In the summer of 1946, Athens, Tennessee, became the site of the only successful armed rebellion in America since the Revolutionary War.
Enter the villain of this story: Paul Cantrell. Backed by Tennessee’s powerful political machine, Cantrell used corruption, voter fraud, and police brutality to maintain control over McMinn County. His regime, continued by his crony Pat Mansfield, was marked by election rigging, unlawful arrests, and extortion.
But when WWII veterans returned home and saw their community still under Cantrell’s corrupt grip, they refused to accept another stolen election. Banding together as The Fighting Bunch, these veterans took up arms against Cantrell’s men in what became known as The Battle of Athens. After an all-night firefight, explosions, and a dramatic surrender, democracy was restored—proving that when the system fails, the people will rise.
This isn’t just a wild story—it’s history. Tune in now for the full episode!
🔗 Listen now on all major podcast platforms.
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17:39
74: W.A. Guinn
In the Appalachian town once known as McCays—now Copperhill, Tennessee—a powerful lawyer was gunned down in cold blood, setting off a whirlwind of scandal, betrayal, and courtroom drama. Was it a hired hit orchestrated by his wealthy wife, or the act of a desperate miner caught in a deadly conspiracy?
This week, we unravel the twisted tale of W.A. Guinn’s murder, the trial of James Allen.
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73: The Greenbriar Ghost
When Elva Zona Heaster Shue was found dead at the bottom of the stairs, her husband Edward “Trout” Shue insisted it was an accident. But Zona’s mother knew better, because Zona’s ghost told her the truth.
This chilling case is the only known instance where testimony from a ghost helped convict a murderer. From suspicious behavior at the scene to a spectral confession, this story is pure Appalachian folklore meets true crime.
Tune in now to hear how Zona’s spirit ensured her killer didn’t escape justice!
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72: Sheriff Burch Biggs
Burch Biggs was no ordinary sheriff. From moonshine raids as a teen to wielding political power in Polk County, TN, his name became synonymous with corruption, scandal, and backroom deals. He built a legacy through intimidation, rigged elections, and even outright ballot destruction by throwing votes into the river to secure his control.
Under his watch, violence was common. Names like Garret Hedden, James Spurling, David McFadden, Jack & Maddie Haddock, George Ledford, Emmet Gaddis, and Horace Hughes became casualties of the Biggs Machine.
The corruption ran deep—illegal foreclosures, using prison labor on his farm, stealing city water, and colluding with banks. But it wasn’t until after WWII, with the rise of the Good Government League (GGL), that the Biggs dynasty finally crumbled.
Want the full story? Check out The Biggs Machine: Old Time Politics in Polk County, Tennessee a book by local author Tyler Boyd.
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71: The Hedden Brothers
We’re heading back to Polk County, Tennessee, where moonshine, murder, and family feuds ran deep. After covering Bill Hedden’s case, we dug deeper and uncovered the wild, violent history of his uncle, Garrett Hedden.
From shooting his own brother in 1898 to a bloody standoff with revenue agents, Garrett was a true outlaw. But his own family would be his downfall. In 1903, his nephew and moonshining partner Riley Hedden nearly killed him over an old grudge. And in 1908, Sheriff Biggs and his posse finally ended Garrett’s reign with a hail of gunfire.
But the Hedden saga didn’t stop there—revenge, crime, and tragedy followed this family for decades. Their story is as wild as it gets.
In the South, no one talks more than a woman in a hair salon. As hairstylists in Appalachia, we hear it all. From gossip to ghost stories and the kind of true crime that makes you check your locks twice.
We are a Southern True Crime podcast dedicated to sharing exclusively Southern cases and all the Spooky Thangs that lurk in the hollers, bayous, and backroads of the South. From unsolved mysteries to hauntings that will give you chills, we dive deep into the dark side of our region.
Don’t whistle in the woods at night.
Ireland