Real Drama Provided In 1932 Trail

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Special thanks to Mark Edward Jones for providing a clipping of this article.

The Logan Banner, Friday, August 23, 1985

By Dwight Williamson
Eighth in A Series

Harry Robertson had an impressive list of credentials.

He was President of the City Commission, banker-sportsman and treasurer of the Logan Woman’s Club’s public library…add to that the dubious distinction of being a central figure in the Mamie murder case of 53 years ago.

In the trial that saw his black handyman Clarence Stephenson found guilty of Mrs. Thurman’s murder, the late Mr. Robertson almost brought the crowded courtroom of Oct. 11, 1932 to its feet on several occasions, as he revealed the sorry and sordid details of his relationship with the now legendary and alleged temptress.

While it sounds like something out of an old Grade B Movie, it was real depression era drama unfolding before the eyes and ears of Logan County.

Robertson told the packed courtroom, which watched from a balcony and public gallery the inside story of his relations with Mamie Thurman, the inside story of his many “fox-hunting” expeditions with the Vixen of Stratton Street and of the two-year deception he perpetrated on his wife and Mrs. Thurman’s husband.
June 28, 1932 Front Page of The Logan Banner
The Banner reported there was a larger crowd than ever on hand for the second day of the trial, if that could be possible since the courtroom was overflowing each day. Many people were turned away at the doors by deputies, according to The Banner’s account written by reporter Mary Scales, who is said to have been a very efficient writer. She later married Adolph Marushi, brother of former Logan High School principal Rudy Marushi, now a resident in Florida.

Fannette Jones of High Street was called to the stand even before Garland Davis, the deaf-mute who found Mrs. Thurman’s body, and Harry Robertson.

The black lady, at whose house Mr. Robertson and Mrs. Thurman were said to have met at times, testified that the first time Mrs. Thurman came to her house was on the Saturday before she was found dead. She said Mrs. Thurman came to her house about 8 p.m. and left 10 minutes later and brought her own linens. She described the slain woman as being nicely dressed on this occasion, wearing a yellow linen dress.

E.F. Murphy, a local businessman, was next on the stand. Murphy, who lived near the Robertsons, testified of seeing the defendant Stephenson alone when he came home from work on the day preceding the finding of Mrs. Thurman’s body, and also of seeing Stephenson and Mrs. Thurman together about 6 or 7 p.m. that evening.

Sherman Ferguson, Ernest Broom, Holbert Gilliam and Don Huff, all of Holden, were among other men called to the witness stand. Young Ferguson said he saw Stephenson driving a Ford sedan about 12:30 Tuesday night, June 20, when he was “down town” with Nick Poltnori and John Buckland. There was no mention as to what the other men testified to.

Contrary to rumor that he had been barred from the courtroom, the widower Jack Thurman was a spectator in the courtroom. His testimony the previous day was described as “soft” and he was asked frequently to speak louder. The Banner described Thurman as appearing nervous and pale.

Davis testified that he had seen Mrs. Thurman before but didn’t know her. He said he was berry picking when he stumbled upon the body.

Robertson testified that he and Mrs. Thurman worked at the Guyan Valley Bank, that he had known the Thurmans for seven or eight years and that he had known Stephenson for about the same amount of time. He added that Stephenson lived in the attic of his home. Robertson said he kept a hunting camp on Trace Mountain and often took his dogs to the camp in his Ford. Stephenson went with him whenever he was home, according to Robertson.

Robertson said he had seen Mrs. Thurman about 8 p.m. the day she was killed and he left his house shortly after to take the children to a swimming pool. That was the last time he saw her, he said. He added that Stephenson was in the house at that time. After returning to town, he said he was at the Smokehouse restaurant until 9 p.m. with his son, listening to a prize fight. The Ford was gone when he returned.

Robertson said he and Mrs. Thurman had planned to go on another “hunting trip” the following Tuesday, but he had called it off in the afternoon. The body was found about a mile from the hunting camp he kept on 22 Mountain. The taxi bills for taking Mrs. Thurman to her mountain rendezvous were all charged to Jack Thurman, according to The Banner’s account in October 11th edition of the newspaper.

Robertson said Stephenson would meet Mrs. Thurman at Holden Store and take her back to Logan. He said his wife didn’t know about the routine, but “suspicioned.”

“I guess Mamie had to be in by 11 o’clock,” said Robertson, adding that Stephenson always brought her back to town.

Robertson said he went hunting at Crooked Creek the Saturday before the murder and Mrs. Thurman was with him at the time. He said he had no “engagement” with her then; but later went to Fannie Jones’ home and was with Mamie about an hour. Stephenson took her home. Robertson said he had met with her other places besides on “fox-hunting trips.”

In 1932, The Logan Banner printed just twice weekly, Tuesday and Fridays. So it was not until Friday that another newspaper account of the trial was available. Of course the trial ended about 10 p.m. Thursday when the jury deliberated about 50 minutes before returning a verdict of first-degree murder against Clarence Stephenson, and mercy was recommended.

However, The Banner did print testimony of other witnesses, including Mrs. Robertson. Roy Hall, Frank Hager and two other men also testified that they had seen Stephenson driving the Ford sedan in the Holden area very early in the morning the day the body was found. The men said they were walking home from work in the mines.

(NEXT: Part Nine, “Mrs. Robertson Testifies; Stephenson Says: ‘I Don’t Know Anymore Than I’ve Told’).”

Dwight Williamson is a former writer for the Logan Banner and a retired magistrate for Logan County.

*Published with permission.

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