In September 1941, Davis Timmerman, a wealthy filling station owner in Edgefield County, South Carolina, was brutally murdered. The murder, the events leading up to it, and the subsequent trials and executions captivated the South Carolina public. At the heart of this sensational case was a bitter feud, a vengeful love triangle, and an infamous connection to a local politician.
The Fatal Encounter
The story begins with the fatal encounter between Davis Timmerman and John Wallace Logue in September 1940. Timmerman’s mule wandered into Logue’s field and killed one of Logue’s calves, escalating tensions, culminating in a deadly confrontation at Timmerman’s filling station. Logue attacked Timmerman with an axe, and Timmerman shot and killed Logue in self-defense. Timmerman was arrested, tried, and acquitted of Logue’s murder in March 1941.
The Revenge Plot
Enraged by the verdict, Logue’s widow, Sue Stidham Logue, and her brother-in-law, George Logue, vowed to avenge John Wallace’s death. They enlisted the help of Sue’s nephew, Joe Frank Logue, a police officer in Spartanburg, South Carolina, who felt indebted to the family for helping raise him after his father’s death.
Sue, George, and Joe Frank Logue devised a plot to kill Timmerman, ultimately hiring a known criminal named Clarence Bagwell to carry out the murder. On September 17, 1941, Bagwell shot and killed Timmerman at his store. Within two months, a thorough investigation led to the arrests of Clarence Bagwell, George Logue, Sue Logue, and Joe Frank Logue.
The Political Connection
The case took a scandalous turn when it was revealed that Sue Logue had been involved in an extramarital affair with none other than Strom Thurmond, a local judge who would later become a long-serving United States Senator. Thurmond played a crucial role in the story, helping to negotiate the surrender of George and Sue Logue after a deadly shootout at their farmhouse resulted in the deaths of two law enforcement officers and a civilian.
The Trials and Executions
The trials of George Logue, Sue Logue, and Clarence Bagwell were held in 1942 in Lexington County, South Carolina, following a successful motion for a change of venue. After swift deliberation, the jury found all three guilty of Timmerman’s murder and sentenced them to death.
In January 1943, Sue Logue, George Logue, and Clarence Bagwell were executed in South Carolina’s electric chair. Sue Logue’s execution made her the first woman to be put to death in the state’s electric chair. Notably, Strom Thurmond had volunteered to personally transport Sue Logue to the execution site, and it is alleged that the two had sexual relations during the trip.
Joe Frank Logue, the last of the four conspirators, was tried separately, convicted, and also sentenced to death. However, on the day of his scheduled execution in January 1944, Governor Olin D. Johnston visited Logue on death row and, after speaking with him, decided to commute his sentence to life imprisonment. This unexpected turn of events further fueled the public’s fascination with the case.
A Second Chance
While serving his life sentence, Joe Frank Logue found a purpose in prison, training and handling bloodhounds. In 1960, after 37 out of 40 South Carolina state sheriffs advocated for his release, Logue was granted parole. His life after prison remains a testament to the power of redemption and second chances.
Conclusion
The story of the murder of Davis Timmerman and the subsequent trials and executions of his killers is a captivating tale of vengeance, betrayal, and political intrigue. The involvement of Strom Thurmond, a prominent political figure, added another layer of scandal and fascination to the case. This tragic saga serves as a reminder of the lengths some individuals will go to in the name of revenge and the far-reaching consequences of their actions. At the same time, it shows that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for redemption and the ability to heal even the deepest of wounds.
Deep Lore 