The Fall of Night
By Bobby A. Troutt
Copyright 2013 Bobby A. Troutt
Table of Contents
Lost Creek
Love Letters
Murders at Mud Creek
Ten Below Zero
Cemetery Road
Confessions
The Valley of a Bitter Day
*****
The Fall of Night
Lost Creek
It was toward the early morning hours and darkness hung heavy over the town of Lost Creek, Mississippi. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was early one Saturday morning around two-fifteen in 1951 when I took my dogs out to run. Mostly everyone in Mooneyhan County was still asleep. It had been a good run; the dogs treed two coons and three opossums. I was on my way home with the dogs following close behind. I cut through the woods of the Perry’s Place which was a shortcut to my house. Little did I know, at that time, within a few hours Peggy Perry would be found dead. I stopped off in the nearby woods close to the Perry’s house to take a leak. The best I could tell, Norman Perry, her husband wasn’t at home; I didn’t see his car in the driveway. However, when I looked across the yard through a patch of trees on the other side of the house, I saw a car sitting in the thicket of trees with its lights off. That’s when I saw the porch light come and Rufus Bray making his way across the yard. Rufus was the handyman around town. But, I had no idea why he was as the Perry’s at that time of morning. It was awfully early to be doing any handy work. When I looked again to see if the car was still there, I saw a flicker of light inside the car. I figured whomever was in the car had lit up a cigarette. Rufus apparently saw the flicker of light as well and took off running. I watched a few more minutes and was about to leave when a man got out of the car. The best I could tell, it was Norman Perry. He leaned against the car a few minutes and smoked a cigarette. As I was about to leave, he must have sensed something because he started looking around. I stood still, trying not to make a sound.
“Virgil, is that you?” he asked.
I watched as he took the last draw of his cigarette, thumped it in the road and headed for the house.
“Virgil, it sounds like your dogs have something treed.”
I never said a word. I headed home as fast as I could because I felt like something bad had happened or was going to happen and I didn’t want to be involved in it.
Morning came early, especially since I had been up all night. I got up and looked out the window to check on my dogs; they had made it back home. No sooner than I lay back down, I heard sirens in the distance.
Beverly, my wife, looked at me and said, “I wonder what on earth has happened.”
I have no idea,” I replied.
The screams of the sirens sounded in the distance and seemed to be getting closer. Suddenly, they stopped; it sounded like they stopped down the road from our house.
“It sounds like they stopped at Norman and Peggy’s place,” Beverly said with a worried voice.
“I believe I’ll go over and see what’s happening,” I said as I got up and got dressed.
“Hold on, Virgil, I want to go with you,” she insisted. “I hope nothing terrible has happened.”
We hurriedly got dressed, jumped into the truck and headed over there. We arrived just in time to see the coroner going into the house. It wasn’t long before a body was carried out and loaded into the coroner’s van that was backed up to the house. Beverly made a loud gasping sound and buried her face against my shoulder. We couldn’t tell, at first, who the deceased was. Then, I saw Norman step out onto the porch with the sheriff so I knew it had to be Peggy.
“It’s Peggy isn’t it, Virgil,” she asked.
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” I replied.
“What on earth could have happened?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” I answered.
After the sheriff left, Norman walked over to our truck and told us he had come home that morning and found Peggy dead.
“Like I told the sheriff, when I got home this morning I found her half-nude body lying across the bed and a piece of grass string on the floor. She had been strangled.”
“She was murdered,” cried Beverly. “Oh, Norman, I’m so sorry.”
“Yes, the sheriff is looking into it as a murder,” replied Norman. “She definitely didn’t die of natural causes. It appears she was strangled; she had deep cuts on her throat and bruises around her neck.”
“You have my sympathies,” cried Beverly.
“I could use your prayers,” he said. “It’s going to be hard. We’ve been together for so long.”
“We will, Norman. We’ll be praying for you,” I replied.
“Virgil, have you been running your dogs lately?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I replied, “I ran them last night.”
Norman walked away without saying another word. Beverly and I left and headed for home; we hardly said a word to each other.
I didn’t know what to say and Beverly appeared to be in shock. She told me she had seen Peggy a few days ago and she seemed to be okay.
“Virgil, do you think Norman killed her?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “He can be hotheaded at times.”
“Hey, look,” she cried out as we passed a man walking along the road, “it’s Rufus. Let’s pull over and see if he has heard about Peggy.”
I pulled over, slowly backed up to him and stopped.
“Rufus, are you doing alright?” I asked.
“I sure am,” he replied. “I couldn’t be better.”
“Rufus, have you heard about Peggy?” asked Beverly.
“No, what happened,” he said. “Why, what’s wrong?”
“They found her body this morning,” replied Beverly.
“What!” he shouted. “They found her body. What do you mean?”
“She was murdered,” I informed him.
“I just saw her a day or two ago,” he replied. “I don’t know what to think.”
“Virgil, do they know who might have done it?” he questioned.
“No, not yet,” I replied. “That’s all I know for now. Well, we have to get home. It’s been a long day already and I’ve got to feed my dogs.”
“Was that your dogs running last night?” Rufus asked.
“Yes, it was,” I replied.
“I thought it might have been,” he said. “I’ll see you later.”
“See you, Rufus,” yelled Beverly as we pulled off.
The murder of Peggy Perry traveled rapidly across the countryside. There were all kinds of tales and gossip spreading through Lost Creek. Everyone was wondering if Norman killed her or if it was a stranger passing through town. The biggest rumor was that he caught her with another man and killed her. Norman’s alibi was that he was attending a meeting. The stories went on and on. There was one out that Peggy was seen picking up a hitchhiker, about three days before her death, on her way home from town. Some people think the hitchhiker found out where she lived, came back and killed her. All of the rumors were strictly speculation and hearsay.
Shortly after Peggy’s murder, a body was found in a shallow grave on Rufus’s property. At first, it was speculated to be the body of the hitchhiker Peggy had picked up days before her murder. But, the body was badly decomposed. Whoever it was, they had been deceased for quite a while. It was later determined that heavy rain from the previous month had washed open one of the graves from an old family graveyard nearby. The hitchhiker was a person of interest, but that also led to a dead end.
The investigation of Peggy’s murder went on. Two weeks passed without many leads. The rumors had slowed down a bit until one day when an anonymous tip was called
in to the sheriff’s office about Rufus. The caller stated that Rufus and Peggy were having an affair. At first, it was taken lightly because it was 1951 in Mississippi. That type of relationship didn’t happen much then; Rufus was black and Peggy was white. The police eventually took the tip seriously. It was their only lead in the case. The police were able to determine the call was placed by a KKK member. They knew Norman had ties to the Klan.
About a week later, Norman approached me about what I saw that night at his house. I told him that I didn’t want any part of it and I wasn’t going to get involved. But, Norman pressured me to talk to the sheriff. He wanted me to tell the sheriff I saw Rufus coming out of his house the night Peggy was killed. I looked at him and started to tell him where to go. But, I figured it was in my best interest to walk away. When I started walking away, Norman grabbed me by my shoulder. I stopped and warned him to take his hands off of me. Norman took his hand off my shoulder, backed off and we both walked away from each other. I knew Norman wouldn’t try anything just yet because he knew I could testify he was at home the night Peggy was killed.
“It’s not over, Virgil; not by a long shot,” Norman yelled as he walked away.
A few days later Rufus approached me and questioned me about Norman getting home early the night of Peggy’s murder.
“Rufus,” I said, “are you crazy seeing a married woman and a white one at that? Are you trying to get yourself killed? You do know Norman has ties with the Klan.”
“Yes, I do. But, Virgil,” he replied. “I didn’t kill her; I loved her. She was alive when I left that night. Norman is most likely the one who killed her. Peggy told me they had been having trouble for the past year. She was about to leave him and ask for a divorce. However, for some reason another, she changed her mind and wanted to break it off with me. I don’t know what happened. She took a ninety degree turn for some reason or another. I have no idea what scared her away from me.”
“Think, Rufus, she probably changed her mind because she was threatened by the Klan. She was trying to protect you and keep you alive.”
“I’m sure Norman had been suspicious of us for a long time. But, I promise, he never said anything to her about it. Virgil, you have to believe me. She was alive when I left that night. You know Norman has always had a bad temper. Everyone in Lost Creek knows that. He could have lost his temper and accidentally killed her. And now he is trying to make it look like I did it,” he said as Sheriff Richard and a couple of his deputies pulled up.
“Hey, Virgil and Rufus,” he said. “Rufus, I’m going to get right down to business. I have to take you in for questioning.”
“For what, sheriff?” Rufus asked. “I haven’t done anything.”
“Well, if you haven’t done anything you shouldn’t mind coming to the station to answer a few questions.”
“But, sheriff,” he replied.
“You better go on, Rufus” I said. “Things will be alright.”
The deputies handcuffed Rufus and put him in the back of the patrol car.
“Virgil, what do you think of this situation?” the sheriff questioned.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “Do you have any other suspects?”
“Not at this time,” said the sheriff. “The only reason I’m taking Rufus in for questioning is because an anonymous tip was called into the sheriff’s office.”
“Do you know who called in the tip?” I asked.
“I have a good idea, but I’d rather not say right now.” replied Sheriff Richard. “Well, I got to go, Virgil,” he said. “Remember, my door is always open if you need me.”
“Thanks, Richard. That’s good to know.”
When they arrived back at the courthouse, a couple of Rufus’ old friends were sitting under a bodock tree killing time by whittling and spitting. They spoke to him and one of them asked him if he would be there Saturday night. He told him he didn’t know for sure. On Saturday nights Rufus and some others shot dice in the back of the old country store after it closed. The jail was located on the fourth floor of the courthouse. They took Rufus into the interrogation room and began questioning him. Rufus didn’t deny that he was at the Perry’s house. He explained that around two o’clock, Peggy asked him to come over because she had some odd jobs for him to do. They asked him how long he stayed. He said he stayed for only about thirty minutes and he left around two-thirty. He told them he didn’t know she was dead until the next day.
“Did you go back later that night?” they asked.
“No,” he said after he paused for a moment.
“Did you have to think about your answer, Rufus?” questioned Sheriff Richard.
“No, sir,” he replied. “I just don’t understand why I’m here.”
“We got a tip that you were seen at the Perry’s place late that night,” explained Sheriff Richard. “You were one of the last people to see Peggy alive.”
They questioned Rufus for about two hours before he broke down and admitted that he was over there late that night. But, he made it clear that she was alive when he left.
“Were you and Peggy having an affair?” asked Sheriff Richard.
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
“Did Norman know about it?” questioned Sheriff Richard.
“I’m sure he suspected it,” Rufus stated.
After questioning, Rufus was booked into jail. Later on that evening, the sheriff got another tip from an anonymous caller. They informed him that I was at the house the night when Peggy was killed and saw Rufus leaving the house. I knew sooner or later I would have to come forth with what I knew. I was sitting on the porch when Sheriff Richard pulled up. I knew my time had come; it was definitely not a social call.
“Well, Virgil,” he said, “I think it is about time we had a little talk.”
“Are you taking me in, Sheriff Richard?” I asked.
“No, Virgil there’s no need for that,” he replied.
“I guess you got another tip,” I said sarcastically. “Those tips are getting pretty convenient.”
“Yep,” he replied, “they are.”
“Was the tip about me?”
“Yep, it was” the sheriff said.
“Well, I’ll tell you what I know. I have nothing to hide and I’ll be relieved to tell someone.”
“I am all ears,” said Sheriff Richard.
I opened up and told him everything I saw that night and what I knew. He asked me what time I saw Norman. I told him it was between two and three o’clock. Sheriff Richard then told me that Norman didn’t get home until six o’clock that morning and he had a strong alibi to prove it.
“I checked his story out and it appears he is telling the truth. I can’t get anyone to tell me otherwise.”
“Do you really believe his story, Sheriff Richard?” I asked.
“No, I don’t. But, that’s all I can say at the moment. I believe that’s all the questioning I have for now. I am going to have Norman picked up for more questioning. I may need to talk with you again as well. Virgil, thanks for your cooperation. I’ll keep in touch. Have a good day.”
I was relieved to get that off my chest. I yelled in the house and asked Beverly if she wanted to ride in to town with me.
“No, I reckon not,” she replied.
“I’ll see you later. I shouldn’t be gone long,” I stated.
“Okay,” she said as she opened the screen door and gave me a kiss.
“What was that for?” I asked.
“For getting it all off your chest,” she said.
“Thanks, I needed that,” I replied with a big smile as I got into the truck and headed for town to get some supplies.
Norman was picked up for more questioning. It didn’t really matter because there wasn’t enough evidence to break Norman’s alibi. The sheriff knew the Klan was supporting Norman’s alibi which was that he was attending a meeting with them the night of Peggy’s murder. I was the only one
who saw him at his house between the hours of two and three o’clock. The problem is I also saw Rufus around that time as well. All the evidence pointed to Rufus. With Norman’s alibi, they couldn’t hold him. But, Rufus didn’t have a chance.
On my way back home, I couldn’t help but think about Rufus. I wished there was something I could do to help him. But, I didn’t know what it could be. I couldn’t help but believe he didn’t kill Peggy. Finally, I arrived back home. I blew the horn and called out for Beverly. But, she didn’t answer. I went on into the house and called her name as I went from room to room. She was nowhere to be found. I figured she had probably gone over to the neighbors. However, that was before I found a note that said I told you it wasn’t over. I ran back to the truck and took off toward town as fast as I could go. I had to get to Sheriff Richard’s office.
“Sheriff Richard, Sheriff Richard,” I cried out of breath.
“What is it, Virgil?” he asked. “Calm down and catch your breath.”
“They took Beverly,” I said as I handed him the note.
“You got to help me, Sheriff Richard,” I begged.
“Do you think she was abducted?” Sheriff Richard asked.
“I don’t know for sure,” I replied. “But, if she has been, Norman is probably behind it.”
“Okay, men,” instructed the sheriff, “find Norman and bring him in.”
Quickly, the sheriff, his deputies and I left to search for Norman and Beverly. Sheriff Richard put out an APB for Norman. But, Norman or Beverly was nowhere to be found. Hours passed and the sheriff thought he had left town and gone into hiding. The more time passed, the madder I got. I was so afraid something terrible had happened to her. Day eventually fell to night and Sheriff Richard had no choice but to suspend the search until the next morning. We had combed the town with a fine tooth comb. Everyone agreed to get some rest and resume the search the next morning. I had left my truck at the sheriff’s office so Sheriff Richard told me he’d drop me off at home and take care of my truck until I was able to come and get it. When we pulled up at the house, we saw Beverly standing in the doorway. I jumped out of the car before it stopped and ran toward her; she burst out the door and ran toward me. I wrapped my arms around her and held her like I had never held her before.
“God does answer prayers,” I cried out. “Thank you, God.”
She kissed me and suddenly started crying and shaking as she tried to tell me and the sheriff what had happened.
“Did they hurt you?” I asked.
“Nope, but, I was afraid they were going to.”
“Do you know who it was?” Sheriff Richard asked. “Did you see any of them?”
“No,” she replied. “They must have snuck into the house when Virgil left. I didn’t hear or see anything. I was washing dishes when one of them put a sheet over my head. I kicked and screamed, but it didn’t do any good. They tied a rope around my waist and led me outside. They kept telling me that they wouldn’t hurt me if I stayed still and quiet. They told me they were going to ride me around for a while and then bring me back home later. After that, they didn’t say another word. We rode around until they brought me back home. They led me back into the house and cut the rope from my waist. They told me I had to count to fifteen before I took the sheet off. By the time I counted to fifteen and took the sheet off, they were all gone.”
“Thank God you’re alright,” I said as I hugged and kissed her.”
“Well it’s too late to do anything now,” Sheriff Richard said. “Virgil. I’m going to head back into town. First thing in the morning, I want you and Beverly to come to the office and fill out a report.”
“Do you think you will be able to catch them?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I’ll do my best. They are probably already in the next county by now.”
“Thank you, Sheriff Richard, for all your help.”
“I’ll send a patrol car out in the morning to bring you into town.”
“Thanks again,” I cried.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he said as he got into his car.
The night seemed so long. I guess because the day had been so bad. I didn’t sleep much at all; I tossed and turned all night long. I’d nod off for a little while, then wake up and sit on the side of the bed. I watched Beverly as she slept; I couldn’t imagine what I’d do without her. She had taken a pill to help her sleep. Besides, she needed the rest. Nightfall soon broke into day. We got up, ate breakfast and waited for our ride. I couldn’t help but think about the kidnapping. I really didn’t know for sure, but I had a gut feeling that Norman was behind it. I remember him telling me it wasn’t over. Beverly just wanted to drop it since they didn’t physically hurt her. However, I knew I wouldn’t be able to forget what had happened. The Lord really watched out for her and I praised Him for His help. It was about nine o’clock when the deputy picked us up. When we got to the sheriff’s department we went to talk to Sheriff Richard but he had someone with him. As we waited outside his office, I overheard the DA, James Rodgers, telling Sheriff Richard what he had decided to do about Peggy Perry’s murder. Rufus was going to be charged with second degree murder based on the facts and evidence of the case. There was an eyewitness who had seen him at the scene of the crime around the time of Peggy’s death.
“Sheriff, Norman has a solid alibi. Plus, from what I have found out from her friends, she wanted a divorce. And there was her affair with Rufus. According to another source willing to testify to the fact, she was going to break it off with Rufus and try to work it out with Norman. When Rufus heard she was going to break it off with him he got very upset and that’s what I believe was the motive for him murdering Peggy.”
“Okay, James. I appreciate you letting me know. I’ll keep in touch.”
“Hello, Virgil,” James said as he left the sheriff’s office. “I’m glad Beverly was returned safe.”
“Thank you,” I replied.
“Come on in and have a seat, Beverly,” said Sheriff Richard. “Virgil, if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Beverly alone.”
“No problem, sheriff. I’ll wait outside.”
As Beverly and Richard worked on the report, I walked about in the hallway. I looked out the window and noticed Norman walking down the sidewalk. I hurriedly made my way outside to confront him. However, I didn’t say a word. I spoke with my fists. I hit him in the face and knocked him to the ground. As I glanced around to see if anyone was watching, I looked up to the window of the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Richard was looking out at window. Surprisingly, though, he closed the blinds. I went back to handling my business with Norman. A crowd quickly surrounded us. Someone, I don’t know who, eventually pulled me off of him. Norman slowly picked himself up and watched me walk away.
“It’s not over with, Virgil Cothron. You just made a big mistake,” he yelled.
Unexpectedly, when Norman turned around he was face to face with Judge Andrew Holliman.
“Is that a threat?” he asked.
Norman replied, “No, sir.”
“It sounded like one to me,” stated Judge Holliman. “I hope nothing happens to Virgil or his family. If it does, I’ll remember your threat.”
Norman turned and walked away and so did Judge Holliman. I headed back to the sheriff’s office. Beverly and Sheriff Richard were finished by the time I made it back to the office. Beverly and I went to the truck to go home. When I opened the door, my feet slipped out from under me and I almost slid under the front end of the truck. As I pulled myself back up, I noticed a piece of paper under my wipers; it was a parking ticket. I looked at Beverly, she looked at me and we both laughed. What else could go wrong? On the way home, Beverly and I talked about what I had overhead James Rodgers saying about Rufus.
“I have wished a thousand times that I didn’t run the dogs that night. If I hadn’t I would have never seen Rufus or Norman.
I wouldn’t be a witness to any of this.”
Beverly looked at me and said, “You had to do what was right and you did. I’m so proud of you.”
I didn’t tell her I confronted Norman at the courthouse. She would have fussed about it at first and then probably laughed about it. Anyway, I thought it was best for her not to know.
The next day, Rufus was taken before Judge Holliman. The DA, James Rodgers, presented the charges against him. Chester Phillips, a defense attorney, was appointed to represent Rufus. After hearing the evidence of the case, Judge Holliman bound him over to the grand jury and a court date was set. His bond was posted so high; there was no way Rufus could make bond. Rufus remained incarcerated in the county jail.
A few days later, I went to the jail and visited Rufus. He seemed okay, but I could tell he was worried. We talked about the old days of growing up in Lost Creek. He didn’t have any family left in Lost Creek; they had either died or moved away. He never married and didn’t have any children. Rufus was a little slow, but he was Rufus. We always had a good time together. I let him know if he needed anything to just give me a call.
About a week later, I went back to visit him. When I got there, Sheriff Richard met me at the door. He told me Rufus had died. I asked him what happened. He told me Rufus died of a heart attack in his sleep. I couldn’t believe it; I was dumbfounded. With tears in my eyes, I told Sheriff Richard I would take care of the arrangements. There were several people around town who made donations to help me with his funeral. It was hard on me, but everything turned out nice for him. The funeral and flowers were probably the nicest things he ever received in his life. Too bad he had to die before he received anything nice. I think he would have been proud. He finally found peace and rest.
The DA closed the case and dropped all charges against Rufus. Norman sold his farm, took up with a woman in one of the local bars and moved away.
Late one evening, Beverly and I were sitting on the porch relaxing and talking. She asked me if I thought Rufus killed Peggy. I hesitated before I said anything.
“Yes, I know he did. There is a part of my story I haven’t told you or anyone. Norman did come back around two o’clock but he never went into the house. He sat in his car and watched the house until Rufus left. After Rufus left, Norman got out his car, smoked a cigarette and stood for a few minutes before he got back into his car and left. When he came back to the house, Peggy was already dead. He didn’t have anything to do with her murder.
“Why, Virgil, didn’t you tell the truth?” she asked.
“I wanted to protect Rufus,” I replied.
“Well, thank God it never went to trial because the truth would have eventually come out,” she stated.
After that day on the porch, Beverly and I never discussed Peggy’s murder again and I never told anyone else. A few years later, Beverly died after a long bout with cancer. It was hard for me to let her go. But, I’m glad she didn’t have to suffer anymore. For me, I continued to sit on the porch waiting for the days to pass and I still ran my dogs from time to time.