New Book: Legs Murder Scandal

The Legs Murder Scandal, written by former UPM marketing manager Hunter Cole, is the full story of "Mississippi's Lizzie Borden."

Touted as the most sensational crime in Mississippi history at the time, the Legs Murder of 1935 is almost entirely forgotten today, and the controversial outcome decided by an unsophisticated jury has been left distorted by ambiguity.

Some quick background on the Legs case: In Laurel, Miss. in 1935, one daughter of a prominent, wealthy, and problematic family was accused of murdering her mother with the help of an equally prominent Laurel businessman, her reputed lover. Ouida Keeton apparently shot her mother, chopped her up, and disposed of most of the corpse down the toilet and in the fireplace, burning all but the pelvic region and the thighs.

Attempting to dispose of these remains on a one-lane, isolated road, Ouida left a trail of evidence that ended in her arrest. Witnesses had seen her driving there, and within hours, a hunter and his dogs found the body parts and the cloth in which she had wrapped them.

Hunter Cole re-presents an intricately detailed description of the two trials of Ouida Keeton and W.M. Carter. Having researched trial transcripts, courthouse records, medical files, and vast newspaper coverage, the author reveals new facts in the tragic story that were previously distorted by hearsay, hushed reports, and misinformation.

The Legs Murder Scandal attempts to provide the reader with clarity in this story, which at once is outlandish, harrowing, and intriguing.

Hunter Cole will be signing copies of his book on Wednesday, October 6 at Lemuria Books in Jackson. Cole will be joined by Joanne Prichard Morris and Freda Spell