Dr. Bob Lochte
Thursday, April 24, 2014 9:26 am

Author Sid Easley will read from and talk about his recent book A Courthouse Tragedy: Politics, Murder, and Redemption in a Small Kentucky Town Saturday morning in the Mayfield, Kentucky, courthouse where the crime and subsequent trial took place more than ninety years ago.

The event, hosted by the Jackson Purchase Historical Society, begins at 10:30 AM Saturday, April 26, in the District Courtroom on the ground floor of the historic Graves County Courthouse on the square in Mayfield, Kentucky. It is free and open to the public.

Easley’s book tells the story of the 1921 murder of Graves County Sheriff John T. Roach who was shot in the courthouse in front of many witnesses by his deputy Sam Galloway. The plot weaves its way through local politics, colorful characters, and a tense murder trial. Kentucky author Bobbie Ann Mason says the book is “fascinating and dramatic, with plenty of intrigue and suspense and tragedy.”

Sid Easley is an attorney with a practice in Murray, Kentucky, and a Graves County native. This is his first book. Copies will be available for sale after the meeting, and the author will gladly sign and talk about them.

The Jackson Purchase Historical Society was founded in 1958 to promote interest, study, and preservation of the regional history of the territory encompassed in the Chickasaw Purchase of 1818. It publishes the award-winning Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal annually. The Society is especially interested in the history of all Kentucky counties west of the Tennessee River as well as Lake, Obion, Weakley, and Henry counties in Tennessee. Meetings are held four times per year at locations throughout the region. Membership is open to the public. Information about the Society, future events, and membership is available at the meetings or online at http://jacksonpurchasehistory.org/.