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Description

In 1994, a New York writer released a very southern gothic, non-fiction, crime novel. “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” became a national sensation. John Berendt’s seductive prose and his cast of eccentric characters drew readers into the lush culture of Savannah, Georgia. But the central plot was a scandal from 1981. Semi-closeted socialite, Jim Williams, had shot his lover dead in the study of his home. He went through four trials for the murder of Danny Hanson, a record in Georgia at the time. Berendt’s book became a movie in 1997, directed by Clint Eastwood. Many people don’t know the real story of the Mercer House murder. This is a look at the case, as well as the book and movie that captivated the nation.


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Show Notes

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley

Researched by Haley Gray and Erica Kelley

Written by Hannah Newcomb and Erica Kelley

Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner

Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio

Edited by Chaes Gray of Gray Multimedia


Sources

  1. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=4195

  2. https://imgur.com/xy5yPZI

  3. https://www.lagrangenews.com/2018/12/17/justice-forgiveness-and-jim-williams/

  4. https://www.islandpacket.com/living/article33635538.html

  5. https://www.savannahnow.com/article/20151216/NEWS/312169681

  6. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8765/james-arthur-williams

  7. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A14AA70EF37F7C198%40GB3NEWS-16A9AC51C535944D%402444996-16A869D90DBE4A35%4021-16A869D90DBE4A35%40?h=1&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&sid=fvfuawmlyrehnzkwcnmwolsnbhktbaei_wma-gateway012_1601409790057

  8. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11CE19BA057D85A2%40GB3NEWS-13C7C748375786B8%402447659-13C7C395F57A0C58%4011-13C7C395F57A0C58%40?h=2&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&sid=fvfuawmlyrehnzkwcnmwolsnbhktbaei_wma-gateway012_1601409790057

  9. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1252FEAF2D2D3A44%40GB3NEWS-1290A7ED6CA52737%402447908-1290A7ED780F6578%4017-1290A7ED780F6578%40?h=3&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&sid=fvfuawmlyrehnzkwcnmwolsnbhktbaei_wma-gateway012_1601409790057

  10. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A14AA70EF37F7C198%40GB3NEWS-16B2DCBA0CAF2499%402447652-16B1B01F06C90FAF%401-16B1B01F06C90FAF%40?h=4&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&sid=fvfuawmlyrehnzkwcnmwolsnbhktbaei_wma-gateway012_1601409790057

  11. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A14AA70EF37F7C198%40GB3NEWS-16A9AC57D3F1A0D2%402445003-16A869DCFB4F6611%401-16A869DCFB4F6611%40?h=5&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&sid=fvfuawmlyrehnzkwcnmwolsnbhktbaei_wma-gateway012_1601409790057

  12. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A14AA70EF37F7C198%40GB3NEWS-16B2DD12A146A51D%402447657-16B1B022DFF86D48%401-16B1B022DFF86D48%40?h=11&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&sid=fvfuawmlyrehnzkwcnmwolsnbhktbaei_wma-gateway012_1601409790057

  13. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11CE19BA057D85A2%40GB3NEWS-1372513457486360%402445004-137244D54AD306D0%401-137244D54AD306D0%40?h=12&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&sid=fvfuawmlyrehnzkwcnmwolsnbhktbaei_wma-gateway012_1601409790057

  14. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11CE19BA057D85A2%40GB3NEWS-13C7C7471A080C18%402447657-13C7C246E07860C0%4012-13C7C246E07860C0%40?h=14&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&sid=fvfuawmlyrehnzkwcnmwolsnbhktbaei_wma-gateway012_1601409790057

  15. https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A14AA70EF37F7C198%40GB3NEWS-16B1CB86CB4DC1C7%402445614-16B1C817B802107C%404-16B1C817B802107C%40?h=1&fname=Danny&lname=Hansford&fullname=&kwinc=&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1983&rgtoDate=1983&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=fgvoqpjngkarcxykejgmeemezdyojrge_s075_1601412286709

  16. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1309300/williams-v-state/?q=danny%20hansford

  17. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1345838/williams-v-state/?q=danny%20hansford

  18. Lawyer Games, After Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by Dep Kirkland

  19. https://www.newspapers.com/image/400036940/?terms=danny%20hansford%20fourth%20trial&match=1

  20. History of Savannah (visitsavannah.com)

  21. History – The Pirate's House

  22. About — Mercer Williams House Museum (mercerhouse.com)

  23. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

  24. Movie: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: directed & produced by Clint Eastwood

    25. https://www.savannahnow.com/business/20190112/25-years-of-midnight-the-book-made-indelible-impact-on-city-of-savannah

    26. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Berendt

    27. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/midnight-in-the-garden-of-good-and-evil-1997

    28. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-11-21-9711190212-story.html

    29. http://www.lakesidepress.com/Savannah-CivilWar/sherman-telegram.html

    30. https://www.onlineathens.com/news/20200117/30-years-after-death-of-jim-williams-his-iconic-savannah-home-is-being-restored

    31. https://www.savannahnow.com/article/20150302/NEWS/303029806

    32. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/the-lady-chablis-sassy-transgender-figure-in-savannah-book-movie-dies-at-59/2016/09/08/d304ba7e-75e6-11e6-8149-b8d05321db62_story.html

    33. https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/john-berendt-the-interview/Content?oid=2533800

    34. http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews39_24/pdf/Section4%20BOOKS%2006-17-11.pdf34. https://gosouthsavannah.com/history/film/bird-girl.html

    35. https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/9/08/lady-chablis-trans-icon-and-savannahs-grand-empress-dead-59

    36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119668/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv

    37. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:LGBT_writers_from_the_United_States

    38. https://www.wtoc.com/story/37875824/savannah-joins-nation-in-honoring-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-on-50th-anniversary/

    39. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/savannahcitygeorgia/IPE120219

    40. https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20190407/panel-discusses-race-relations-in-savannah

    41. https://ghostcitytours.com/savannah/haunted-places/haunted-houses/mercer-williams-house/