Introduction
The murder of Davis Timmerman is an infamous crime that took place in rural Edgefield County, South Carolina, on September 17, 1941. This homicide was not a random act of violence, nor was it the work of an anonymous stranger passing through town. Instead, it was a meticulously plotted act of vengeance born out of bitterness, pride, and personal conflict. The events leading up to the killing, the people involved, and the consequences that followed reveal a tangled web of relationships, feuds, and justice in early 20th‑century America.
Historical Context: South Carolina in the Early 1940s
To understand this case, it is important to situate it in its broader sociocultural context. Rural South Carolina in the 1940s was a place in which personal reputation, honor, and community influence were central to social standing. Personal disputes—whether over property, finances, or family matters—could quickly escalate when formal legal systems were seen as slow or unsatisfactory. Against this backdrop, the collision of legal proceedings and personal vendettas often had severe consequences.
Who Was Davis Timmerman?
Davis Way Timmerman was born on April 18, 1899, in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He owned and operated a local filling station and general store that was well‑known in the region. His family was regarded as prominent, and Timmerman himself was widely respected as a hard‑working businessman with a comfortable life in a tightly knit rural community. Married to Cornelia Watson, Timmerman was seen as stable and lawful, deeply rooted in the fabric of Edgefield’s everyday life.
The Conflict with John Wallace Logue
The seeds of tragedy were sown long before Timmerman’s murder in a dispute involving John Wallace Logue, husband of Sue Belle Stidham Logue and brother to George Reed Logue.
The conflict began over a seemingly small incident: a mule owned by Timmerman allegedly kicked and killed one of Logue’s calves. When Logue sought compensation, Timmerman initially agreed to pay $20. Upon a subsequent visit, however, Logue demanded that amount be doubled to $40—a request Timmerman refused. Tempers flared, and what should have been a minor civil matter erupted into violence when Logue attacked Timmerman with an axe handle inside Timmerman’s own store. Timmerman defended himself, pulled a handgun from beneath the counter, and shot Logue twice, killing him.
Legal Proceedings: Self‑Defense and Acquittal
After the shooting, Timmerman locked up his store and drove into Edgefield to report the incident to sheriff’s deputies. Ultimately, authorities charged him with Logue’s murder—an unusual turn given the circumstances. The legal proceedings that followed centered on Timmerman’s claim of self‑defense against a violent assault, and the jury in Timmerman’s trial accepted this argument. He was acquitted of all charges in March 1941. When the verdict was read, witnesses reported that Sue Logue, John Wallace’s widow, publicly vowed to avenge her husband’s death.
Motives and Murmurings of Revenge
Sue Logue’s declaration was not dismissed as empty rage. Indeed, over the months that followed, she, along with her brother‑in‑law George Logue, began appearing repeatedly at the home of Joe Frank Logue—their nephew. These visits were far from mere social calls. Joe Frank later testified that Sue and George pressured him to help plan and carry out a retaliatory killing of Timmerman, explicitly stating that one of them “would kill Davis Timmerman or see that he was killed.”
Whether driven by grief, wounded pride, or a deep personal vendetta, Sue and George Logue were determined that justice would be served on their terms rather than the legal system’s.
The Conspiracy Takes Shape
By mid‑1941, that determination had escalated into a conspiracy. In July, Sue reportedly gave Joe Frank a sum of money—about $500—insisting he find someone willing to murder Timmerman. Joe Frank initially resisted, but Sue’s threats against his family apparently convinced him to act. Ultimately, he connected with Clarence Bagwell, a known criminal from Spartanburg. Bagwell agreed to commit the act for money, which was another $500 on condition that Joe Frank arrange the murder.
The Murder at Timmerman’s Store
On the evening of September 17, 1941, the plan was put into motion. Joe Frank and Bagwell first scoped out Timmerman’s store, with Bagwell even encountering Cornelia Timmerman during this initial reconnaissance. Later that night, at around 7:00 p.m., Bagwell returned to the store alone under the pretext of buying cigarettes or gum—a common ruse used by criminals to appear unsuspecting. When Timmerman turned his back, Bagwell drew a .38‑caliber revolver and fired multiple point‑blank shots, killing Timmerman instantly. A witness saw an unidentified person flee the scene in a car shortly afterward. Cornelia Timmerman discovered her husband’s body after hearing the gunshots and rushing to the scene.
Initial Investigation and False Arrests
Following the murder, authorities offered a reward for information but initially had few leads. In a baffling turn, two young men from Augusta, Georgia—named Jesse L. James and Jimmie Kitchen—were mistakenly arrested in Arkansas for Timmerman’s killing. These wrongful arrests added confusion to the investigation but did not produce any resolution for several weeks.
Breakthrough: Bagwell’s Confession and Arrest
The breakthrough in the case came when Bagwell made a fatal mistake: he either drunkenly confessed to his girlfriend that he had been involved in the murder or got into a quarrel in which he revealed guilt. She went to the police with this information, and law enforcement promptly arrested Bagwell. In custody, additional evidence tied him to the crime, and Cornelia Timmerman identified him as the figure she had seen near the store the night of the murder. This led to the unraveling of the larger conspiracy involving Sue, George, and Joe Frank Logue.
The Arrests of George and Sue Logue
Once Bagwell’s confession pointed to the Logue family, law enforcement sought to apprehend Sue and George Logue as accomplices. During their arrests in late 1941, a deadly confrontation broke out when George resisted. In the ensuing gun battle, three men—two law enforcement officers and a civilian—were killed. This dramatic escalation further solidified public attention on a case already rife with emotion, violence, and family tragedy.
Trials and Convictions
The trials of the conspirators took place in early 1942. Attorneys for the defendants requested a change of venue, citing concerns about local prejudice due to the case’s high profile. The trials were moved to Lexington County, where juries were seated to hear the evidence against George Logue, Sue Logue, and Clarence Bagwell. In each case, the jury deliberated for only about two hours before returning guilty verdicts and sentencing all three to death.
Historic Execution: Sue Logue’s Death Sentence
On January 15, 1943, all three were executed in South Carolina’s electric chair. Sue Logue was executed first, followed by George and then Bagwell. Sue’s execution was particularly notable: she became the first woman in South Carolina to be put to death by electric chair—a grim milestone in the state’s legal history.
Joe Frank Logue’s Downfall and Commutation
After the executions of the primary conspirators, Joe Frank Logue stood trial. He was convicted and sentenced to death—the same penalty as his co‑conspirators. His execution was scheduled for January 23, 1944, but in an unexpected turn, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment shortly before he was to be put to death. The governor had promised leniency in exchange for Logue’s cooperation in the investigation, and this promise ultimately saved him from the electric chair.
Parole and Life After Prison
Despite his conviction for murder, Joe Frank Logue’s story did not end in execution or lifelong incarceration. After years in prison, he began assisting with training and handling bloodhounds – a contribution that apparently demonstrated rehabilitation. Remarkably, after serving 37 years, the vast majority of his sentence, he was paroled in 1960. This decision came after advocacy from 40 county sheriffs across South Carolina who supported his release – a controversial and unexpected postscript to a tragic episode.
Media Sensation and Public Memory
The murder and ensuing trials generated significant press coverage throughout South Carolina and beyond. Local newspapers chronicled each development: the initial shooting of Logue by Timmerman, the acquittal, the conspiracy, the murders, the arrests, and the executions. What captured public imagination was not just the brutality of the crime but the intricate dynamics between respected community members, feuding families, and the legal system.
Much of the retrospective attention given to the case has revolved around the figure of Sue Logue – a woman who, in an era when female criminality was often sensationalized, became one of the most notorious figures in the state’s criminal history. Her relationship with prominent politician Strom Thurmond, as noted in some biographies, added an extra layer of intrigue to an already dramatic narrative.
Legal and Cultural Implications
The Timmerman case speaks to the broader complexities of justice, revenge, and community ties in rural America. It illustrates how local disputes, if left to fester, can fracture social bonds and lead to irreversible violence. The legal proceedings also highlight the interplay between formal justice systems and informal social pressures, especially when personal relationships are deeply intertwined with community power structures.
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