Where is Mamie Thurman’s Body?

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By Dwight Williamson

Photo of Dwight Williamson, authorGeorge Morrison, half-brother of Mamie Thurman, was simply trying to learn his family background when he first discovered he had a half-sister who died in Logan County in 1932.

However, when he discovered that the half-sister he never knew was viciously killed and the circumstances which still shroud the murder, his interest became even more intense.

His hopes of finding her burial place during a recent visit were fruitless, however as the trail to it was shadowed by more mystery, this time conflicting burial records.

Records at what is now Honaker Funeral Home in Logan showed she was buried in Bradfordsville, Ky. and a subsequent visit to the small neighboring state town showed she was not buried there.

However, with the help of employees of the Logan County Clerk’s office, a death certificate was found which stated she was buried in the Logan Memorial Park located at McConnell. The Banner made one visit to a graveyard in McConnell but could turn up no gravesite. Other graveyards in the area will be checked out later.

While it is possible that Morrison may at long last have the opportunity to visit the grave to place a proper headstone at the site, the spot hasn’t been located by anyone involved in the latest inquiry.

Though Logan Banner microfilm files give a detailed description of the funeral services conducted at Nighbert Memorial Church were she was a member, there is no mention of the actual funeral. The funeral services, however, drew tremendous interest at the time and was described in The Banner as “one of the most unusual funeral services every held in this county.”

A total of 550 women and 30 men attended the services conducted by Rev. B.C Gamble, pastor of Nighbert Memorial Church. Rev. Gamble did not deliver a sermon. Instead, Gamble simply read Bible scriptures from John, verses 1 and 2 in which Jesus was brought a woman accused of adultery. It was the people’s intention to stone her to death, and after listening to them Jesus said: “He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

The Reverend read further: ” And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, wen out one by one, beginning at the eldest even unto the last; and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

After the text had been said, Rev. Gamble hesitated, then said: “This is the text, develop your own sermon on that basis.” An impressive silence followed and sound of weeping could be heard through the congregation. The obituary was read and the congregation dismissed.

A headline in Tuesday, July 5th’s Logan Banner read: “Judge James Damron To Aid Thurman Investigation Here.” A sub-headline read: “Famed West Virginia Criminal Lawyer Offers To Logan County and State gratis, In Letter To Prosecutors.”

Judge Damron of Huntington was reported to be one of West Virginia’s most distinguished criminal lawyers and judges. In writing to attorneys Hager and Scaggs, Mr. Damron was quoted as follows: “I can’t conceive of a more drastic deed than this. From reports, in my judgment, it is the handiwork of a well-laid conspiracy. It is of such a nature that the fair name of Logan should be upheld in a vigorous prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime.”

In a letter back to Damron, Scaggs said: “I agree with you as to the cruel and brutal murder of Mrs. Mamie Thurman and believe as you say, that it is the handiwork of a well laid conspiracy and the the perpetrators of the foul and damnable murder must be apprehended and brought to justice for the sake of the good name of Logan County, if for nothing else.’

Scaggs also made a public appeal to the citizens of he county to their aid to the prosecuting attorney, state police and sheriff’s offices in the tracking down of the criminals involved of of Mrs. Thurman. Scaggs described her as “one of Logan’s most popular women.”

On July 8, another interesting development occurred. A letter written by suspect Clarence Stephenson (a black handyman who worked for another suspect, Harry Robertson, a financial and political figure in Logan) while he was being held in the McDowell County Jail, was addressed to his sister in Logan. In the letter Stephenson tells his sister to go see Mr. Robertson and them not to worry>’ When earlier jailed at Williamson, when first arrested, Stephenson wrote a similar letter to his sister.

What the letter meant would prove a basis for little than more speculation about the motive and handling surrounding this famous killing.

(Next: Part Four, human blood is found on Robertson’s car; state chemist to testify at trial and Stephenson is bound over to the grand jury).

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

*Published with permission from the author. Transcribed from an August 18, 1985, Logan Banner newspaper clipping courtesy of Mark Edward Jones.

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