In 1942, the state of Louisiana executed a woman in the electric chair for the first and only time in its history. She was young, beautiful, and utterly devoted to the man she loved, a Texas outlaw. Toni Jo Henry was willing to do anything to free him from prison which led her down a dark path…the cold-blooded killing of an innocent man. Toni Jo claimed her accomplice pulled the trigger. He said she did. Was Toni Jo Henry a ruthless killer, or a woman trapped by her tragic past and her devotion to the wrong man?

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Episode Sources

• The Times: Former Shreveport Girl to Face jury for Lake Charles Slaying, March 24, 1940
• The News Star: Toni Jo Henry is denied new trial, May 25, 1942
• The Atlanta Journal: Woman Slayer, Awaiting death in chair, wisecracks over fate, August 4, 1942
• The Town Talk: High Court denies stay of execution for Toni Jo Henry, November 4, 1942
• Shreveport Journal: Toni Jo Henry Executed, November 28, 1942
• Del Rio News Herald: Kin of Toni Jo Henry Claim body for burial, November 30, 1942
• The DeQuincy News: Burks to follow Toni Jo to chair, High Court rules, December 4, 1942
• Greenville News: Trip of Death Ends as Burks electrocuted, March 24, 1943
• State v. Henry, 196 La. 217, 198 So. 910 (La. 1940)
• M. Watt Espy Papers: Documentation for the execution of Harold Burks, Toni Henry, 1943-03-23
• Harold Burks executed on 1943-03-23 in Louisiana (LA); Toni Henry executed on 1942-11-28 in Louisiana (LA)
• Find A Grave: Joseph Prince “Joe” Calloway
• Find A Grave: Claude David “Cowboy” Henry
• Find A Grave: Toni Jo Henry/Annie Beatrice McQuiston
• Nola Mae Ross: Crimes of the Past in South Louisiana, 2004

Episode Music

Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.

A cool September afternoon on a trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Three friends are chatting as they hike. And then… in minutes, one of them disappears. No sound. No clue. Just… gone. Polly Melton’s disappearance has left investigators and amateur sleuths searching for answers for over four decades

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Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries

Connect

Website: southernmysteries.com Facebook: Southern Mysteries Podcast Instagram: @southernmysteries Email: southernmysteriespodcast@gmail.com

Episode Sources

• National Park Service: Cold Cases, Thelma Pauline "Polly" Melton
• NamUs: #MP14284, Thelma Pauline Melton
• Asheville Citizen-Times: Dogs Are Unable to Find Lost Hiker, September 28, 1981
• The Knoxville Sentinel News: Search for Hiker Eases: Rangers feel woman no longer in park, October 1, 1981
• Winston Salem Journal: Search for hiker continues, October 1, 1981
• The Charlotte Observer: Female Hiker, 58, still missing in Smokie, October 1, 1981
• Asheville Citizen-Times: Organized Search ends for missing woman, October 6, 1981
• The Charlotte Observer: Terror is when a loved one vanishes in the mountains, November 20, 1981
• Asheville Times: Disappearance Still A Mystery, December 24, 1981
• The Charlotte Observer: Mystery not solved but ending, July 3, 1991
• Find A Grave: Pauline “Polly” McAllister Melton
• 10 News: Appalachian Unsolved: Polly Melton Missing in the Smokies, December 8, 2017
• Investigating Agency: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 615-744-4000

Episode Music

Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.