said.
It's Ms. Lee she never married.
Outstanding story and video. You have a new subscriber.
Awesome, thank you!
Interesting story and enjoyed hearing it. I like To kill a Mockingbird and wish we could go back and live those much simpler times and ways. Sounds like Mr. Burns got some true Southern justice on the reverend.
The Man of the Year blew my mind. When a southern community turns their back on you...they for sure let you know.
This story would have made a good Netflix addition. A lot of the power of voodoo comes just from reputation alone.
no doubt
WHO changes a tire under their car?
Exactly
Love this channel!
Thank you!
It is Alexander City. There is still the unsolved issue in Virginia over Roneoke and Croatia. Canada, the 50 States and Mexico now have a road that connects us. Alabama has Creole. The South is missing Dutch. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and the Cicadas this year.
the Mocking bird is a state bird for 5 states Harriman Tennessee has an old paranormal hospital and the Bell Witch.
Never heard this before.. Great Story
Thank you!
Dang! I wanna read that book I'd never known about and doesn't seem to exist. Was she threatened or afraid of voodoo? Interesting. I hope to hear more about this.
I hope this manuscript is found one day.
A must tead: Furious Hours by Casey Cep. She covers this and is a brilliant writer!!!
Thank you. I'll check that out.
Thank you, I just purchased the book on Audible. The preview looks very promising!
If you're interested in the strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in Southern format, you're in Dixie - after dark.
Oh wait, different channel. :P
😆
I read about the preacher,a couple of years ago, but there was nothing said about Harper Lee.
Holy cow. That Harper! I know Alexander City! The south is beyond fascinating.
It really is!! I love all the stories here.
Thank you for sharing. ❤
Glad you enjoyed it
Amazing tale . What a fascinating case. I reckon this would make a great TV show or movie. I know i would watch this. I had to read to kill a mockingbird at school. Back then wasnt so enamored by it but thars cause we had to write essays on it. Since then have reread that one and loved it.
It's a great book. I do hope this other manuscript is found one day.
Canada loves you! From a subscriber in 🇨🇦
Aw, thank you 😊
Well that's one very interesting story!
Theres more than meets the 👁️ 👁️
No doubt
The person who claimed there were no papers was not her sister. Her sister acted as her POA until she (the sister) was older, and felt like she wasn't up to it. She suggested someone else, another relative, I think. The first thing the second POA did was to publish the book that Ms. Lee strictly forbade anyone to publish. I think we have many questions about this woman.
Oh wow!!
To be specific, Alice Lee retired around 2011/2012 and died in 2014 at age 103. _Go Set a Watchman_ was published in 2015, so presumably the POA waited until Alice (but not the author) was dead.
Love your videos! Your intro is a bit long though.
It's is about time for a new intro. Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.
If we believe the dates on the gravestones (I believe) Reverend Maxwell received insurance monies in 1970, 71, 72 (twice) 76, & 77. Quite the haul in those days. I'm sure the story is basically true, maybe embellished a bit but true.
Perhaps Ms. Lee protecting the community members from gossip.
Interesting the secretive, good man who was judged harshly in TKAM was named Boo Radley, very close to Tom Radney.
Incredibly interesting story.
Thank you 😊
Very good retelling of this situation...Uhm, I can't help but wonder about that part about him being her Step father and Uncle. Please elaborate on that if you know any other information about it. Sidenote, he was a garbage reverend and an even worse person.
He married his brother's widow.
Now that was unexpected 😮
It's a crazy story, for sure
Good story. Never heard this one before.
Incriminating the lawyer maybe?
This was all to easy for a collector of death😮
Kinda my same thoughts
Did I miss something?
why did he kill Maxwell?
He had basically just had enough. He was just someone from the community that felt something needed to be done. That was my take, anyway.
Lee probably destroyed the papers after they asked for them. Obviously they would have disproved what her book said.
That's a strong possibility, but I hope not.
Interesting
Thank you.
good
Thanks
Willie Junior Maxwell ; Birth: 31 May 1925. Coosa County, Alabama, USA ; Death: 18 Jun 1977 (aged 52). Alexander City, Tallapoosa County, Alabama, USA ; Burial.
Gamblers. This is so bad...
Truth is Stranger Than🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
For sure
Hey Dixie 🫡
H9ws everything going, Jim?
@@DixieAfterDark doing good, hope you and yours are doing great 👍
@@cemeteryvisits other than the pollen, everything's great
Damn
I love a good Alabama mystery there amany of em
Sure are. Thanks. I'm gladnyou enjoyed this one.
🦋The sick reverend would have kept on killing if this man hadn't have killed him. That was a mad dog on the loose.
I agree
Huh. 💙
❤️
All white jury? Did somebody get paid?
I think the community just flat out didn't care.
Hillbilly Justice...
Maybe
This could only happen in Alabama the Beautiful 😮
no doubt
@@DixieAfterDark as an Alabama native, I can say I have never heard of this bit of crazy! Very interesting & surprising! I'm pleased you brought this story to light, & impressed with your narration. Keep up the good work ❤️
😮😮😮😮
🌞
😃
Voice like honey…I want you to walk around behind me and narrate my life.
ya'll gonna make me blush LOL