Milledegville’s Sesquicentennial Murders
Local author Susan Lindsley will be launching her book Milledgeville’s Sesquicentennial Murders May 2, at the Red Door in downtown Milledgeville.
Seventy years ago, Lindsley learned who Marion Stembridge was.
Her family friend, Eva Sloan, barely missed being one of his murder victims. Sloan had just left the law office she shared with Marion Ennis when Stembridge entered “attorney hall,” strode to the office, and killed Ennis.
According to Lindsley, Sloan and others thought another lawyer was playing with firecrackers as part of the celebrations set to begin that evening with a grand ball to honor the 150th birthday of Milledgeville. But plans for the great party of 1953 were shattered by gunfire. The shooter was supposed to be in jail for the voluntary manslaughter of an 18-year-old black girl but through the state Court of Appeals and the U. S. Supreme Court, he remained free until the appeals ran out and Baldwin County ordered him to prison.
In April 1953, he was found guilty in Federal Court of attempting to bribe IRS officials and faced sentencing on Monday, May 4, 1953.
However, Stembridge decided to see justice done, by executing those he blamed for his troubles and his trials. Two murders began on May 2, and moments later, he killed himself and made national headlines for major afternoon newspapers.
Lindsley reminds her audience that Marion Stembridge was real through her novel, Milledgeville’s Sesquicentennial Murders. Learn the forgotten facts through legal documents and court testimony for events. Lindlsey’s fivepage index enables readers to locate family members and family friends who are mentioned in the book.
When possible, she indexed ladies by maiden and married name.
The book is scheduled to be launched from 3-6 p.m. at the Red Door, 133 South Wayne St., Milledgeville, on May 2, the 70th anniversary of the shootings.
‘Buddy’ Ennis, the son of Marion Ennis, will be in attendance. Those who purchase their book on May 2 will receive a gold label on the cover of the book to commemorate the two dates.
-Contributed