The Gaffney Ledger from Gaffney, South Carolina • Page 1

Martin Produced Evidence Which Freed Dedmond By BillR. Gibbons Even though he had confessed to the 1967 murder of Mrs. Annie Lucille Dedmond Lee Roy Martin conyinced law enforcement officers only after he produced the actual evidence. Roger Zane Dedmond had served 10 months of an 18 year sentence for killing his wife. Martin, before and after his capture, gave the details of the Dedmond murder.

Officials in Union County, where the body was found and where Dedmond was tried and convicted, still doubted the story. Cherokee County Sheriff Julian B. Wright, Chief Deputy Ernest Harrington, SLED Agents C. L. McKinnon and Earl Collins and other law enforcement personnel, under a cover of secrecy, brought Martin back to Cherokee County from Columbia after the capture.

With amazing accuracy, Martin pointed out areas where Mrs. Dedmond's effects were discarded almost one year before. Weeds and undergrowth had taken the area where keys and other contents of Mrs. Dedmond's purse were discarded; however, prisoners and guards from the Cherokee County prison camp combed the area and found the keys. Later, in a tangle of undergrowth, in the exact spot pointed out the day before by Martin, prisoners discovered some trading stamps which Martin told officers were in the slain woman's purse on the night of the murder.

While he was in Cherokee County, Martin also pointed out other areas of the county where personal effects of the other victims had been discarded. Articles of clothing and personal effects were found near Interstate 85 in the Concord Community, near the Union Highway off the road to Medallion Park and in a nearby creek, in an abandonded well off conviction by a jury, and the subsequent recommendation of mercy as announced by the jury foreman, at least one member of the jury said he was not asked about the mercy recommendation and did not, indeed, agree with it. However, the decision stood and Martin was sentenced to life for the Dedmond and the Opal Buckson deaths. Two more life sentences were added after Martin was tried before a judge and not a jury and found guilty of the deaths of Nancy Christine Rhinehart and Mrs. Parris.

Martin requested that he not get a jury trial. He now had four life sentences. Police, who took extensive notes of Martin 's revelations to them, say he was very clever, but, that his apparent concern for the miscarriage of justice in the conviction of Roger Dedmond, was likely the catalyst which led him to make the telephone calls and eventually be captured. the Chesnee Highway, and there was the body of a white poodle which belonged to Mrs. Nancy Parris, one of the victims.

The dog's body was shown to police in a remote area of the Wilkinsville Community. It was the evidence which Martin pointed out that brought freedom to Dedmond. He was released from the Union County work gang on February 28, 1968. Dedmond's attorneys rushed through the necessary papers and the appropriate legal steps were taken to free the husband of the slain woman. Martin admitted to officers that the conviction of Dedmond had preyed on his mind.

Martin's second telephone call was centered around his first statement: "We're going to have to do something about that man down yonder serving my sentence." His greatest concern, at the time of his calls, was that Dedmond be freed. He had hoped to get Dedmond free without being caught himself, but officers didn't buy the story until Martin actually produced his own evidence which convicted him and cleared the path to freedom for Dedmond. Even though it was understood that officers had received some kind of information which allowed them to go directly to the missing evidence, it was never actually reported that Martin was brought back to Cherokee County from the Central Corrections Institute in Columbia, to point out places and items which could and would be used against him. Officers feared that the technical aspects of the then recent Supreme Court rulings would jeopardize their case if too much information was published. Even the first trial, the one which actually convicted Martin of the Dedmond slaying, had some strange aftermaths.

After the nn- TM T7 1 HE UAFFNEY LEDGER A NEWSPAPER IN ALL THAT THE WORD IMPLIES, DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF CHEROKEE COUNTY. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 16, 1894 VOL 78-NO. 46, Gaffney, South Carolina, Friday, June 2, 1972 STREET SALES 10 CENTS Inmate Charged in Prison Death of Lee Roy Martin .53 1 sz I (- 1 Jprirf- "I I Ill IIIIMIIHium I I- -v-'- 1 i rv a Union County prison camp after previously being convicted of the murder. Martin, a textile worker, was given a psychiatric examination after his arrest and was judged sane. While awaiting trial, in custody at Central Institition, he made a half-hearted attempt at suicide when he pulled a slat from his bed and scratched his arm.

Georgia authorities also questioned Martin in connection with the disappearance, from Atlanta 1965, of Mrs. Mary Shotwell Little, but were unable to establish any connection between the disappearance and the Cherokee County slayings. The rash of Cherokee County murders had terrorized the Gaffney community, and the killer was dubbed, the "Gaffney Strangler." Gaffney area between March 1967 and February 1968, of four women: Mrs. Annie Lucille Dedmond, 32; Opal Dianne Buckson, 15; Nancy Christine Rhinehart, 14; and Mrs. Nancy Parris, 20.

Martin was arrested in February 1968, following an extensive manhunt sparked by an anonymous phone call to the then managing editor of The Ledger, Bill Gibbons. The caller described the locations of the bodies of Miss Rhinehart and Mrs. Parris, and stated, "If they don't catch me, there will be more deaths." The caller also confessed he had killed Mrs. Dedmond. Martin's conviction in Mrs.

Dedmond's death resulted in freeing her husband, Roger Zane Dedmond, who had served 10 months of an 18-year sentence in By Rodger Painter Ledger Staff An inmate of the Central Correctional Institution at Columbia was charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death about 5:15 p. m. Wednesday of the convicted "Gaffney Strangler," Lee Roy Martin. Kenneth Marshall Rumsey, 30, of Pickens, was charged in a warrant issued by Magistrate Ken Love and signed by Warden J. W.

Strickland. The stabbing occurred in Martin's cell in Cellblock Three during an activity period at the prison. Both Martin and Rumsey lived in the cellblock, where Martin worked as a janitor. Martin, who was stabbed in the back and in the chest with an unidentified instrument, apparently died immediately. Martin was serving four consecutive life sentences for the strangulation murders, in the SCHOOL IS THE SUMMER DREAMS REMAIN (Photo by Rodger Painter) GOP To Offer Senate Candidate Tayor Seeks Seat 1 Former House member Newton C.

Taylor filed Thursday as a candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination to House Seat 1 presently occupied by Loyd Lovelace. Taylor joins Lovelace and another former House member, Henry L. Jolly, for the June 27 Democratic Primary. Also listed in the race for Seat 2 is incumbent Dolphus C. Medley and Michael R.

Daniel. FORECAST SOUTH CAROLINA Sunny and warmer today and Saturday. Gear and cool tonight. Highs today mostly low 80s. Lows tonight mid and upper 50s.

Highs Saturday in the 80s. The County Republican Convention left an opening in the House race for Smoke should he not receive the Senate nomination. By naming a "ghost" candidate, Ed Loftis, for Seat 2 in the House delegation, the party will still have a slot for Smoke if he fails in his bid for the Senate nomination. County Republican Chairman Ernest Swad, who was named earlier as a House candidate along with Smoke, asked for and received the nomination as a candidate for House Seat 1. Swad will face the Democratic nominee in the General Election in November.

Thus far, incumbent Loyd Lovelace and former House members Henry Jolly and Newton Taylor have filed as Democratic candidates for Seat 1. W. Gladden Smoke, Gaffney businessman who was nominated earlier as a Republican candidate for one of two Cherokee County House seats, told the County Republican Convention Thursday night that he would Batchler Issues Statement James D. Batchler, candidate for re-election to the County Board of Commissioners from Cherokee Township has issued the following statement in support of his candidacy: "James D. Batchler, now completing a six year term in (Continued on Page 2) seek the party's nomination for Senate Seat 2 in the Fifth Senatorial District.

Smoke will file with the State Election Commission prior to the noon deadline Saturday. He may pick up opposition for the nomination from Gene Griffith of Newberry who lost in a 1968 race with Sen. Robert Lake, although Griffith received more than 60 per cent of the vote in his home county. If Griffith joins the race for the Republican nomination, the State Republican Convention will decide prior to the June 27 deadline which candidate it will send against incumbent Senators J. C.

Bonner of Cherokee and Lake of Newberry. Bonner and Lake both filed with the Election Commission Tuesday as candidates in the June 27 Democratic Primary. In other action Thursday, the Republican Convention reconfirmed all of its candidates for county offices. Jim Martin, former County Commissioner who switched parties recently, will be a candidate for County Supervisor. Mrs.

Amy Leslie is a candidate for Commissioner from Limestone Township and Dean McCraw will seek the post as Commissioner from Cherokee Township in the November General Election. Republicans were originally scheduled to have all candidates nominated by Saturday, but under the threat of court action the S. C. General Assembly passed a compromise measure Thursday which extended this deadline until June 27, the day of the Democratic Primary. vs.

1 Martin Experienced Fear, Victims' Kin Felt Bitterness When Lee Roy Martin made conflicting statements about his guilt and innocence, he was just displaying what he considered to be his own "special" Martin felt he was a dual person. He told police he could remember standing on a hill, looking down in the valley and watching himself commit the crimes. He said himself, "I'm physco." Sheriff Ernest Harrington, at the time chief deputy to Sheriff Julian B. Wright, might be the one best suited to testify to the "change" which could come over this individual. After Martin had been persuaded to "show" officers how he placed a belt around the necks of the victims, Harrington volunteered to be "the victim." Even though Martin was in custody, the officer had to shove the accused away.

"He had a strange look in his eyes" officers said. Martin, after being broken from his hold on the belt around the officers neck, sobbed and apologized saying he didn't know what came over him. He explained he was very glad he was pushed away Martin's mother, Mrs. Daisy Martin Sarratt, said her son told her that he was "two people." She also stated that Martin was certain he would eventually be killed in prison. In a letter, shortly after he was sent to prison, Martin said he would "have to sleep with one eye open, because everyone down here is after me." He also told Ledger Editor Bill Gibbons he was "sorry if I have caused you or your family any trouble." Martin called Gibbons to relate to him the location of two bodies.

Mrs. Julia Rhinehart admits that the death of the man who killed her daughter (Nancy Rhinehart) does not kill the memories. Mrs. Martha Buckson, mother of another of Martin's victims, said she was awfully bitter at first, "but taking a life for a life has never solved anything." She added, "Some friends called me and told me Martin had been killed. But that don't help me none It don't bring my girl back." Mrs.

Buckson said Opal's sister, who is 20, was really worried that Martin died the way he did. "She wanted him to have to live with the thought of those he killed." Monroe Parris, husband of Mrs. Nancy Parris, another of Martin's victims, said on the day of Martin's capture, he hoped to live to "get a crack at him (Martin)." Ironically, Parris died before Martin, the victim of an automobile accident. Another man who helped lead the investigation, SLED Agent C. L.

McKinnon, also did not outlive the man he helped to capture. McKinnon died in a fishing boat accident. Prison Warden J. W. Strickland said Martin was kept in maximum security in 1967 and 1968 but was released to the prison yard after that.

He was more of a loner than a trouble-maker, the warden said. "He was cut by another prisoner in 1969, but it wasn't Martin's fault," he added. Martin, himself, felt the final chapter of the "Gaffney Strangler" story would be written with his death at the hands of another prisoner. His mother feared this too. Those who experienced those terrible days when fear gripped this community like a terrifying plague, can attest to the awful things which fear can do.

James D. Batchler KEEPS ON PUSHING I If I Didn't Farm, I Couldn't Make It' f'. forced to use them because I can't get any help." he said. "I've never tried to change. I'm the same as I was 50 years ago." Mr.

Littlejohn attributes his ability to keep up the pace to clean living. "And I try not to worry over anything," he added. In 1954 his doctor told him to quit working, but he only slowed down for a while and even at 75 can now work circles around others half his age. He was turned down by the Army during World War I for a disability tiiat was never explained to him. "I never did know," he said, "but whatever it was it never bothered me." Although he never had a chance to serve his country, he's proud of their eight sons who have all served with the armed forces.

All of their sons and three daughters are now scattered all over the United States, but a granddaughter now lives with (Continued on Page 2) earning a living and having enough left over to make payments on the farm. "It gets awfully hard when you have to muscle it up out of the ground," Mr. Littlejohn said. After more than 20 years, everything around the Littlejohns has changed. Housing developments encircle their farm, which is now inside the city limits.

But they remain unchanged. The cooking is still done on a wood stove and the heat comes from wood-fired heaters. They grow all their vegetables and each year they raise two hogs for slaughter. They even still have milk cows and churn their own butter. There are apple, peach and pecan trees and grape vines scattered around the farm.

Although all the planting is done with a mule, Mr. Littlejohn has been forced to turn to modern machinery such as a tractor and combine to help with his cultivating and harvesting. "I'm (Twelfth In A Series) By W. O. Brown J.

W. Wright Seventy-five-year-old Carl Littlejohn had just finished three hard hours in the field with his mule. Admittedly, he felt good. "If I would quit work, I could hardly go," he said. So he keeps on pushing himself just as he has for most of his life.

Mr. Littlejohn and his wife, who is proud of her 70 years, have never known anything else but farming. About 21 years ago, when most people their age would have been looking toward retirement, the couple bought a 35'A acre farm on the outskirts of Gaffney. Unlike many who buy farms simply to sit on the porch and enjoy the "golden years, the Littlejohns had other intentions-they would continue to earn their livelihood from the earth. With many of their 11 children grown, they started a new life on their own farm.

It wasn't easy I. LITTLEJOHNS STILL ACTIVE WITH THEIR FARM.