Without Mercy: The Stunning True Story of Race, Crime, and Corruption in the Deep South

by David Beasley

"Without Mercy reads like a John Grisham thriller."
---David R. Dow, author of The Autobiography of an Execution

On December 9, 1938, the state of Georgia executed six black men in eighty-one minutes in Tattnall Prison's electric chair. The executions were a record for the state that still stands today. The new prison, built with funds from FDR's New Deal, as well as the fact that the men were tried and executed rather than lynched were thought to be a sign of progress. They were anything but. While those men were arrested, convicted, sentenced, and executed in as little as six weeks---E. D. Rivers, the governor of the state, oversaw a pardon racket for white killers and criminals, allowed the Ku Klux Klan to infiltrate his administration, and bankrupted the state. Race and wealth were all that determined whether or not a man lived or died. There was no progress. There was no justice. David Beasley's Without Mercy is the harrowing true story of the Great Depression, the New Deal, and the violent death throes of the Klan, but most of all it is the story of the stunning injustice of these executions and how they have seared distrust of the legal system into the consciousness of the Deep South, and it is a story that will forever be a testament to the death penalty's appalling inequality that continues to plague our nation

Genres: History, Nonfiction, True Crime, American History, Crime, Politics, Journalism

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 2014

Reviews

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In December 1939 Georgia executed 6 black men in 81 minutes at the Tattnall Prison in Reidsville Georgia. That record still stands today.

This book explores the injustices that the black man went through in the 1920' and 30's, especially in the South. The conviction rate was astounding. From incident to electrocution in a matter of weeks. Defense attorneys did not refute the Prosecutor, did not offer any witnesses or factual testimony, and once convicted did not appeal the conviction.

This book follows the story of the 6 men executed, from prior conviction to the suffering they experienced during electrocution. Examples were also followed, during this time frame in Georgia, of men who were white or affluent enough to buy their freedom or at least life in prison.

Political corruption, the Depression, The New Deal, the Ku Klux Klan and the very sediment and belief of the times throughout the general population is explored in this true life crime novel.

The same electric chair still sits in Tattnall Prison, Reidsville Georgia today.

[Sydney · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book left me with the feeling that I had read an extended local newspaper article. The subject matter was compelling; the presentation was not. The author simply presented the facts of several Georgia criminal cases from the same era and then told us the resolutions and that racism and money affected them. There really wasn't much depth to the exercise and certainly nothing about the situations that was new or surprising to the average adult American. The writing itself was bland but serviceable. As good as it is to see that racism and government corruption are being discussed, I don't think this book added much to the conversation.

[Sara G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georgia was a pretty rough place in the 1930s. This book goes into great detail about Georgia's criminal justice system during this time period. It's a little bit dry in places but I think it's important to understand how far we've come as a society. This talks about everything from the KKK leadership defrauding the state out of money, a governor who sold pardons for cash, and the differences in how the system treated both black and white men accused of similar crimes. The statistic mentioned in the blurb, 6 black men executed in 81 minutes, is profoundly disturbing.

[Lupe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was chock-full of information but it was terribly dry. It read like a newspaper or magazine article. If you are not truly interested in this topic, do not bother.

[Meriah · Rating 5 out of 5]

--I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway--

Living in the south in 2014 isn't glamorous. We are still riddled with racism, KKK meetings (we recently had a meeting in my hometown, I was honestly unaware this still existed), and the representation of that amongst literature is scarce. So, when I entered to win this giveaway and actually won it, I had hopes this novel would be a fantastic look into the history of the south through real events and accurate writing.

We often glamorize life in the south, let's be honest everyone talks about how nice it is down here, and forgets the harsh reality of the last 200 years in most southern states. Without Mercy is a fantastic representation (and well researched I might add) of life in the south. For both African-Americans and white individuals.

I would recommend picking up a copy of this book and truly see a glimpse of the lives of Southern people.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was unbelievable. Seriously. Gah. The level of Southiness in the American South's history--I thought I knew, but I had no idea. This should be required reading. Technically, it read like a story, rather than a history. It hit me so viscerally--the inequity within the justice system that we still have to deal with in America.

[Wanda Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Wanda Keith
3 mins ·
Amazon
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Powerful story about racial injustice within the criminal system in Georgia during the 1930's and 1040's. The story starts with seven men headed to the electric chair on December 9. 1938. Of these seven men, six are black and one is white. Before the hour of the execution the white inmate has his sentence overturned and is given life in prison but the six black men will receive no mercy for their crimes. In fact, several of these men were being executed within six weeks of their crimes. They received poor representation in court and no request for appeal. The white man's crime was no less heinous as he had impregnated his own daughter and then to cover up his deed he had killed the infant born of this disgusting act. Beasley also tells the story of two young men from wealthy families who committed murder while on a robbery spree. One was given the death penalty which was overturned and then they both received life sentences. One of these young men served his time on a chain gang but the other served his in relative luxury while in prison. They were both pardoned after ten years mostly due to the fact that huge sums of money went to the governor and other officials. The governor in this case was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and received huge support from them. His open racism was never put into question until years later when he attempted to run for governor after being out of office for a while. The governor sold pardons almost openly and anyone who had enough money could receive one which left the poor with no options. Along the way people such as Thurgood Marshall enter into the story as well as Martin Luther King, Jr. and changes begin to be made within the system. Certainly, things improved and racism and inequality for the poor has gotten better. There are now automatic appeals in place if someone receives the death penalty and public defenders have improved. But for us to think that there is no longer racism, unequal justice for the poor, and corruption in the system is naive at best. In 2015 Anthony Ray Hinton was released from death row after serving thirty years for a crime he did not commit simply because he was black, poor and lived in Alabama. Hinton's attorney, Bryan Stevenson, has an entire career dedicated to helping prisoners who have been unfairly accused or convicted. At the end of Hinton's book, 'The Sun Does Shine', he provides a list of all of the people on death row and asks that you read the names and for every tenth person to say, "innocent", because that is the estimated number on death row who are actually innocent. That is a powerful statement and one that cannot be ignored. It isn't just the minorities who suffer from the injustice in our system. We have all seen the disparity when someone with the money to wage a good defense is on trial vs. the poor who do not have the funds to hire the people necessary to prove their innocence. Until our system can prove that it is fair and just then the death penalty needs to be under serious consideration in this country. If even one innocent person is put to death then the system has failed. I highly recommend this book as well as Hinton's book and that of Bryan Stevenson, "Just Mercy".

[Dena Beck · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to get into this book. The content was there, but it was really not well written. It could have benefited from a MUCH better editor. It was like slogging through peanut butter. I didn't even finish it. The front of the book claims, "reads like a John Grisham novel." Not so much. It reads like unrelated newspaper articles. It is obviously leading you to a point, but the path is parched and dry. That is a shame because this could be such a deep and rich story. There is a lot to learn here.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my eye at the bookstore. It was the title that caught my eye. "The stunning true story of Race, Crime, and Corruption in the deep south.". I thought this book was about slavery, but i was wrong. It's about these 6 black men were executed in 81 minutes in Tattnall Prison's chair in Georgia. These executions were a record for the state that still stands Today. TODAY. That is unbelievable. When I read that, i automatically had to read it.

[Sam Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably a fine book, but not what I was looking for. Read half then put this one down. It was told as a series of separate murder stories that would presumably be linked together later in the book...

[dela :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

[Nisveta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbroken at every page turn. I could not put this book down. More people need to know this history.

[Winnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested in this book because I’m from Georgia (born 1948) as were my parents. I lived there until 1970 and had heard my parents speak of years of corruption in the political and justice system. However, I had never heard the story that Beasley relates in this book. Beasley begins the book with the pending execution on December 9, 1938 of six black men at what was then known as Tatnall Prison near Reidsville.

Key political figures of this time were: Eugene Talmadge – governor from 1933-1937; Ed Rivers – governor from 1937-1941 and Eugene Talmadge governor again from 1941-1943. The story reveals how the political climate of the time led to the executions of these men – selling of pardons to the highest bidders, Gov. Ed Rivers also a KKK official, rampant racism, etc.

Three of those executed on December 9, 1938 had murdered the Sheriff of Butts County on Tuesday, October 25, 1938. The executions occurred after a one-day trial on November 9, 1938. The jury deliberated only 20 minutes and brought back guilty verdicts and death sentences.

It’s an interesting read although ugly history. Beasley does a fair amount of repetition but this may be in order to help remind/emphasize the dates and the rapid dispensation and injustices of the events.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Georgia, so when I saw this book listed, I immediately wanted to read it. I was shocked when I read this book...I knew that African Americans weren't always provided justice in the past, but this story still managed to surprise me. I was particularly surprised at the audacity of the former governor Ed Rivers, who was not only a card carrying member of the K.K.K. but was so brazen in his corruption that even a lot of his supporters turned on him. It was saddening to read that confessed killers were pardoned by him due to their family connections and/or race while blacks were routinely executed for cases that were so flawed that even during their time there were serious doubts. This book was definitely eye-opening. The one complaint I would have about this book is that the chapters could've been better organized, but other than that, it was a enlightening read.

[Kenneth Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with justice corruption and politics in the state of Georgia. The story begins in 1928 when two young white college students go on a robbery and murder spree. It then chronicles several other murders in the 1930's. These murders were committed by both Blacks and whites. The difference in the cases was in the justice meted out to the perpetrators. The white defendants tended to have better representation at trial and ended up not being sentenced to death. The Black defendants had poor representation who rarely appealed their verdicts received the death penalty this verdict was carried out. It culminates in the electrocution of 6 Black men in 81 minutes on December 9,1938.
The book also details the politics of the era, the corruption of public officials, and the influence of Klan. This was an interesting book covering this era of Georgia history.

[Justina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting. I didn't realize the hold the KKK had on Georgia even in the 1930's. It brought up some very interesting points about the unfairness of the death penalty. Easy to read and understand. My only criticism was that the book would sometimes be repetitive in reminding the reader who characters were and what they had done as if the reader might have forgotten since the last chapter. This would be very helpful if you were a forgetful reader I guess. All in all, it is worth your time to read. And I won this in a goodreads first-reads giveaway so I was super excited!!!!!!!

[J Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling at the beginning but lagged a bit by the end. It's difficult to tell a compelling story about that level of corruption. Not only were these elected officials in Georgia in the early 20th century reprehensible characters, but their actions went without consequence for decades. It was also an insightful, albeit limited, treatment of the plight of being accused and black in the Deep South. The justice system was not just and all too systemic in its equally barbaric treatment of the black man in Georgia accused of any crime. I could have used a bit more at the end to tie all the themes together, but still a good read.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a well-researched look at a disturbing era in Georgia history. The cast of characters is fascinating, from a corrupt governor to the head of the KKK in its heyday to a murderer sentenced to life in prison who ended up making a cameo appearance in the events that were captured in "The Great Escape" book and movie. And they're all real. If you like history, capital punishment debate, politics, or true crime, I highly recommend this book.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A challenging and painful read, Beasley presents a very clear period of racist prison and execution decisions in Georgia, and, in the final section, links them to present inequities. Hate disrupts equality under the law, and Beasley's careful scholarship and story reveal a little more of how that happens.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening. To be accused of a crime in the 20's and 30's in Georgia meant to be convicted of a crime pretty much. White's could buy their pardon, but black men either served their time in a GA chain gang or were executed.
The book does not say that these men did not commit their crimes, but that there was no justice in how the punishment was meted out.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very compelling and well-written slice of American history. The author was very adept at weaving the stories and setting a good pace. As another review mentioned, he did use repetition on occasion, when bringing back a "character", but I actually appreciated it. A quick, interesting read.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Old Sparky" was a pretty Inhumane way to execute someone - but since they showed their victims no mercy maybe justice was served! Because I was reading another book that mentioned the Scottsboro Boys and Ruby Bates, as does this one, I dug deeper into that story. Georgia was pretty corrupt in those days. It was very factual but a sort of boring read.

[Elane Nataupsky-lukasiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book to be very disturbing. I am a northern by birth but living in Atlanta now. I really had no idea the depth of racism that was common place here. The KKK are now, once again recruiting members. Will this insanity ever stop?

[Samantha Wymer · Rating 3 out of 5]

--I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway--

I thought this book was interesting. It was interesting to read about the history of the south and the injustice that happened in the 20's and 30's

[Christy Goldberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the prejudice and corruption that plagued the deep south during the 20's 30's and 40's. It seems well researched and reliable. I enjoyed it, but it was a little dry at times. A good read for history buffs.

[Steve Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fast and entertaining read about Georgia politics and the death penalty and how it was applied particularly unfairly. I am not a Georgia native and don't know a lot about the state's history, but found the stories here pretty stunning.

[Karolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and thought it was very interesting. The author described incredible instances of injustice and how flawed the judicial system and death penalty can be.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

True crime story on the Georgian penal system, corrupt state government leaders, the KKK, and disparities in the justice system for Black defendants. Sad but true.

[Silverblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. If nothing else, to remember what the American culture in race was, and still didn't change much after almost a century!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling, disturbing true story of racial injustice in the Jim Crow south at its horrific worst.