Unearthing the forgotten, the mysterious, and the legendary—one Southern story at a time. Hosted by Shannon Ballard, Southern Mysteries explores the rich and often untold history of the American South through a captivating mix of folklore, legends, unexplained mysteries, and true crime. Each episode uncovers a compelling tale from a Southern state, blending history with intrigue to reveal the fascinating stories that time left behind. While some episodes delve into chilling crimes, others spotlight legendary figures, ghostly lore, or baffling events.Sometimes the mystery is: why haven’t you heard the story?
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Unearthing the forgotten, the mysterious, and the legendary—one Southern story at a time. Hosted by Shannon Ballard, Southern Mysteries explores the rich and often untold history of the American South through a captivating mix of folklore, legends, unexplained mysteries, and true crime. Each episode uncovers a compelling tale from a Southern state, blending history with intrigue to reveal the fascinating stories that time left behind. While some episodes delve into chilling crimes, others spotlight legendary figures, ghostly lore, or baffling events.Sometimes the mystery is: why haven’t you heard the story?
In 1877, a young woman arrived in Jefferson, Texas, wearing diamonds and traveling with a man who claimed to be her husband. Days later, her body was found in the woods, and her name was unknown. She became known as Diamond Bessie, and her death led to one of the most sensational murder trials in Texas history. This episode of Southern Mysteries explores her life, the circumstances of her murder, the trials of Abe Rothschild, and the legacy of a woman the town refused to forget.
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Episode Sources
Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) entry on "Diamond Bessie"
Handbook of Texas Online
Library of Congress Newspaper Archives
“East Texas in the 1800s: Jefferson and the Murder of Diamond Bessie,” Jefferson Historical Society
Oakwood Cemetery, Jefferson Texas burial records
University of North Texas Portal to Texas History
The Diamond Bessie Murder Trial – Jefferson Playhouse historical archives
“The Jefferson Murders” — archived article from The Dallas Morning News
East Texas Tales by Bob Bowman
Chronicling America – Historical newspaper records (Library of Congress)
Marshall, Texas Capitol Hotel registration archives (via local historical society)
“Diamond Bessie Reenactment Keeps History Alive” — Texas Highways
Ancestry records and obituaries (Watertown, NY) for Annie Stone / Bessie Moore
Archives of the Rothschild family business in Cincinnati (local historical collections)
Episode Music
Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.
Southern Mysteries Podcast
Unearthing the forgotten, the mysterious, and the legendary—one Southern story at a time. Hosted by Shannon Ballard, Southern Mysteries explores the rich and often untold history of the American South through a captivating mix of folklore, legends, unexplained mysteries, and true crime. Each episode uncovers a compelling tale from a Southern state, blending history with intrigue to reveal the fascinating stories that time left behind. While some episodes delve into chilling crimes, others spotlight legendary figures, ghostly lore, or baffling events.Sometimes the mystery is: why haven’t you heard the story?
