The Murder of the Lawson Family Carolina Buddies

The Murder of the Lawson Family
Carolina Buddies
American Folk Tales

This tragic, murder ballad tells the story of Charlie Lawson and his family.

On Christmas Day in 1929 Charlie Lawson first killed his daughters Carrie,12 and Maybell, 7; first shooting them and then bludgeoning them to be sure they are dead. Next he killed his wife Fannie 37, she was on the porch. When she heard the gunfire his 17 year old daughter Marie screamed, the two younger boys went to hide. Marie was killed next. Charlie then found the boys James, 4, and Raymond, 2, and shot them as well. Last he found the four month old baby Mary Lou and shot her as well.

After arranging his dead family with their arms crossed over their chest and pillows under their heads, Charlie went off alone in the woods. Several hours later people came to house after hearing so many gunshots and discovered the terrible crime. They heard another gunshot from the woods and rushed to the scene where they found Charlie Lawson dead, with his dogs sitting by him. He had apparently ,judging by the tracks he left, been walking in small circles for the last few hours before killing himself.

There were and continue to be a number of rumors and theories concerning the murders. Some were sure the murder/suicide scene was a set up that had to do with a crime Charlie had witnesses and the murder was related to Organized Crime. Another rumor, as might be expected considering the times, some people claimed a black man Charlie had been in a fight with was somehow involved. Others suggest Marie was pregnant with her father's child. As far as I know none of these rumors have ever been proven.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• murder of the lawson family
• carolina buddies
• american folk tales
• folk
• murder
• tragic
• ballad

[MrRanwolfe]

Thanks for posting I'm Randy Lawson from stokes county n.c.

[leanannsidhe]

@MrRanwolfe Quite welcome. It is, as you must know, a fascinating, tragic story.

[stewballmax3]

I just LOVE the complete and comprehensive details you've provided for us here...it makes the song all the more real and authentic.  THANK YOU! A folklorist/musicologist's come true...story songs really move me!

~Max

[leanannsidhe]

@stewballmax3 Thank you Max! Story songs are my favorite, in case it wasn't obvious with my uploads :). I love History, especially personal history or the history of us common folk. Story songs just go along with that for me. Glad you liked it!

[runbout17]

I LIVED IN N.C INFORSYTH COUNTY. MY MOTHER TOLD ABOUT THE STORY. GLAD TO SEE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS LIKE MORE ABOUT IT.MY MOTHER IS PASS AWAY NOW .MY BROTHERS LIVE IN WINSTON -SALEM STILL..IM ON FACEBOOK AS LOIS LINVILLE HEADRICK. WE ARE MOVING BACK THIS SUMMER.LIKE MORE OF THE STORY.

[k4ldh]

So Sad,My the little ones rest in peace

[marcoacca]

That's splendid. And (...)  thanks.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks for this interesting little murder ballad and the detailed information provided.