205. The Halloween Candlestick Murder

In 1958 Charleston, South Carolina, the murder of 29-year-old Jack Dobbins became one of the city's most sensational criminal cases. On Halloween night, Dobbins met 18-year-old Air Force airman John Mahon at Club 49, a Charleston establishment known for attracting gay patrons. The two eventually went to Dobbins' home on Queen Street, where Mahon later testified that Dobbins made unwanted sexual advances toward him. The following morning, Dobbins was discovered dead on his living-room sofa, having suffered fatal blows to the head from a large brass candlestick. Mahon surrendered to authorities and admitted striking Dobbins, but maintained that he had acted...