Brownstonelit's Blog

7/6/2012

I apologize for not writing more… I have been on vacation.

Oh, nothing so grandiose as traveling to far away lands or visiting the shining coast. Not for me. I am most happy with hot coffee and my laptop, unlimited time to read and write… a chance to play on my own beach with family and enjoy a glass of chilled wine while watching a setting sun hover just above the familiar tree lines of  my Georgia landscape.  And it has been a vacation of both work and play.

The book as you know, is always in my mind and always at the edge of my fingerprints. I have spent many hours of my life in this pursuit and while it has been exhausting- it has been well worth it.

For days now, feathers have placed themselves within my path. Fortune cookies have heralded the coming of information and good news. There is something in the air and I can’t quite put my fingers on it, but it is just this side of palpable. The Cardinals have been active of late as well, which means my mother and father have been about me and as always, I am most happy for their company and guidance.

I have written of many clues in this blog and in writing the book, revisit some I have never out into print. Even now I sit and wonder about, “ the letter opener with the flame on it.”

Who did it belong to? What did they use it for besides opening letters? Did it have anything to do with the lacerations on Charley’s arms? Was this what was hidden inside the silver lunch box the farmer in the dell carried with him that night when he and G met with Charley?

I have  a lovely letter opener here on my desk, of recent acquire and it is quite ornate and bejeweled. It has a sleeve of leather and looks very much the dagger. It has sat upon my desk now for over a week and it continues to remind me that there are clues still untethered… errant clues still out there without segue, and it keeps this case ever current on my mind.  So here is a public plea. Pay attention Valdosta! Who is Alexa or Alexander? Who worked at the Carson McLane Funeral home and did hair/make-up for the dead in October of 1966? C’monValdosta… who worked for the morgue back then? Somebody knows…I need to talk with them. Why?

Because the 4 in flannel kept Charley’s widow away from the funeral home that night and the next day and even into the next.  Can you imagine- they kept this woman from her husband’s body for over 72 hours. Why? Because there were marks on his arms and other parts of his body that supposed suicide cannot explain! That’s why! So how much did they pay you all to keep quiet? Whatever it was… it was not enough. Especially as it all begins to unravel. I’ve got it! You can call Grim and ask for more if you need to. I have his number… in more ways than one! LOLZ Ha! I don’t even have to look it up- although it’s right in the phone book. Feel free to contact me and I can out you in touch with him.

Getting nervous, Grim? Don’t worry… even if your number has changed-your address hasn’t. I’ll make sure they can get in touch with you.

Say…wouldn’t that be funny if folks finally got the courage to help? Wow…even the orderlies at PineviewHospital back then would be of great help. I understand there were two- both African American. Maybe they have relatives who are reading this. Maybe they are not sure the mailbox accident was really an accident either. If you catch my drift.

If so… can you contact me? It was October 9, 1966-October 10th when they finally got to the morgue at Pineview. Biggest news in town for several weeks. You’ll know who I am talking about. McGowan brought the body in between 3-4 in the morning. A 44 year old male, white, two gunshot wounds. One above and behind the right ear and one up through the chin. He also would have had lacerations on both his arms. Oh and a wedding ring-mostly because Grim could not get it pulled off his fingers.

Oh… and I have photos too if you need help  to identify Charley’s body. That’s right… those pesky old crime scene photos that everyone thought were destroyed. Boy, they sure have come in handy.

So, there you go Valdosta. You want to really take back your town’s history? Here is your chance!

Oh yea… and if you worked at the Daniel Ashley Hotel in October of 1966- even if you were just a maid or a janitor. A man died there in one of the rooms-probably somewhere around the 12-14th of October. They claimed it was aheart attack, but golly- who beats themselves up and then has one? Folks came in and out of his room for days, but they left his bruised and beaten body inside one of the rooms until October 15^th when McGowan’s carted it away.  Wonder why? Anybody still alive who had to clean up that room on October 15, 1966?

We should chat!

 

Oh… and I also heard a law enforcement building was right across the street from that very same hotel back then. I can just imagine the view. Folks coming and going all the time…. checking in– checking out. Sometimes only for an hour or so at a time! What cool rates, huh? Or maybe it was even free- if you knew the right people. Bet there was lots of “interviews” at that place. Old men… younger women…folks that got the crap beat out of them because they wouldn’t spill the beans- or maybe because they had already spilled the beans! Gosh, I get so confused-must have been a hopping place, though. Mr. Einstein. Mr. Pocket Protector, even the pipe-smoker really loved that old hotel, so I hear. Grim too if the rumors are true… in fact, rumors say the 4 in flannel practically made it the icon it is. At least for me…thanks guys!

 

A properties value is not only in its history, but its  patrons. Well, you know what they say about real estate!

It’s all about…

Location…location…location!

 

Convenient, huh?

 

You know how to find me, Valdosta…just whistle!

This entry was posted on July 6, 2012 at 2:22 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.