THE SENATOR’S SON: The Shocking Disappearance, The Celebrated Trial, and The Mystery That Remains a Century Later

by Charles Oldham, Ray McAllister (Foreword by)

ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1905, eight- year-old Kenneth Beasley walked to the back of his school’s playground and into the melting snow of the woods beyond. He never returned. A massive search was undertaken for the North Carolina state senator’s son, and a reward was offered. Despite clues, rumors and even a ransom note, he was never found.
A year and a half later, a political rival hurriedly was charged. Accused of the most bizarre and twisted of plots, he faced a courtroom overflowing with jurors, star lawyers, spectators and newspaper reporters. The eventual verdict and stunning aftermath would rip apart two families and shock a state ... yet leave a mystery unsolved.
NOW CHARLES OLDHAM, attorney by trade, has reopened the case. Using modern research methods and his own legal training—while also investigating the state’s political, racial, lynching, and liquor cultures—Oldham has come as close as anyone can to the truth.
The result is an absorbing, must-read story. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, The Senator’s Son is both an important book and a fascinating one.

“Fascinating … murky … The Senator’s Son is local history at its finest.”
– DEAN KING, best-selling author

“The book is craftily written, deeply researched, and will stick to your hands like a lantern during this dark, raveled Southern tale of disappearance.”
– DAVID L. ROBBINS, best-selling author

“A vibrant, engrossing true tale … both educational and nearly impossible to stop reading.”
– DIANE DONOVAN, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW.

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Genres: History, True Crime

307 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2018

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly good book that is extraordinarily well-researched and written. (Disclaimer: I was involved in bringing this book out and wrote the foreword -- but I assure you I would not have done so if it hadn't been worthwhile.) I consider it local history (NC/VA) but many would put it in the True Crime category, which seems to be the hot genre lately. Either way, it's a compelling story from 1905 with enough mystery to be ripe for an investigator, in this case writer and criminal defense lawyer Charles Oldham. He pulls it off exceptionally well. It's got a young boy who disappears and presumably has been kidnapped and murdered, a powerful politician father, a political enemy, searches, ransom notes, cultures of liquor battles and racism, a high-profile trial, and a surprising aftermath. Every non-fiction writer around is kicking himself/herself for not knowing about this story.

[Walt Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oldham offers a masterful, yet chilling, account in unearthing a century-old North Carolina case. It’s a compelling mystery bolstered by fascinating historical context. Intricately well-researched and investigated. And a raucous courtroom drama to boot. Oldham leaves us with just enough queries posed to keep one wondering more about the case after the turn of the last page.

Oldham dedicates his first book to his family, and to his young nephew, for whom the author wishes a world where politics is not a matter of life and death for children. In this highly contentious time of fervent partisan politics, let me just say that I concur. Young Kenneth Beasley surely deserved more from the people of this world — that we must all agree.

A North Carolinian myself, and as a reader of history, current affairs and mysteries, I will be on the lookout for Oldham’s next work if he so pens.

[Thomas Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Senator's Son is a rare type of history book that reads like a novel. The historical figures are as painstakingly developed as fictional characters iin a southern gothic. The tragedy that the book describes negatively impacted all concerned-how could the disappearance of a young child do otherwise? The book also gives the reader a wonderful sense of place, of coastal North Carolina at the turn of the century, emphasizing both its positive and negative aspects Even though all of the major participants in the affair were white, the book unflinchingly chronicles the vitriolic, systemic racism that affected all facets of life at the time, and shows how it had a major impact on the outcome of the trial of Joshua Harrison, the man accused of kidnapping the Senator's son. I reccomend this book unreservedly to anyone who likes a cracking good read.

[Kshydog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although not a badly written book, it was just not my style. Details about life in rural south were interesting. Facts about the trial were given showing much research. However for me, I need clearer endings. It is still a mystery whether his son just got lost or was taken. The author gave clear explanations that could make either situation a reality. It did show how much influence political people have in small towns. Their power to ruin lives (his affect on another's income by creating rules) caused families to dislike each other. The daughter of the accused, the school teacher, really needed to have been further investigated in my mind.

[Marsha K. Wilkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. I spent many vacations at the outer banks and my daughter attended East Carolina University so I am familiar with the area in which this story took place. I agree that more attention could have been given to the teacher and the daughter but the part of the book that was the most interesting was the politics of the time. It explains lot of what this country is experiencing now. It sheds a lot of light on what is so ingrained in Southern society. I've lived near Richmond Virginia for over 40 years. I grew up in Pennsylvania. I now understand more about the debate on confederate statues and about systemic racism after reading The Senator's Son. Very well done.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look at a forgotten event put fully into context of the era. Gripping story and excellent research and writing.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting NC legal and political history, but I didn't think the writing flowed very well.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent blend of storytelling, North Carolina history, and murder mystery drama. Well researched and well told.

[Mark Ennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and written. I felt I was there when the trail took place as a spectalor watching the case unfolded. Great job Cousin Charlie.

Mark ENNIS

[Mary Ellin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t usually read much history or nonfiction, and confess I picked up the audiobook version of “The Senator’s Son” because my old friend John Witt is the narrator. John’s measured Southern drawl is perfect for this sort of book, set as it is deep in the heart of North Carolina and Virginia’s Hampton Roads area. While I enjoyed hearing John tell this story, like a night of yarn spinning in front of a cracking fire, I think I might have enjoyed it more in actual book form, so I could have flipped back and forth to reacquaint myself with old characters introduced earlier and perused photos and maps that I’m sure were included in the print version. For me, while the side discussions of old politics distracted me from the main storyline of Kenneth’s disappearance, it was fascinating to learn about the wheeling and dealing of that era, not so different from our own. Recommended for history buffs and true crime lovers - and those who like to listen to a story well-told in smooth, Southern baritone.