A Murder at White Path
The Beginning
White Path, a small hamlet in the mountains of North Georgia, takes its name from the famous Cherokee Indian leader who disagreed with the policies of European assimilation and acculturation. He lived in a small village in the Cherokee Territory known as Turniptown, not far north from present day Ellijay, Georgia. When the Cherokee were rounded up into removal forts, White Path was likely held at Fort Hetzel and later forced to leave his homeland to walk the Trail of Tears. Sadly, White Path died while walking through Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and his former land was awarded to Aaron Pinson in the Land Lottery of 1832.
In 1846, Georgia's largest gold nugget ever was discovered in White Path. It weighed 4 lbs. and 6 ounces. This would be valued at around $272,000 in today's currency. This discovery and the earlier discovery of gold in Dahlonega likely drew the attention of miners to the region.
The First Hotel
In 1856, a wealthy and successful miner named Billy Dorn, built the first hotel at White Path Springs not far from White Path's old land. In 1852, Dorn had struck it rich in McCormick, South Carolina by finding gold on an adjacent neighbor's land. Within a short time, his men mined the equivalent of 35 million dollars.
The White Path Hotel was originally popularly known as White Path Springs. The hotel was a two-story wooden building with thirty rooms. The hotel property was home to several mineral springs containing magnesium and iron salts. The springs were advertised as having healing properties in the newspapers from Atlanta to North Georgia. The grounds housed buildings that provided shelter over the heads of the springs, pavilions, and even a scenic lookout built from a tree fort.
In addition to food and lodging, guests also had access to mail and telegram services. The location became a very popular summer resort. As a result, the newly completed Marietta and North Georgia railroad built a stop only a half-mile away.
In 1886, the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad's north bound track made as far as White Path. Guests would travel from there by buggy to the hotel.
In 1886, J.M. Dorn of McCormick, South Carolina, owned all of the land formerly owned by his uncle.
In 1910, the owner of White Path Springs, Gilmer County judge, T.H. Tabor, purchased the White Path Gold Mine, discovered by A.B. Holt in 1847, from the estate of SC. Tate, the late patriarch of the famous marble family of Pickens County.
The Second Hotel and Mr. Randell
One of the visitors to the first hotel was Redden W. Randell from Palm Springs, Florida. He was a successful attorney, fruit grower, and landlord. Shortly after Redden graduated from Law School, he married 22-year-old Ruby Drew of Madison, Florida in October 1915. Redden was three years her senior.
In the late 20's he bought the property in White Path with hopes of revitalizing the site of the mineral springs and hotel. He built a boarding house for guests and on the same property, albeit much smaller than the original hotel. He also built a giant stucco arch along Hwy 5. Prior to the construction of Hwy 515, this section of HWY 5 North was the way to Blue Ridge and beyond.
His income in North Georgia wasn't working out as planned. The boarding house was not busy like the famous hotel which stood there before.
The Randells spend much of their time commuting back and forth to their property in Fort Myers, Florida where they made income from his rental properties in the self-named Randell Court apartments. Eventually, their relationship began to sour. Rumors of domestic violence circulated. Mrs. Randell split from Redden in 1933. Redden somehow persuaded her to get back with him and change her will to leaving him as the primary beneficiary.
A Suspicious Accident
Not two weeks after the ink dried on Mrs. Randell's new will, on July 28, 1933, Redden and his wife took a drive about a mile west of the hotel. Traveling down a dirt road, Redden drove off an embankment, overturning their vehicle. Redden claimed his wife died in the car accident. About an hour passed before they were discovered. The sheriff's department from Gilmer County and the coroner were dispatched to the site.
Mrs. Randell was found dead in the passenger seat. There was no broken glass. Bruises, cuts, and....
A Complaint from Florida
Reports reached Ellijay of the potential murder of Mrs. Randell.
Sheriff Rackley had received a sworn warrant for murder signed by Gregory Scott of Madison, Florida. Her body had been transported to Florida for burial. Mr. Randell was arrested on suspicion of murder on August 7, 1933.
The next day, Randell filed a $100,000 lawsuit against M.N. Drew, Ruby's brother, accusing Drew of maliciously causing his 1933 arrest through Gregory.
The Original Indictment
The original indictment was nolle prossed on May 22, 1935. A new indictment was returned. Gilmer County Sheriff W. E. Rackley explained that the original charge alleged Ruby was killed by a blow to the head, while the new indictment alleged strangulation. Trial was reset for June 24.
The Trial Begins
On June 24, 1935, trial began before Judge J.H. Hawkins. A panel of 100 produced a jury of 12 local farmers. Solicitor General H.G Vandviere prosecuted. On the first day, White Path postmaster Jonas Key, first at the wreck, described the hazardous road, Randell calling for help, blood on Randell's face and his nervous state. Undertaker W.M. Allen testified that Ruby had five head cuts and a bruised area; he thought some cuts looked unusually smooth.
The next day, G. Scott Gregory testified that during his investigation he found what he considered blood stains and small tufts of hair in the automobile and believed seat cushions had been removed and washed. The prosecution also began presenting its financial/property theory.
On the following day, several people testified. Ruby's brother Mitchell N. Drew Jr., his wife, and Ruby's mother testified. Ruby's mother accused Randell of having been unkind to her daughter. Also, two servants of the Randell family's house in Florida, Reba Mae Dixon and Florida Wardlaw, testified that they had seen Randell slap and choke Ruby and threaten to kill her.
Medical evidence was presented at the end of the day by Dr. Grady Coker. He testified that death resulted from shock, hemorrhage and asphyxiation, possibly following strangulation. The testimony switched sides.
On June 27, the defense began attacking both the medical theory and the witnesses' ability to observe what they claimed. Former Fort Myers police officials and acquaintances described the Randells as cordial or affectionate. A particularly important piece of evidence was introduced:Ruby's will,dated June 27, 1933-only a about a month before her death. She left one-half of her property to her daughter Jean and one quarter each to Wallace and Ted. Randell was appointed guardian and trustee. While on the surface this complicated the prosecution's financial gain argument, Redden's appointment as the guardian gave him substantial control of the way things would be handled.
Defense physician Dr. Jack Norris, who participated in an autopsy after Ruby's body was exhumed the previous October, said there was"no indication at all" that she had been choked to death. He considered blood loss, concussion or asphyxiation possible and would not exclude an automobile accident.
On June 28, Randell's neighbors S. B. Stanley, Albert Ray and Lewis Key supported the defense's claim that they had never witnessed Randell mistreat Ruby. Finally, Melvin Tanner described Ruby as a poor driver.
In my opinion, this is where the case goes sideways, the last thing which happened before the defense closed their case was exercising the Georgia procedure allowing a defendant to give an unsworn statement not subject to cross-examination. He spoke for roughly two hours, denied ever abusing Ruby, described the wreck as accidental, blamed hostility from Ruby's family, and argued that his own finances gave him no motive to kill her.
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Why this procedure was ever allowed in Georgia is beyond me. It is fraught with all kinds of potential abuses.
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At the end of June 28th both sides were allowed four hours to make their closing arguments.
The Verdict
On June 29, 1935, after deliberating for about three and one half hours, the jury unanimously found Redden W. Randell not guilty. This would later prove to be a huge mistake.
The story doesn't end here. This is just the beginning. Part two is coming soon.
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